Pet care: Listen up: What to know about ear infections in pets

Ear infections are the most common problem seen by veterinarians. Sadly, we don’t get the chance to help enough of them in time to prevent severe pain. Redness, swelling and yeasty discharges are common. By the time the head shaking and scratching start, they’re already advanced. Take a whiff of your dog’s ears and gently massage below the flaps to check for tenderness. Of course, there is a language barrier. If you ask if her ears hurt, and she shakes her head, she means yes.

The ear canal is a long tube that courses down the side of their head, then makes a sharp bend toward the eardrum. It’s a warm, dark environment that can be easily overgrown with bacteria or yeast. There are lots of other possible causes including allergies, ear mites, ticks, mange and foxtail awns. A pet can struggle with more than one of these — all at the same time.

Softly wipe away scabs and discharge outside that ear, but don’t try to solve the problem on the cheap. Pets with ear pain should see a doctor soon. I’ve treated too many disasters that well-meaning pet parents had tried to manage without modern medicine. Leftover ointments and home remedies like Neosporin only mask the cause. Yeast, bacteria and mites are simple to find under the microscope, but deeper problems require irrigation and a thorough evaluation. Painful pets need sedation for these procedures. They shouldn’t be made to panic and struggle to get well.

Ear infections can reoccur with continued itching from allergies and other skin disease, so follow-up is important. Tell the doctor if you’ve noticed scratching, rubbing, licking, or nibbling of the skin, too.

You can reduce the risk. A cotton ball, lightly moistened with cooking oil, placed in each ear before bathing will help, but don’t get carried away with preventive care. All ears need a few good organisms to stay healthy. If irrigated and cleaned needlessly, the natural balance is lost. Then Mother Nature would get mad. That would be painful for all of us.

For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com

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