Ear infections are something we see almost daily at Streetsville Animal
Hospital and we are often asked a lot of questions because they are so
common. We thought we would put together
a few of our most frequently asked questions to shed some light on a condition
that can sometimes be pretty frustrating!
Why is it important to see the Veterinarian when my dog’s ears are
bothering him, can’t I just have medicine?
The reason Dr. Dunn needs to see
your dog when he/she is starting to show discomfort is to identify exactly what
is causing the irritation. Sometimes it
is yeast, sometimes it is bacteria and sometimes it is both! Dr. Dunn will commonly collect some discharge
on a cotton swab and place it on to a slide – this is known as an ear
smear. This will allow him to look very
closely at the discharge and identify exactly what has been causing the
infection. In our pharmacy we have a
variety of different medicines that treat a variety of causes so it is very
important to know exactly what your pet needs so we can get them feeling better
as efficiently and as quickly as possible!
Why is it so important for a follow-up appointment after my dog has been
treated for an ear infection?
This is a question we get a lot
and it is a fair question – especially if your pet seems back to normal after
their treatment. The ear drops Dr. Dunn
prescribes include an anti-inflammatory which will make your pet feel better no
matter what the cause of the infection is.
However, deep down inside the ear canal can sometimes be a different
story. At a typical re-check
appointment, Dr. Dunn will have a look in both ears with a scope to make sure
they are clear but occasionally there is still some irritation and discharge
present in the canal. This can mean a
few things – that this particular bacteria/yeast is resistant to the drops or
that the drops just are not getting deep enough into the canal for proper
treatment. In this case, Dr. Dunn will
discuss an alternate treatment option with you.
Is there anything I can do to prevent ear infections?
Keeping your dog’s ears dry in
the bath and after swimming will certainly help to prevent infections. Bacteria and yeast love dark, moist areas to
grow and cause problems. However, some
pets are just prone to chronic ear infections.
In this case Dr. Dunn will often select an ear wash and add some
medication that is appropriate for the chronic issues your pet has been struggling
with to create a flush that will be used for maintenance. If Dr. Dunn has provided you with an ear
cleaner and you are finding that your pet’s ears require cleaning more than
once a week, they are likely infected and we should have a look at them.
Should I routinely pluck my dog’s ears?
No, Dr. Dunn does not recommend
plucking a dog’s ears unless the hair in the canal becomes an issue. Sometimes plucking them can cause discomfort
– scratching, shaking of the head and rubbing the face on the ground which can
actually lead to infections. If a dog is
prone to chronic ear infections sometimes Dr. Dunn will recommend having the
ears plucked to prevent discharge and moisture from accumulating in the ear and
also to ensure medicine is making its way all the down the ear canal.
If you have any questions or would like some more information please do
not hesitate to give us a call or send us an e-mail, we would be more than
happy to help!
Jennifer
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