Symptoms & Treatment of Dog Ear Inflammation: A Compreh

Dog Otitis Externa:

Otitis externa refers to inflammation of the outer ear canal. Clinically, it is characterized by severe itching, restlessness, head shaking, frequent scratching of the ears with the hind legs, and a distinct foul odor emanating from the ear canal.

Causes of Dog Otitis Externa:

Several factors can lead to otitis externa. The ear canal often harbors debris, making it an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Largeeared dogs with drooping ears are particularly prone. A variety of bacteria can infect the outer ear, including Proteus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Clostridium botulinum, and Escherichia coli. Fungal otitis externa can be caused by molds such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Rhizopus, as well as dermatophytes and Candida species. Parasitic otitis externa is primarily caused by dog ear mites.

Symptoms of Dog Otitis Externa:

Dogs with otitis externa may exhibit restlessness, intense itching, scratching the ears with their hind legs, and sometimes selfinflicted injuries leading to abrasions and bleeding. On examination, the outer ear canal may contain yellowbrown discharge with a foul odor, and the ear canal's epithelium may become thickened. The fur around the ear canal may be stained yellow due to the excreted sticky secretion. If left untreated, it can progress to otitis media or suppurative otitis media.

Treatment for Dog Otitis Externa:

Treatment involves inflammation reduction, itching relief, identifying and removing the cause, and cleaning the ear canal of debris and moisture.

(1) For dogs that refuse treatment, anesthesia may be necessary. For bacterial otitis media, gentamicin solution can be used to thoroughly clean the ear canal with cotton swabs. If ear mites are the cause, dipterex solution (2 grams of dipterex in 100 milliliters of water) can be used to clean the ear canal with cotton swabs.

(2) Ear drops can be administered 23 times a day. A mixture of neomycin, dexamethasone, and lidocaine can also be used, 26 drops per application, 34 times a day.

(3) Dogs with severe infections may require systemic antibiotic therapy.

While otitis externa may not seem like a major illness in dogs, it can significantly disrupt their daily lives. The intense itching can lead to frustration and anxiety, affecting the dog's mood. In the long run, this could lead to a loss of appetite or mood disturbances. Moreover, if left untreated, otitis externa can lead to more serious conditions. Therefore, Dr. Oxygen Pet advises all pet owners to seek veterinary care promptly for any health issues in their pets to alleviate their discomfort as soon as possible!