Ear Infection in Your Dog or Cat?

Your dog or cat has been diagnosed with an ear infection...so how does your  veterinarian treat ear infections and what do they look for with that otoscope and/or microscope?  Let us walk through the process of what to expect at your appointment and what steps your vet should take to ensure effective treatment.

The first sign of an ear infection is often detected by either an owner, a veterinarian, or  a groomer.  Many will see their pet incessantly shaking its head or  scratching at its ear(s). They may also notice a foul smell in and around the head or ears.  Groomers should notice an inflamed, red or irritated outer ear (pinna), excessive wax buildup, or pain sensitivity to touch during ear cleaning.

A) Infected Left Ear

                                         

 B) Normal Right Ear (same dog)

Once the problem is noticed and your pet is at the veterinarian for a physical exam, your vet should check for all possible underlying problems including allergies and bacterial or fungal pathogens.  A thorough physical exam should also include a full inspection of the skin and fur.

As part of the ear exam,  the veterinarian should look inside the ear canal with an otoscope.  

The otoscope allows the vet to identify the presence of mites, foreign material, masses, and/or abnormal narrowing of the ear canal (termed stenosis).  It also allows visualization of  the integrity of the ear drum or the degree of damage if any.  A video otoscope (camera attached) goes even further by showing a live feed of the video images inside the ear and helps with better visibility.

This aids in not only allowing you as the client to see what your veterinarian is seeing,  but also the capability to compare subsequent follow-ups and track the progress of healing based on the recommended treatment regimen.

Examples of video otoscope images of an ear infection:

Note the epithelium  or lining of the ear is not smooth.  There is also abnormal waxy debris present.

Examples of the other normal ear (same dog as above): The epithelium is smooth.  The ear canal is open and there is minimal wax present.

Once the visual inspection is done , a sample is taken from the ear and a cytology is performed.  This allows for identification of the type of organisms present in the ear, such as yeast and/or bacteria.  The type of bacteria present is also important.  There are two types of bacteria normally seen, Cocci (shown below) or Rods. The presence of Rods bacteria may also indicate a more serious infection.

Filled in green arrow indicates bacteria(cocci) and the unfilled arrow indicates yeast organisms (Malassezia)

Once the cytology has been looked at, and the type of infection is identified,  a treatment will be  prescribed which may include ear drops, medicated ear flushes, and sometimes oral steroids if the stenosis or narrowing of the ear canal is very severe.

                                                                      Ear Flush                                                                       

Ear Drops 

A few important instructions to follow or points to note:

·         It is very important to follow the treatment protocol as directed by your veterinarian. 

·         If you notice any changes in your pet's ability to hear, please notify your veterinarian immediately.

·         Keep all required follow-up appointment s with your veterinarian in order to ensure that the treatment progression is on track.

·          If the infection has not been resolved in a timely manner it could be an indicator of  other problems such as antibiotic resistance, an underlying allergy that is complicating the ear infection, or a middle ear infection.

·         An infection can progress from the outer ear, through the ear drum , and into the middle ear to cause an infection a new infection.   Middle ear infections  are treated differently.  A culture and a deep ear flush is performed to remove the  organisms from the middle ear.  The infection is then treated with oral antibiotics in addition to topical ear medication.

Many pets will allow their ears to be cleaned.  We are always happy to show you how to safely  clean your dogs' ears.  For pets who are difficult to medicate or will simply not allow their ears to be cleaned, there are alternative approaches we can take to help resolve their ear infections.  We, at Parkland Veterinary Hospital have all the required diagnostic equipment (otoscope, microscope, and more) to perform a though examination and subsequent treatment for your pet's ear infection.

Follow this link for a video tutorial on how to clean your pet's ears:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTygZTCXTmA

Parkland Veterinary Hospital, 
7675 N State Road 7, 
Parkland, FL 33073 
Phone: 954.757.1729, 
Fax: 954.775.0829

www.ParklandVetHospital.com, 

www.facebook.com/ParklandVetHospital  

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Located at the corner of:
Loxahatchee Rd and US 441,
Behind the CVS Pharmacy,
In the Waterways Shoppes Plaza

Our Slogan: "At The Heart of Veterinary Medicine" (TM)