OTITIS EXTERNA
Otitis Externa (infection of the external ear canal) is more common in dogs than other domestic animals. The highest incidence is in those dogs with pendent ears and hair growth in the external ear canal, such as Cocker spaniels and Springer spaniels.
COMMON CAUSES
Some of the agents commonly incriminated as causes of external otitis are: water, soap, oil, powders, grass awns, parasites, tumors, accumulations of wax, and accumulations of epithelial cells. Multiplication of bacteria and yeast is favored when the ears are inflamed due to any of these various irritants.
SYMPTOMS
The itching and pain of otitis externa causes the animal to be restless, to rub its ears against objects, to shake and scratch its head, or to tilt its head to the affected side. One or both ears may be involved. The inflammation is aggravated by the head shaking and scratching, and the skin may become abraded from scratching, leading to a traumatic dermatitis.
TREATMENT
Treatment usually consists of a thorough, gentle cleansing and removal of hair from the ear, followed by eardrops or ointment, and often-systemic antibiotics as well. A sample of the discharge from the ear is often examined under a microscope to identify the cause of the infection. In prolonged or severe cases, bacterial culture and sensitivity may be required, as may surgery.
PREVENTION
Keep water, soap and all foreign objects out of the ear canal unless prescribed by the doctor. A routine weekly ear cleaning with a solution made for that purpose is a good habit to get into. All dogs should have routine inspections of the ear canal to check for discharge or odor, and to ensure that the canal is not obstructed. Some breeds need the hair regularly plucked from the canal, but in others plucking will cause problems.
One common mistake is periodic haphazard medicating of an infected ear canal. If an infection is not completely eradicated, and is chronic or recurrent, scar tissue will build up in the ear canal and the bacteria will become resistant to antibiotics. To prevent this, always medicate the ear as prescribed, and have the ear rechecked by your veterinarian to ensure that it has healed properly.
