Ear Care for Pets:

Having an ear that is painful can be very unsettling for any pet. Ear infections in your pet can range anywhere from mild to chronic. Some of the symptoms of an ear infection include discharge from the ear. This can be black or yellow in color. Other symptoms include the pet being unnaturally lethargic and irritable and persistently scratching its ear. Also, soreness of the ear canal or redness underneath the ear flap along with bad odor emanating from the ear, vigorous shaking of the head or constant tilting of its head to the side can all indicate the presence of a ear infection. The exact nature of the problem can be ascertained by closely inspecting the ear under magnification and further by taking a microscopic smear of the ear wax. A thorough examination and scrutiny would be needed to look for any foreign objects like ticks or cotton balls that might have got into the ear canal, or for growths, cysts, pus, inflammations and canal wall changes.

Mild ear problems can be caused by ear mites called Otodectes cynotis. Their presence can cause a fair amount of discomfort and hence leads to excessive scratching of the afflicted ear.  This is among the easier infections to diagnose and similarly easy to cure. Chronic ear infections make the animal extremely irritable and even if it improves it can recur.  If an ear infection is left unattended it can perforate the ear drum before it proceeds to travel to the brain, where damage caused can be extensive and severe. Some other causes include dank, moist environments leading to the ear canal then becoming a perfect breeding ground for microorganisms like yeast and bacteria to multiply. Staph bacteria are the predominant bacteria involved in most ear infections. Excessive or low secretion of hormones can further harm your pet’s constitution, thereby leading to various other ear infections. Some pet’s ear problems can be hereditary. Diseases like Primary Seborrhea, Dermatomyositis and some types of tumors in the ears fall into this category.

Some common remedies involve clipping and trimming excess hair present near the ears. Try to prevent debris of any kind accumulating in the ear. Ensure you clean it regularly. In the case of yeast infections a proper antifungal can be prescribed to eliminate the problem. Antibiotics can also be recommended depending on the severity of the infection. If the problem is hormone related or due to allergies, then various kinds of therapies or medical treatments can be undertaken. In the case of dogs specifically, it has been noted that a high percentage of them who suffer frequent ear inflammations or ear infections suffer from some kind of food allergy.

Pet Ear Problems:

Unlike humans, pets’ ears are extremely sensitive. There are several ear infections that your pet could suffer from. These infections are extremely painful to the pet and may cause damage to their inner ears.
Apart from fungal and bacterial infections in the ears, your pet may also suffer from parasitic infections in the ears.  All animals have three parts in their ears. The outer ear is known as the pinna. This is made up of soft tissues. Second is the middle ear where sounds are processed, and third, the inner year where sensitive organs are present. Any of these three parts of the ear could get infected. Here are some of the common ear problems that occur in pets:

• Inflammation: Any kind of skin infection in the ear can cause inflammation. There are several microorganisms like bacteria and fungi that may cause inflammation in the ear. Parasitic infestation, especially by parasites known as ear mites, can cause inflammation in the outer ear.
• Yeast infections: Yeast infections may occur anywhere in the ear. The inner and the middle portions of the ears, however, offer the right kind of environment for yeast to grow and therefore, yeast is most often found in the inner or middle ear.
• Bacterial infections: There are several types of bacteria which can invade the ears. Bacteria such as staphylococci, E. coli, streptococci, etc. can cause bacterial infections in the ear. If the bacterial infection persists, it can cause various different types of discharge, inflammation, and pain.
• Allergies: Pets could also get affected by various different allergies. Allergy is the most common cause of problems in the ears of your pet.  A problem in pet’s ears can also be caused due to foreign bodies lodged in the ears. If your pet has accidentally lodged something in their ear, it may cause irritation due to its movement and the scratching that it may cause.
• Hormones: Though pets may not often suffer from hormonal problems, changes in hormones still continue to be one of the major causes of ear problems in animals. Thyroid hormones are especially responsible for problems in pets.
• Ear mites: These are dark coffee-colored small organisms which may appear like coffee grounds deposited on the outer ear. The ear may need to be cleaned thoroughly to get rid of ear mites. In some cases, putting in a medicated cleaning solution may help to kill the mites in the ear.