Cats and dogs are so prone to ear
infections that it is the most common reason people take
their pets to the veterinarian. Because there are so many
possible causes of ear infections, it is important to pay
attention to any new behaviors your pet exhibits, so the
veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis, and treat
accordingly. It is also important that you not further
exacerbate the infection by trying to clear it up without
diagnosis. Talk to your veterinarian, and follow exact care
instructions to ensure best chance of healing. There are plenty
effective medications for ear infections such as Tresaderm drops for cats and dogs that
can control ear infections quickly. These five facts may also
help guide you in your effort to rid your pet of ear
infections.
1. It Might be Mites
When it comes to ear mites,
hygiene is extremely important. It is possible to prevent ear
infection caused by ear mites as long as you are diligent about
keeping those ears clean and free of parasites. Ear mites are
mostly visible if you look into the canal. It may look like
dirt, so keeping the ears clean can make them more visible.
Cleansing liquids or a mixture of water and vinegar can be
effective aids in ear hygiene.
2. Inserting Anything Into the Ear Canal, even Q-tips, Can Make
Matters Worse
You may not realize, but inserting anything, especially Q-tips,
into the ear canal can cause serious damage to your pet's ear.
Surprisingly, Q-tips can actually puncture the eardrum, or
lodge debris further into the inner ear. While this is true for
humans and animals alike, it's even more difficult to tell how
far is too far with your pet because you can't feel the Q-tip
in your pet's ear as you can in your own.
3. Scratching Can Turn Any Irritation Into Infection
Many causes of ear infections in
dogs and cats are irritations that cause the animal to scratch.
Often the act of rapidly scratching the ear, mostly the outer
flap, can break the skin. If the wound, no matter how mild, is
then in contact with infectious bacteria, it can turn ugly. If
your dog or cat seems to be actively trying to dig something
out of the ear, check around the earflap for abrasion. If there
is broken skin visible, make sure to clean the area. If you
suspect an ear infection, it is important for your pet to see a
veterinarian. Any possible infection on the head area can be
serious.
4. Dogs and Cats May Just be Allergic
Sometimes chronic ear infections may be caused by allergies. Often this is diagnosed after
antibiotics have failed to help. Notify your veterinarian of
any changes to diet or if you notice skin irritation during a
specific time of year. This may help narrow the cause down to
allergies, and then an allergy test may be the best bet.
5. Any Breed Can be Prone to Ear Infections
Although some breeds are more prone than others, due to floppy
outer ears, all breeds are vulnerable. Some people believe
docking the ears can help prevent infection. Nonetheless, good
hygiene will be your best bet in keeping your pet's ears clean,
clear, and infection-free.
The Symptoms of Ear Infections in Dogs and Cats
Symptoms of ear infections include hearing loss, inflammation, redness,
irritation, discharge, and odor. Scabs may be visible near the
earflap as well as hair
loss, which can be symptomatic of excessive scratching due
to ear infection. Behavioral symptoms of ear infections can be
indicators that your dog or cat needs veterinarian attention.
Some behavioral symptoms are darting eye movement, pushing
affected ear on the furniture or floor, walking in circles, and
shaking head, as if trying to get water out of ears. Following
detection, ear infections in dogs can be treated using
medications such as Mometamax
ear drop solution and Baytril solution for dogs based on
the vet's prescription.
Physical Symptoms of Ear Infections
If you suspect your dog or cat has an ear infection, there are certainly
physical signs you can look for to determine the problem.
Hearing loss can be an unfortunate result of ear infections. It
can be caused by damage to the eardrum itself, or simply by
blockage of the ear canal, due to debris build-up or
inflammation. Try snapping your fingers next to the petโs ear
to see if there is significant hearing loss. If the loss is
minor, it may not be able to be detected by anyone other than a
veterinarian.
It is very common for ear infections to be noticed based on
inflammation and redness around the ear canal or on the
earflaps. Because an animalโs body is designed to respond to
infection with inflammation, redness, and irritation, these
become visible indicators of ear infections. The immune system
sends repair cells to the infected area. They crowd around to
fight and flush the infection, causing the area to increase in
size (swell,) and more red cells create a redness of the
skin.
Infection often produces a milky discharge, which can be very
smelly. Bacteria tend to have an odor, and it can get stronger
the worse the infection becomes. If the infection is yeast
related, the odor can be very sweet smelling, but is strong and
obviously not normal. The discharge is a collection
of white blood
cells that formed to isolate the infection from the
healthy skin.
Behavioral Symptoms of Ear Infections
Behavioral symptoms of ear infections may be more noticeable
than the physical symptoms, and are usually what first
indicates a problem. Nystagmus is unusual darting eye movement,
and can be caused by Otitis Interna infections, that affect the
balance and coordination of the animal. Some cats and dogs drag
the afflicted ear across the furniture or floor, or walk in
circles shaking their head. It may seem like the animal is
trying to get something out of the ear, as a human might try to
remove water.
The sooner you can catch an ear infection, the lower your pet's
risk of damage will be. Knowing the symptoms, both physical and
behavioral, is the first step in recognizing an ear infection
and keeping your pet happy and healthy.
This information is for informational
purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for the
professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by, your
veterinarian with respect to your pet. It has, however, been
verified by a licensed veterinarian for accuracy.
