Does Your Dog Have Otitis Externa?

Does your dog shake his head excessively? Are his ears red? Is
there discharge from the ears? If you answered yes to any of
these then he could have Otitis Externa which is simply another
name for a doggy ear infection.

The dogs ear has 3 parts, the outer ear, the middle ear and the
inner ear. Otitis Externa is an infection in the outer ear canal
where 90% of ear infections in dogs occur. Dogs are prone to ear
infections because of the anatomy of their ears. They have a
horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it is hard for
anything in there to drain out, like water or debris.

There are several causes of ear infections. The most common
cause of ear infections are due to allergies. Some dogs are more
prone to allergies than others; therefore they get more ear
infections.

Another common cause is sporting dogs that swim. They get water
inside their ears, and provided their difficult anatomy, the
water in the ears cannot drain out. Therefore, this provides the
perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to grow. It is
recommenced that if you let your dog play in the water you dry
your dog’s ears thoroughly afterwards.

If your dog does have an ear infection it is important to
properly clean your dog’s ears before applying any medication.

To clean your dog’s ears, start by placing a few drops of an ear
cleanser into the ear and massage the ear to help loosen any
debris that is in the ear. Then use a cloth or cotton gauze to
whip the dirt out.

After your dog’s ears are thoroughly clean, then you can apply
your medication. Follow your veterinarian’s advice about how
much medication to apply to the ear, usually a few drops.

The treatment your veterinarian will prescribe will vary
depending on the cause of the ear infection. For yeast
infections they prescribe anti-fungals, for bacterial infections
they will prescribe antibiotics. Normally treatment is applied
directly into the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment
may be needed. This usually means have to give your dog pills
orally.

In some dogs with severe ear problems, the veterinarian will
usually clip the hair around the ear to help let more air into
the ear. In extreme cases your veterinarian may recommend
surgery to reconstruct the ear canal to let it drain easier.

Some dog breeds are more prone to ear infections than others,
although all dogs can be get them. Dogs with large ears and ears
that flop over as well as dogs with a small ear canal can be
more susceptible than others. Ear infections in dogs need to be
treated by your vet, so the next time you see any symptoms in
your