Ear infections are on the list of the most common ailments that will afflict dogs. The reason for this is because most dogs have ears which flop close that will create a warm and moist environment inside the inner portion of their ear where bacteria and fungus will possibly thrive. The infection could occur in the external part of the ear canal and termed as the otitis externa. This may progress and spread inside the middle ear of the dog.
If this will happen, the infection will then be called otitis media. The inner ear can be affected if the infection will become severe and aggressive. This is known as otitis interna and if this infection will spread to the central nervous system, this may cause systemic infection and even death. It is clear that ear infection in dogs may have an unfortunate result. However, even mild infections will result to significant discomfort in dogs that are why they must be treated at once. Here is important information regarding the different health problems in dogs.
Dog Ear Infection Causes
The ear infection in dogs is typically caused by both bacteria and fungus. Bacterial ear infections are the result of the overgrowth of bacteria within the ear of the dog. The lack of airflow as well as the accumulation of moisture inside the ears of dogs with floppy ears will make it the ideal environment for the bacteria to thrive. What will also contribute to the condition is the negligence of the owner in cleaning regularly the ears of the dogs.
The fungal ear infections are due to presence of fungus which is able to increase well inside the dark and damp environment of the dog’s ear. The dog ear yeast infection is the most common kind of fungal ear infection in dogs. Even if yeast is naturally present in the body due to the changes in body chemistry this could lead to overgrowth of the fungi which will then become a problem. In addition, fungi can be transferred to the skin by way of direct contact. It is important that you are aware that fungal infections can possibly spread to other parts of the body. Learn more about the ear infections in dogs.
Dog Ear Infection Symptoms
A dog that suffers from a bacterial infection will possibly have discharges from the ear together with redness, swelling and pain. If you see your dog shaking his head from side to side, you must suspect the occurrence of bacterial ear infection. In addition with these indications, other symptoms of fungal ear infection in dogs are scaling, dryness and itching.
Another problem which will emerge is the possibility that the dog may break his skin he scratches his ears and will result to a secondary bacterial infection that will affect the outer ear. Listed below are more symptoms of dog ear infection.
Dog Ear Infection Treatment
Infections which occur in the dog’s ear require medical attention since these cannot be resolved at home. A practice in preventing ear infection is to clean the ears of your pets regularly and to dry them as soon as they finished bathing. If the infection has set in, try to clean away the discharge at least twice in a day in order to alleviate some amount of discomfort. Hydrocortisone cream can be used to reduce the itchiness which goes with the fungal infection until you will have the time to take your dog to the vet. But treatment is still important because it will not just cure the infection.
More often than not, the application of antibiotic drops together with frequent daily cleanings are prescribed as the treatment for the bacterial ear infections in dogs. Likewise, anti-fungal drops or ointment can be prescribed together with cleaning for fungal ear infection. Another problem which may require treatment is the breaking of blood vessels underneath the surface of the skin because of too much shaking of the head. As the blood vessels break, aural hematoma or pockets of blood can form under the surface of the skin that will usually need treatment with lancing, antibiotic treatment and possibly surgery. Learn further regarding the treatment of dog ear infection.