Home 
Dog Health and Care Canine Ear Infections: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Dog Health and Care Canine Ear Infections: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention | Canine Ear Infections: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention |
| Written by Heather Fox | ||||||||
| Friday, 16 October 2009 | ||||||||
|
All ear infections display the same symptoms regardless of the cause. Listed below are some of the signs to watch for at home.
All ear infections display the same symptoms regardless of the cause. Listed below are some of the signs to watch for at home. Shaking the head Scratching at the head or ears Constant rubbing of the head and ears on the floor or ground A distinct redness or irritation in the ear canal Discharge coming from the ears A brown or yellowish discharge present in the ears Bad smell coming from the ears Pain when the head or ears are touched or petted Veterinarian Visit - The Diagnosis When you first notice symptoms of an ear infection, it is important to take your dog to see your veterinarian. You should be careful about putting anything into your dogs ears before a veterinary examination. If your dog has a ruptured eardrum, putting anything in its ears could lead to more severe symptoms including a head tilt, walking in circles, or other neurologic symptoms. For dogs that get repeated ear infections or have infections that will not go away with treatment, it is important to find the underlying cause of their problems. Some things are easy to figure out just from a physical examination. If a dog has a lot of hair in its ears, floppy pinnae, or small ear canals, a visual examination will show this. Tumors and foreign objects in the ear can usually be seen during a physical examination, too. Food allergies are usually ruled out with a food trial. During a food trial, a special hypoallergenic food is fed for a period of 8-12 weeks. The dog is monitored during this time to see if its symptoms improve. Blood tests and skin tests are used to rule out Atopy or seasonal or inhalant allergies. These are performed just as they are in humans and can provide specifically what your dog is allergic to. Blood tests for endocrine related diseases will be performed. These tests show the veterinarian if a certain endocrine organ is functioning properly. If there is an endocrine problem, other symptoms will present themselves besides ear infections. Treatment for Ear Infection Addressing the underlying reason is an important part of treating ear infections. For dogs with food allergies, it is important to avoid those foods that they are allergic to. Dogs with atopy will probably be on a combination of medications to control their symptoms for the rest of their lives. This usually consists of a combination of corticosteroids, antihistamines, omega-3 fatty acid supplements and cyclosporine. Periodic treatment of skin and ear infections with antibiotics, antifungals, shampoos and topical rinses is usually necessary. The course of treatment varies for each dog and depends on how severely allergic they are and how well they respond to therapy. For the most part, ear infections can be treated with oral medications and a topical medication placed in the ear. This treatment usually lasts two weeks, however some cases may take longer. It is highly important to note that you must also clean your dogs ears once or twice a week to remove medication buildup. This can collect debris which then impedes the healing process. If after the medication is completed the ear infection is not gone, an ear swab or culture may be needed for further testing. Preventing Ear Infections Treat all underlying diseases Dry your dogs ears out after a bath. Dry your dogs ears out every time it swims. Do not use water or cleaner inside your dogs ears unless absolutely necessary and always make sure to dry them thoroughly Remember: Keeping your dogs ears dry is the one key element in preventing as well as treating ear infections. About the Author: An experience veterinarian with great passion for writing, Heather Fox loves to share her knowledge about Dog Illness Diagnosis with fellow pet lovers. You can find more of her lessons including Dog Flea Allergy Dermatitis Symptoms on Clivir.com. Views: 124
|
||||||||
Be first to comment this article
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|