| Inside a
Dog's Ear
Ear problems are a real head shaker... |
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| Painful, irritated, smelly ears can cause your dog to shake its head vigorously and scratch at or below its ears. The causes of ear problems include allergies, parasites, foreign bodies, yeast or bacteria infection, ruptured ear drum or tumor. | |
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Don't mess with my ears! Dogs generally don't like to have their ears examined, and this is especially true when ears are irritated and painful. Even the most docile pet may snap or bite under these conditions. Inappropriate medications or treatment can cause serious problems, permanent damage and potential hearing loss. If you notice your dog is frequently shaking its head and scratching at it's ears, or if you notice an order or discharge coming from the ears, or you notice ears are inflamed and red, consult your veterinarian. |
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| A swab from inside the ear can be examined for yeast, bacteria, white blood cells, or parasites such as ear mites. The presence of white blood cells is an indicator that the ear drum may be ruptured. It's important to know if the ear drum is intact before treatment, because some medications can cause damage to the middle ear if the ear drum in broken. | |
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A video vetscope provides a live, color view of the vertical and horizontal ear canal, all the way down to middle ear. The picture (left) was taken with a video vetscope. It shows that the tympanic membrane (ear drum) is completely gone. Debris from infection needs to be cleaned away and the dog will need systemic antibiotics to help clear up the infection. Once the infection is resolved, the ear drum can grow back.
For more information about ear problems in pets: Companion Animal Dermatology: Otitis Externa OTITIS
CLIENT INFORMATION HANDOUT
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