Do your pet’s ears stink? Are they shaking their head or scratching at their ears a lot? Is there brown gunk or debris in your pet’s ears? It sounds like your pet may have an ear infection! Ear infections are a common issue seen in our patients, especially in dogs and cats. You may have some questions regarding this condition. Thankfully, Dr. Aparna Modi and her veterinary medical team at Heights Hospital for Animals in Yorktown Heights is here to help!
What Is An Ear Infection?
Ear infections, also known as otitis externa, occur when there is excess bacteria and/or yeast, or ear mites. Sometimes pets can have inflammation in the ear without any actual infection, but that is rare.
How Do I Know If My Pet Has An Ear Infection?
Just like they are in humans, ear infections are often uncomfortable or even painful for your pet. You may notice your pet shaking/tilting their head, and scratching or rubbing their ears. You may also notice an unpleasant odor or discharge coming from their ears. Your pet’s ears may feel warm to the touch or appear red/swollen on the inside surface. If your pet’s ears are especially painful or uncomfortable you may notice that they react differently to you petting them.
Are Ear Infections Serious?
If left untreated, ear infections can have serious complications for your pet.
Chronic ear infections can actually cause thickening and hardening of the ear canal. The development of bacterial biofilms, ruptured or damaged eardrums and the spreading of the infection to the middle and inner ear can all occur if an external ear infection is left untreated.
How Is An Ear Infection Diagnosed And Treated?
Our veterinarian, Dr. Aparna Modi, will do a thorough physical exam on your pet.
This includes looking in the ear canal, and obtaining a sample from each ear. These samples are put on a glass slide, stained and placed under a microscope. The doctor or technician will evaluate the slide to see what organisms are present in the sample(s).
Treatment for ear infections depends on a variety of factors. This includes: what organism(s) are present in the sample(s), how much inflammation is present, the temperament of your pet, etc. Sometimes a therapeutic cleaning will be performed at the hospital, if there is a lot of debris/discharge present and your pet will allow it. Usually the treatment for ear infections are topical. There are medications that need to be applied once or twice a day at home and there are other medications that are considered “leave in” treatments (applied by the veterinary staff in the office). There are circumstances where a special ear cleanser will be dispensed for maintenance use after the infection is treated. Dr. Aparna Modi will discuss which treatment options your pet is a candidate for and come up with a treatment plan that works best for you and your pet.
What causes ear infections?
Ear infections have several different causes, but the most common reason is allergies. Pets can be allergic to something in the environment, such as pollen, dust mites, or molds–this is called atopy. They can also have an allergy to something in their diet, called food allergies. If your pet gets multiple ear infections, you will definitely want to address the possibility of allergies.
What Should I Do If I Suspect My Pet Has An Ear Infection?
If you suspect your pet has an ear infection, it’s important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Don’t use any ear medications or cleansers without specific instructions from your veterinarian. Some ear medications shouldn’t be used if the eardrum isn’t intact, which can only be assessed at the veterinary office. Moreover, using medications or cleansers can hide what’s present in the ear canal. Effective treatment is determined from knowing exactly what organisms are in the ear canal and their numbers via a cytology (where the sample slide is viewed under a microscope).
Is there a lot of wax or debris in your pet’s ears? Do your pet’s ears smell bad or seem to bother them? They may have an ear infection! Dr. Aparna Modi at Heights Hospital for Animals is here to help you and your pet. Please give her team a call at (914)
962-5579, text us at (833)-931-3060 or stop by the office at 1865 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights NY 10598 to set up an appointment!