[SOLVED ] Q. Earache in one inflamed ear

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :

A. That would require a topical and possibly a systemic treatment as well, depending on the severity and the underlying cause of it. Without more details is difficult to be more specific and help any further. Please engage in a consultation or take your dog to your veterinarian for a check up if you require to discuss the problem any further.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

The most common disorder of the ear canal in dogs is called otitis externa. This condition occurs when the layer of cells that line the external ear canal becomes inflamed. Signs include headshaking, odor, redness of the skin, swelling, scratching, increased discharge, and scaly skin.

Ear infections are common conditions in dogs, especially those with floppy ears such as Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels. An estimated 20 percent of dogs have some form of ear disease, which may affect one or both ears.

Some of the main causes include: ear infection, allergy, insect bites, build up, ear mites and ear hematoma. It is important to keep a close eye on it and contact your veterinarian right away so that your pet can get the proper treatment.

They may use a medicated ear cleaner or apply a topical medication. In more severe cases, the vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or oral antibiotics for your pet. Your vet will likely prescribe a topical medication to your dog.

In the meantime, there are some home remedies you can try to ease your pet`s discomfort, such as a warm compress, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide ear flush, and the use of natural anti-inflammatory agents like coconut oil or aloe vera gel.

Allergies. Allergies caused by environmental allergens (such as dust mites, pollens, or molds) or food are common in dogs and frequently cause redness and itchiness of the ears. Allergies often lead to ear canal infections, which can extend to the pinna (outer ear).

Never put anything in your dog`s ear without veterinary instruction. Your veterinary team can help you find the ideal treatment to treat the infection and give your dog much-needed relief. Itchy, uncomfortable ears can be caused by everything from ear infections to allergies and ear mites.

With treatment in the early stages, an uncomplicated ear infection will typically clear up within just a week or two. If your dog`s ear infection is more severe or is caused by an underlying health condition, treatment may be more challenging and may take months to resolve.

Your dog should recover within one-two weeks if their ear heals without complications. However, their exact recovery time will vary depending on what caused their aural haematoma to develop in the first place.

Air allergens, food, contact irritants, ear mite parasites and foreign objects can cause inflammation of the external ear canal, called otitis externa. When bacteria, yeast or parasites cause inflammation, it can turn into an infection.

Management and Treatment

Sometimes, your healthcare provider may prescribe antivirals or antibiotics to treat your inner ear infection. More often, however, they`ll focus on treating your symptoms rather than the infection itself. For example, steroids are often prescribed to ease inflammation.

You can easily manage ear infections like otitis externa with natural ear infection remedies including mullein drops, green tea, apple cider vinegar and calendula. For deeper ear issues (otitis media and interna), you may need to ask your holistic vet if you`re not sure which type of infection your dog has.

You can also use natural remedies such as apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil to combat infections. However, it`s crucial to avoid inserting anything into your dog`s ear canal, as this can cause further damage. If your dog`s symptoms persist or worsen, it`s important to seek veterinary care.

If your dog`s ear is red and inflamed or smells like yeast, take them to the vet as soon as possible. Your veterinarian should clean out an infected ear.

An ear mite infection will cause your dog`s ears to itch, which often results in them shaking their head excessively, or scratching at their ears with their paws. Ear mites can also produce wax and irritation, so your pet`s ears may well look red and inflamed.

“It`s important never to give paracetamol to your dog unless your vet tells you to – it can be very dangerous if it`s given incorrectly.” Claire explains that you should always head to your vet for advice, including if your pup accidentally digests a painkiller.

Antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin-clavulanate, enrofloxacin, clindamycin, or cefpodoxime) will be used for a bacterial infection for a minimum of six to eight weeks. If the infection is fungal, an anti-fungal medication (most often itraconazole) will be prescribed.

If your dog has ear infections, you do not want to get his ears wet. You can clean his ears outside of the tub without water, but while he is in the tub, protect his ears from getting wet. Wet down your dog with a cup and warm water or use a handheld shower to get your dog wet and ready for washing.

