Pot Belly Pig - ear problem

Question
QUESTION: My pot belly pig shakes and tilts his head.  I took him to the vet and nothing was found to indicate an ear problem.  This has been going on for the last year.  The vet gave me some ear wash to use monthly.  I was told if it's an inner ear problem - little or nothing can be done as the pot belly pig has such a tiny inner ear cannel.  I'm wondering if he his ear problem could me related to allergies or a tooth problem.

ANSWER: Pot-bellied pigs do have a very, very thin inner ear canal.

If the problem is allergies, there will be other symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose and eyes.

If the problem is dental, piggy might have trouble eating and will have unusually bad breath.

I am not a vet and can not make any sort of diagnosis over the internet, but my guess is that the monthly ear wash might actually be contributing to the problem. Back in the mid 1990s several pot-bellied pig owners reported their pigs experienced head tilts and temporary deafness after having their ears flushed at the vets. It took weeks, sometimes months, for the pigs to fully recover.

If this were my pig, I would stop all ear washing/flushing completely for at least 3 months. Maybe wipe the very outside part of the ear with a paper towel or tissue, but stay FAR away from the center of the ear.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Actually, Pork Chop has quite the attitude and I have not done any ear washes since he was at the vet last October.  Pork Chop has had bad breath for years, according to my vet all pigs have bad breath later in life.  He does not sneeze, and I have not noticed changes in his nose or eyes.  Could ear mites be the problem?

thanks - Sandy

Answer
Pigs breath is typically not "minty fresh" but it should not be horrible, either. Horrible breath could mean bad teeth or something stuck somewhere inside his mouth.

Pigs jaws don't open very wide, but try to get a look inside his mouth, if you can. Give him a Mentos or other peppermint first so the breath is tolerable! Look for redness or swelling. Stick your finger in, run it along his gums, look for loose teeth or lumps. Any of these signs means your pig might need some dental work. Also, if you can get your finger all the way in the back of his mouth behind his teeth, you might find stuff stuck there. Pick it out, if you can.

Anything is possible, but if your vet didn't see ear mites when he checked, then I would assume ear mites are not the problem. If he did not check, then it can't hurt to ask him to check.

However, if you don't feel comfortable with your vets diagnosis, there's nothing wrong with visiting a different vet, and asking specifically about ear mites, the vet can check the ear wax with a microscope to see the tiny mites.