Brown, Smelly Dog Ears: Possible Ear Mites/Fungus Infec

When you notice a brown substance in your dog's ears, accompanied by an unpleasant,臭臭 smell, it's often a sign of ear mites or Malassezia infection. If left untreated, this can lead to conditions like otitis externa or otitis media, and potentially more severe diseases. Today, we'll delve into what to do when faced with this situation and explore the appropriate treatments.

What is Ear Mite?

Ear mites are parasites that primarily reside in a pet's external ear canal, feeding on earwax, dander, and blood, causing intense itching.

When a dog is infected with ear mites, they typically exhibit the following symptoms:

Constant head shaking or scratching at the ears, or even rubbing their head against objects.

Brown or black earwax that appears waxy or muddy, sometimes clumping into pieces or small granules, resembling coffee grounds.

A slight acid or foul odor from the ears.

Inflammation, redness, and hair loss on the earflaps.

What is Malassezia?

Malassezia is a common lipophilic yeast that dogs are more prone to infection with than ear mites. When a dog's immune system is weakened, or if the ears get wet and are not wellventilated, Malassezia can thrive and lead to the following symptoms:

Ear itching, with the dog frequently scratching or shaking their head, though the itching may be less intense.

A foul, smelly odor from the ears.

Inflammation, pain, and redness in the ears.

A large amount of brown, oily secretions in the ear canal, with severe cases showing dandruff.

How to Distinguish Between Ear Mites and Malassezia Infections

While the symptoms of ear mites and Malassezia infections can be quite similar, making it difficult to differentiate, especially for new pet owners. If there's a notable difference, it's that the earwax from Malassezia infection tends to be wetter and oilier.

However, many cases involve both Malassezia and ear mite infections, sometimes accompanied by bacterial infections like cocci or bacilli. Even professional veterinarians may not be able to determine the exact cause just by examining the symptoms.

Therefore, if you find brown material in your dog's ears with an odor, it's best to take them to a veterinary clinic for a proper examination and diagnosis as soon as possible.

How to Treat Ear Mites and Malassezia Infections in Dogs

If you can identify the type of infection, consider the following treatments:

1. Ear Mite Treatment

Use Ear Clear (pet ear cleaning solution) to clean the ear secretions, once daily.

After cleaning, apply Ear Clear (miconazole nitrate ointment) for 7 to 10 days, then adjust to 2 to 3 times per week, continuing for 21 to 28 days, depending on the ear canal's recovery.

Administer DropPay (pyriproxyfen moxidectin drops) for deworming, every 15 to 18 days, for two doses, then adjust to once a month for prevention.

2. Malassezia Treatment

Use a petspecific ear cleaning solution to wash the dog's ears. For dogs with more hair in the external ear canal, like Teddy or Bichon Frise breeds, first sprinkle some ear powder and then remove the hair.

Apply a few drops of EarDrop (fluoroquinolone metronidazole ear drops), once or twice daily.

Orally administer itraconazole, 510mg/kg, once a day, for 2 to 4 weeks. Puppies and kittens should have liver function tests regularly.

For cases that are difficult to distinguish, consider the following treatments:

Use an ear cleaning solution to clean the ear canal secretions.

Administer deworming medication containing selamectin, pyriproxyfen moxidectin, and ivermectin (not for Collies), as needed.

Apply Ear Clear (miconazole nitrate ointment) once daily.

If itching is severe, consider oral NewMino (chlorphenamine maleate tablets) to relieve itching symptoms.

Feed your dog Supervit (vitamin B complex solution) to boost immunity and promote ear canal mucosal repair.

When bathing your dog, be careful to prevent water from entering the ears. You can plug them with cotton before a bath and dry them thoroughly afterward. Additionally, warm and moist environments are more conducive to the growth of bacteria, fungi, and mites, so it's important to maintain a clean living environment.