[SOLVED ] Q. Hi, my small Chihuahua has a horrible ear infection. I just used MalAcetic ear drops in his ear. It hurt him worse. How can I quickly soothe...

his ear??

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

A. If your dog has bad ear canal infection preparation like Malacetic is not likely to help. You should take your dog to your vets to get ear drops with antibiotics and pain killers, if necessary.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

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

Topical irritation at the application site: redness, blistering, peeling, swelling, itching, hives and general skin irritation. Hearing loss or deafness has been noted in a small number of sensitive or geriatric dogs. The hearing loss is usually temporary.

Over the counter ear drops for dogs can actually cause your dog more itching and irritation than the condition you used the ear drops for. This can happen if your dog is allergic to one (or more) of the ingredients in the ear drops, such as sulfates, cortisone, antibiotic, antifungal, or antibacterial medications.

Treating ear infections in dogs usually consists of your vet cleaning your dog`s ear with a medicated cleanser and prescribing any antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications required. Your veterinarian may also prescribe a topical medication and instruct you on how and when to apply it to your dog`s ear at home.

Massage the ear canal between your finger and thumb. Then allow your pet to shake his head to help loosen debris that lies deeper in the canal. Do not use cotton swabs – they may puncture your pet`s eardrum. To clean, use small pieces of cotton or tissue to wipe out the ear.

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.

Some people develop an allergy or sensitivity to the ear drops used for otitis externa. You can be allergic to the antibiotic or to the preservative. The itch and discharge may then become worse when you use the drops, rather than better.

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.

Causes of Ear Infections in Dogs

While bacterial infections are the most common cause of ear infections in dogs, yeast, ear mites, and fungus can all cause your dog`s ears to become infected and uncomfortable. Other causes of dog ear infections include foreign objects lodged in the ear, trauma, and tumors or polyps.

Chronic ear infections in dogs can be caused by a variety of reasons, the most common being allergies. However, they can also be caused by foreign material such as grass or dirt, parasitic causes such as ear mites, ear canal masses and polyps.

Your veterinarian will thoroughly clean your dog`s ears using a medicated ear cleanser. Your vet may also prescribe an ear cleanser and a topical medication for you to use at home. In severe cases, your vet may prescribe oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications.

Combine a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water and gently flush your dog`s ears with the mixture. Another option is to use coconut oil, which has antifungal properties. Apply a few drops to your pup`s ear canal, and gently massage it to help it spread.

Oil of oregano is a natural antibiotic. To use if for your dog`s ear infections, add one drop to ½ oz of warm pure aloe vera juice. Clean the visible parts of the ear with a cotton ball soaked in the mixture. Apple cider vinegar can help reduce the itch and discomfort of an ear infection.

The simple answer is no. Dog ear infections require vet treatment and medication in order to restore a healthy ear canal. After the veterinarian has evaluated your pet, they will determine if any further home treatment is appropriate.

Dark brown or black—This type of earwax is commonly associated with yeast and/or bacterial ear infections. It`s a good idea to consult with a veterinarian if earwax is this color. Brown—Light brown earwax is normal and expected. If the wax is accompanied by odor or inflammation, it can be a sign of infection.

When some dogs eat ingredients such as chicken, wheat, corn or other individual items, ingestion will trigger an allergic reaction that can alter the natural flora and allow an unnatural growth of yeast. If your pet suffers from yeasty ears, attempt altering their diet to eliminate common triggers.

Bacteria is the leading cause of ear infections in dogs, however, yeast, fungus and ear mites can all cause your pup`s ears to become infected and painful. Other causes of dog ear infections include foreign objects lodged in the ear, trauma, and tumors or polyps.

The catch is that antibiotics don`t work against viruses – if you use antibiotics on a viral ear infection, it can actually make the infection worse. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to a condition called antibiotic resistance, which means that the medicine becomes less effective at fighting off bacteria.

Possible Complications

A chronic ear infection may cause permanent changes to the ear and nearby bones, including: Infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear (mastoiditis) Ongoing drainage from a hole in the eardrum that does not heal, or after ear tubes are inserted. Cyst in the middle ear (cholesteatoma)

Using ear drops is one easy and effective method. Many commercially available ear drops contain hydrogen peroxide. While hydrogen peroxide can help remove excess earwax, using too much can irritate the skin inside the ear and lead to other problems. Earwax is a waxy substance produced in the ear canal.

Massage the tragus (the piece of skin that sticks out just in front of the ear canal like an open trapdoor). This will close and open the ear canal and force the drops down the ear canal. Continue to lie on your side for a couple minutes to allow the drops to reach the eardrum at the base of the ear canal.

Use of this medication for prolonged or repeated periods may result in a new fungal ear infection. Do not use it for longer than prescribed. Contact your doctor if you notice new or worsening symptoms.

Head Tilt and Shaking

They may also shake their head frequently in an attempt to loosen the pressure in the ear that is causing their pain. Head tilt and head shaking may also be signs of neurological problems in dogs. If this is the only symptom you notice, you should take your dog to the vet for a full checkup.

If left unattended ear infections become extremely painful, smelly, and irritating for your dog. It can cause them to become withdrawn from the family, cry or bite when you touch their painful ear, and can cause them to become snappy towards other pets in the home.

To clean your dog`s ears at home, you`ll need to select a gentle, pet-formulated, ear cleanser. Hold your dog`s ear flap upright, and dribble a small amount of the cleansing solution into the ear canal. As the cleanser seeps down into the canal, use your fingers to massage the base of the ear for around 15-20 seconds.

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. Hi, my small Chihuahua has a horrible ear infection. I just used MalAcetic ear drops in his ear. It hurt him worse. How can I quickly soothe his ear??

ANSWER : A. If your dog has bad ear canal infection preparation like Malacetic is not likely to help. You should take your dog to your vets to get ear drops with antibiotics and pain killers, if necessary.

Read Full Q/A … : Dog Ear Infections: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and …

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. 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 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. My dog has a bad ear infection, his ear is leaking a smelly fluid. Can he take a penicillin to get rid of it?

ANSWER : A. If your dog has an ear infection it is best to have your veterinarian examine it. Ear infections, depending on their type are treated differently. The most common way to treat an ear infection is through daily cleaning of the affected ear and then placement of a medicated ointment that stays in the ear until the next cleaning. Oral antibiotics are sometimes used, but usually in cases where the infection has spread or ointment has not cleared it up.

Do not use penicillin to treat your dog unless instructed by your veterinarian to do so. Penicillin is a general antibiotic and may not be the right choice for treating this particular infection. The wrong dosage can also cause your dog to become very ill.

Read Full Q/A … : My Dog Has a Funny Smell Coming From His Ear – MedicineNet

Q. My cat keeps getting yeast infections in his ears. How can we stop these infections in their tracks? I hate to keep taking him back to the Vets.

ANSWER : A. You have to regularly clean out the cats ears. What can happen is hair will build up in your cat’s ear, and cause yeast infections. If you regularly clean out the hair using swabs and (GENTLY USING) q-tips, you can prevent the yeast infections. You can purchase a cleaner from your veterinarian – I purchased an ear cleaner for my dog from my vet. I clean my dogs ears out at least once a week.

Read Full Q/A … : Ear Infections (Otitis Externa) in Cats – Dog and Cat …