Dog Ear Discharge Treatment: Medication Options

Dogs' ears are a prime spot for accumulating dirt and grime, making them susceptible to a variety of issues such as ear mites and otitis. When a dog exhibits symptoms like discharge and a foul odor from its ears, it's often a sign of a purulent otitis externa, an infection that can lead to severe consequences if left untreated, including the possibility of permanent deafness!

Why Are Dogs' Ears Prone to Inflammation?

The canine ear is divided into three sections: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.

The outer ear and middle ear are separated by a tympanic membrane, and beyond that lies the ear canal.

While human ears have a straight structure, dogs' external ear canals are shaped like an "L," with a vertical and a horizontal component. This design makes it easier for water and other foreign objects to enter the horizontal canal, where they can breed bacteria and lead to infections. Moreover, when we clean our dogs' ears with cotton swabs, we can only reach the vertical canal; to clean the horizontal part, we need specialized tools like curved forceps or ear cleaning solutions.

Which Dogs Are More Susceptible to Ear Inflammation?

1. Small Longhaired Dogs: Their narrow ear canals and long ear hair can trap moisture, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.

2. Large Eared Dropping Dogs: Breeds like Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Dachshunds, and Golden Retrievers often suffer from poor ventilation in their ear canals due to their large ears, which are constantly covering the ear openings, making them a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites.

3. Some Standing Eared Dogs: Dogs like Bulldogs have narrow ear canals, which also make them prone to ear infections.

The Consequences of Dogs' Ear Inflammation with Discharge

Ear infections can range from otitis externa to otitis media and otitis interna. If left uncontrolled, an external ear infection can escalate to a middle or inner ear infection, potentially leading to more severe complications such as meningitis, ataxia, facial nerve paralysis, hearing loss, and even death.

Common symptoms include:

● Frequent scratching or shaking of the head

● Tilting the head, spinning, or losing sense of direction

● Hearing loss and dull reactions

● Redness, discharge, and a foul odor from the ears

How to Treat Dogs with Discharging, Smelly Ears

Ear infections can be complex, as it's often difficult to determine the extent of the inflammation with the naked eye. For mild external or early middle ear infections, selfmedication may be an option. However, for more severe cases of middle or inner ear infections, immediate veterinary care is essential.

When you notice your dog's ears are discharging and smell bad, it's best to take them to a vet for a checkup and a proper diagnosis before starting any treatment.

Home treatment for mild ear infections:

1. Cleaning the Ear Canal

Use a sterile saline solution mixed with a small amount of antibiotic to clean your dog's ear canal once a day. Alternatively, you can use a petspecific ear cleaning solution, such as Erdivide (Pet Ear Care Solution). Be cautious not to insert the cotton swab too deep into the ear canal, as it can damage the eardrum or push earwax further into the inner ear, causing a blockage.

2. Medication

After cleaning, wait for 20 to 30 minutes before applying an antibacterial ear drop, such as Erdoc (Fluoroquinolone and Metronidazole Ear Drops), which offers dual antibacterial action and effective antiinflammatory properties with strong penetration.

3. Oral Antibiotics

Administer amoxicillinclavulanate potassium or Ethosin (Cefadroxil Tablets) once daily for seven days to control the infection and prevent the spread of inflammation.

To prevent recurring ear infections, it's crucial to keep the ears dry and clean. For breeds prone to ear infections (such as Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds), regular cleaning and ear canal care are essential.