Ear infections can be quite painful for your pet, so you`ll most likely notice signs of discomfort. Some more specific signs that are typical of pets battling an ear infection include: Crusting or scabs in the ear. Dark discharge.

Redness and swelling of the ear

The longer your dog`s ear infection goes on untreated, the more likely you will be to see swelling and redness of the ear. This is a sign that the infection is worsening and needs to be treated right away, so go to the vet immediately if you notice this symptom crop up.

What happens if a dog ear infection goes untreated? A dog ear infection left untreated can lead to a number of health problems that range in their levels of severity. Otitis externa can lead to hearing loss, while otitis interna can lead to difficulties with coordination and neurological abnormalities.

An auricular hematoma is a collection of blood underneath the perichondrium of the ear and typically occurs secondary to trauma. Auricular deformity, commonly known as “cauliflower ear” is the result of untreated or inadequately treated auricular hematoma.

Auricular hematomas are an uncommon but serious ENT emergency that if not treated properly can lead to cartilage destruction and cauliflower ear. Take Away #2: If there are additional findings or concerns, then you may want to do more testing.

A dog`s ear hematoma is excruciatingly painful, and the severe swelling might be frightening, it can heal on its own if left untreated, but this might take weeks, leaving your pet feeling pain through the process.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. One of my pet’s ears seems very irritated. What I can use to clean it with?

ANSWER : A. Ear Irritation can be caused by a number of things ranging from allergies, ear infections or even mites. Dirty ears can also cause irritation and problems. Knowing the type of problem is best for figuring out how to treat it.

For plain dirty ears that do not have any odor, redness or leakage of discharge/debris, a simple over the counter canine ear cleaner can be used. Gently soak some cotton balls or a washcloth with the cleaner, and then use these to wipe out the flap of the ear and opening to the ear. Do NOT use Q-tips as these can become stuck or lodged in the curve of the ear canal and may cause injury to the ear drum.

If the ear is bright red or itchy without any dirt or debris in it, it may indicate an allergy. Sometimes an allergy medication can help provide relief in this situation. Your vet can give you the correct dosages of an over the counter allergy medication to use, or may recommend one specifically for dogs.

For infections and mites, changes to the ear such as bad smell or lots of debris and discharge, flecks of black or brown debris, or scabs and sores in the ear may be present. In these cases, it is best to have your vet take a sample of the ear debris to test for mites or infection. Your vet can then give you an ointment that is placed and left in the ear between ear cleanings. Most vets will then recommend cleaning the ears twice daily and then leaving in the ointment after for a period of ten days.

Ear mites ARE contagious to other pets, so if your dog does have them, it is best to treat any other pets in the house at the same time to prevent the mites from spreading around continuously.

Read Full Q/A … : How to Treat a Dog's Ear Infection Without Vet Help

Q. My dog is having ear problems. I have had her at two vets and they can not seem to find the cause. Can you help?

ANSWER : A. For a pet with chronic ear issues I would recommend checking her thyroid levels. Hypothyroidism can be a cause of chronic ear infections.

Then I would recommend having a bacterial culture of the ear debris to ensure the appropriate antibiotic is chosen to completely rid the bacteria in there. If there is resistant bacteria, the ear will appear to get better at first but then once ear meds are stopped they will thrive again and cause a re-emergency of the ear infection. Also longer treatment may be needed, for example instead of 7-10 days, perhaps 14 days continuously.

If all else fails, I would recommend a skull radiographs to look for signs of a narrow ear canal and/or an inner ear infection which will require not only topical antibiotic ointments put into the ear, but also oral antibiotics.
Most ear infections are caused by moisture in the ears, narrow ear canals, hypothyroidism or skin allergies. Each one has to be gone through systematically.

Read Full Q/A … : Dog has ear problems; flaking and smelly – Questions …

Q. I have two problems with my 16 yrs old dog: he’s constipated and has a ear ache. What can I use to relieve these?

ANSWER : A. Constipation is a common problem in dogs that can be due to a number of things. However it is a good idea to make sure the constipation is not actually diarrhea, as some dogs can strain after a bowel movement, making it look like such. If constipation is present, adding a little pumpkin puree or plain yogurt to the diet can help make digestion easier and make stools easier to pass. However if symptoms do not resolve after a few days, it is best to speak with your vet.

