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Your dog is scratching and shaking their head constantly. You might notice an awful odor. You flip up their ear and notice it matches the fire hydrant, it is so red. What could be happening?!?!... You dog is having an ear infection.
These are the signs of a typical ear infection. Dogs can display all or one of the symptoms. Ear infections can range in severity and can also range in their cause.

Non-typical ear infections include signs such as excessive discharge coming from the ear, neurologic signs, swelling, your dogs ear feels like a “pillow”, etc. In both typical and atypical ear infections, a veterinary visit for medications is necessary.
We will be focusing on yeast and bacterial yeast infections. If you ever notice hair loss, excessive scratching with debri (especially in younger pets) you should see a veterinarian, external parasites may be a problem in this situation.

Canine ear infections are most often due to bacteria or yeast. Ear mites, growing hair, trapped water, a tumor or foreign body in the ear canal can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast. Infections may also develop when allergies, hypothyroidism or an excessive amount of ear wax are present. Frequent bathing, swimming and incorrect cleaning methods can also lead to infections.

Dog’s ear canals have a vertical portion then turn horizontal. Think of their ears like an “L”. The horizontal part is where the ear drum is located. When a dog gets an ear infection it is difficult for caught debris or water to be released as it must work its way upward to escape; this makes dogs especially susceptible to ear infections.

Typically just cleaning will not resolve an ear infection, it will help, but not clear it up completely. In fact, if you over clean you could potentially cause more damage. To prevent ear infections if your pet is prone to them, you should clean every few weeks (or more if instructed by your veterinarian). While your pet has ear infections, you will be instructed differently with cleaning and mediations.

When you come in for an ear infection, the veterinarian will take ear swabs from your dogs ear. We look under the microscope to determine if the population in your dogs ear is due to yeast or bacteria (which there are two types). Depending on the type of ear infection that is occurring, we determine what type of medication is needed.

Your dogs ear infection can change every time. Just because they had a yeast infection in October 2014, doesn’t mean that the same infection is occurring now. The medications you have from the past may not fully help resolve your ear infection for this reason. This is why we need to see your pet with each ear infection. You pet can also be having other issues (not the typical ear infection).

Ear infections that occur from allergies can be because of environmental or food. Typically environmental allergies are seasonal. Food allergies are usually (but not always) associated with other symptoms, such as scooting/licking their back end, and their allergies are year round. Food

allergies are caused by the protein in the food (beef, chicken, etc). It is extremely rare to have a corn, wheat allergy. To fully diagnose and treat this you will need to meet with your veterinarian to come up with a plan.

For dogs whose ear infections are caused by water in the ear, a good ear cleaner with “drying” agent can help. Cleaning their ears after a grooming, bath or swimming can help reduce the moisture that stays in the ear.

Cats are also susceptible to ear infections. All the above is discussed pertains to both dogs and cats.

For any questions call Village Veterinary Clinic of Hamburg 716.646.4023

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