Hi there! We are sorry you are here but we’re happy to help. Ear infections are no fun. Pets are often uncomfortable, itchy and downright miserable. Ear infections that are left untreated or come on quickly can be very painful and lead to complications such as aural hematoma, rupture of the ear drum, and hearing changes. Review the below information to learn about how you can detect an ear infection in your pet, how to help your pet’s comfort and when to see a profressional.
What’s going on with your pet?
COMMON EAR INFECTION SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE:
Head shaking
Odor and/or discharge from the ear
Redness and/or pain of the ear
Swelling of the ear flap
Drooping of the ear
Guarding the ear. They do not want you to touch it!
When infections are deep in the ear or have gotten severe you may also see:
Signs of vestibular disease
A head tilt
Incoordination or ataxia
Rhythmic movement of the eyes also called nystagmus
Drooping of the face and ear
More systemic signs such as not wanting to eat or lethargy
Here’s what you can do...
HOW TO DEAL WITH EAR INFECTIONS IN YOUR PET AT HOME
- If your pet is not too painful you can gently clean the ear with a commercial pet specific ear cleaner or saline. Wipe the outer portion and flap only.
- Never use a Q-tip or anything else to clean down in the canal. This can be painful and cause the infection to get pushed further into the canal.
If they are flapping the ears and they have started to swell, you can place a head wrap to prevent hematoma formation. - If they let you touch the ear, you can apply a cold compress to help with pain and swelling. Never apply ice directly to the skin! Apply the compress for 10 minutes at a time every 2-4 hours.
- If your pet acts painful or does not want you to do this, skip this step.
Does your pet need Urgent Care?
Yes! Ear infections should be treated quickly to help prevent complications and to get your pet comfortable as soon as possible.
What can you expect from your visit?
YOUR SCOUT VETERINARIAN MAY RECOMMEND:
- Ear cytology: we take a sample from the ear canal with a cotton swab and look at it under the microscope. We are looking for the type of infection that may be present (yeast or bacteria or both!)
- Culture: Sometimes infections can be hard to treat. A culture can help your Scout veterinarian know exactly what to use to help your pet.
- Topical medications: Most infections are treated with topical medications placed directly in the ear. This gets the treatment right to the source quickly.
- Oral medications: Sometimes the ear canal is too closed off to get treatment topically. Other times the middle and/or inner ear is also affected. In this case your Scout veterinarian may recommend oral medications in addition to or instead of topical treatments.
- Pain medications: Sometimes treating the infection itself is all that is needed to improve comfort. Other times, your pet may require additional pain medications at the beginning of treatment.
- Follow up appointments: Often times, your Scout veterinarian will recommend that you follow up to ensure the infection is fully treated. If you have a primary care veterinarian that you normally see, you can choose to see them or come back to see Scout.
- Remember that you are the best advocate for your pet. If you think it’s a problem it probably is! We are here for you in your time of need.
