| One
of the most common conditions we see at Oasis Animal Clinic
is ear infection. Several factors combine to make pets’
ears far more prone to infection than people. Dogs are much
worse than cats.
Why do
dogs get ear infections?
Allergies are the
main underlying cause of "Otitis Externa" or inflammation
of the ear. The allergies cause your dog’s ears to itch,
which then leads to self-trauma and more inflammation. The
cycle worsens. With more itching and swelling, infection sets
in and finally, your poor dog is suffering terrible earaches.
Moisture is a contributing
factor. Ears that have moisture in them for long periods of
time will become infected. Moisture can get into ears while
swimming, while being bathed or any other time pets are around
water.
The shape of the
ear makes a difference. Floppy ears trap moisture inside,
incubating bacteria and yeast. That’s why Cocker Spaniels
are more prone to infection than German Shepherds.
Some breeds have
excessive hair accumulation in the ear canals, preventing
airflow and trapping bacteria, moisture and yeast in the ears.
Foreign bodies
such as foxtails are another serious cause of infections.
The shape and length
of a dog’s ear canal is a major contributing factor
to ear infections. Dogs have an "L-shaped" ear canal,
with a long horizontal and vertical portion.
Otitis Externa
is related to hypothyroidism (under-functioning thyroid glands)
in some dogs.
How do
we diagnose an ear infection?
Most clients have
made the diagnosis by the time they set the appointment. They
see their pet scratching and crying. They see the brown wax
exuding from the ear opening. And ear infections stink! We
make the exact diagnosis based on several tests:
Cytology of the
ear. This is where we take a "Q-Tip"-like swab and
sample the contents of the ear. Under the microscope, we can
tell generally if the infection is caused more by bacteria,
yeast or both.
Otoscopic exam.
We use the Otoscope to look as far down the ear canal as possible.
Sometimes the ear canal is so swollen that we cannot see the
ear drum. Other times we find the cause of the problem right
in the ear canal. Foreign bodies such as foxtails and even
ticks can cause irritation.
Culture and sensitivity.
If we treat an ear infection in the usual manner, and fail
to get the expected response, we culture the ear discharge
and submit it for bacterial culture and sensitivity. Some
organisms are resistant to prevalent antibiotics and anti-fungal
medications, so we are forced to find the ones that will work
for that pet.
What about
sedation?
Many pets are so
uncomfortable or the ear canal is so clogged that we must
sedate or even anesthetize a pet to safely and comfortably
treat an ear infection. Obviously, we don’t want to
cause harm or unneeded pain to treat an ear.
What about
rechecks?
Ears are especially
hard to cure from infections. They are nearly impossible to
thoroughly clean. Infections that are under-treated are more
prone to set up resistant infections. We therefore recommend
that all pets be rechecked every 2 weeks (or more frequently
in more severe cases) until the condition is resolved. The
charge for the recheck is less than a regular professional
exam.
Why can’t
I just call for a refill on the medications?
Many clients notice
an ear getting bad early and want to re-fill a prescription
"…before it gets too bad." When they call,
they are sometimes frustrated because we don’t allow
the re-fill. Why is that?
Many, many times
the condition has changed slightly and the same medication
is not indicated. That is why we repeat the cytology and other
tests.
The laws governing
veterinary medicine and pharmacy require that we have CURRENT
knowledge of a condition and it is under the immediate care
of a veterinarian. This means that we are required to re-evaluate
the condition.
Can ear
infections be prevented?
Not all ear infections
can be prevented. But proper care and cleaning can be very
important in reducing the number and severity of infections
a pet has. We recommend using a commercial rinse like Oti-Calm®
to clean ears and prevent infections.
©1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Oasis Animal Clinic. All Rights
Reserved.
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