For ear aches, it is best to have your vet examine the ear as many things including allergies, ear infections, mites and more can cause ear problems. If the ear is just dirty, then cleaning the ear gently with cotton balls or a clean washcloth and a dog ear cleaning solution can help. Do not use Q-tips as a dog’s ear has a 90-degree turn in it and placing Q-tips in the ear can cause damage to the canal or inner ear. However if the problem persists or cleaning does not help, it is best to seek care.

Read Full Q/A … : Dog Constipation Causes and Treatment – pets.webmd.com

Q. Dog has dry ears and it itches him. Any recommended soothing lotions??

ANSWER : A. I will answer this question as if you are speaking of the inside of the ears (not the external). Most dogs ears aren’t dry unless they have other skin issues such as skin allergies, which can be seasonal or year around and caused by many different things, such as foods, environment, dust, grass, pollen, and products (shampoos, perfumes, etc). Check in the ears for waxy build up. The ears should be clean of any wax and dry. If they have build up, I would take a cotton ball, and soak half of it in a dog ear cleaning solution. This solution should be made specifically for dogs, and your local vet would most likely sell the appropriate brand.

I would address any possible skin allergies, if they do not have any other skin issues, then looking inside the ears and cleaning with a good ear cleaner (should be alcohol free—because alcohol is very drying) If the ear scratching continues regularly then bring him/her into the vet to have a proper ear exam.

Read Full Q/A … : 4 Ways to Diagnose and Treat Your Dog's Itchy Skin Problems

Q. Can you use Floxin Otic for ear infections on dogs?

ANSWER : A. Floxin Otic is an ear cleaning solution designed for the clearing of ear infections in people. While it may be similar to dog products used for ear infections, it is best to bring it to your vet’s attention first so he or she can compare it to dog-safe products. It may be that it is in the same concentration and can be safely used, or your vet can instead recommend a product that is in the right formulation.

If you are seeing an ear infection in your dog’s ears, your vet can provide you with a dog-safe medication to use. Ear infections are usually treated over a period of ten days and involve cleaning the ear 2x daily and then placing the otic ointment in the ear to stay in place until the next cleaning.

Read Full Q/A … : Ofloxacin Otic Solution for Dogs – Vetinfo.com

Q. My dog keeps shaking his head at night and is very anxious acting? We’ve cleaned his ears and putting ear drops in hasn’t helped?

ANSWER : A. It sounds like ear canal infection. I am not sure if you used ear drops to clean ears (they do not contain antibiotics) or ear drops from your vets to treat ear infection. In case you used ear cleaner only you should take your dog to your vets to get antibiotics. If you are using antibiotics drops and there is no improvement your vet may recommend taking a swab from the ear to check what bacteria, fungus or parasite is responsible for the infection and then pick the most effective medication.

Read Full Q/A … : Idiopathic head tremors – Oh My Dog!

Q. My cat got outside one day. When he came back in his ear was swollen. HIs ear then shriveled up and his other ear is swollen. What could have happened

ANSWER : A. If the ear is thick and it looks like a lump on the pinna then it could be ear hematoma ( you can look online for pictures of ear hematoma in dogs). Sometimes ear will swell as a result of allergic reaction -they are usually red and hot.

Read Full Q/A … : My cat's outer ear is swollen and red. What should I do …

Q. My dog scratches his ears (inner) a lot. I looked online and they said that dogs easily get ear mites. Does having ear wax mean having ear mites?

ANSWER : A. Most common reason for itchy ears and excessive wax production is bacterial ear infection. Ear mites can happen but are less common than bacterial infection. most of ear drops for dogs contain medications for all fungal, bacterial and parasitic infection.

Read Full Q/A … : PetMeds® My Dog Has Red Ears – Is It An Ear Infection …