Category: Ears

Fly strike, also called myiasis, is an irritation of your dog’s ear caused by biting flies. A warm weather disease that primarily affects dogs confined to the outdoors in the summer and fall, fly strike is most often caused by the common stable fly, however, blackflies, deer flies, and houseflies can also bite.

These insects bite and feed from the blood on the dog’s ears causing painful, red and bleeding sores along the edges of the ears. In erect-eared dogs, the flies typically bite at the tips of the ears. In floppy-eared dogs, the front edge of the ear is a popular site for fly bites. In some severe cases, the face can also be involved, and the bite wounds attract flies that lay their eggs in the damaged tissue. These eggs will later hatch into maggots.

What does fly strike look like?

Fly strike, with its red, crusty, bleeding lesions on the tips of a dog’s ears can look just like mange, scratching from allergies, vasculitis – swollen, inflamed blood vessels – or erythematosis, an autoimmune disorder where the animal’s immune system attacks normal, healthy tissue.

How is fly strike diagnosed?

Ear wounds can sometimes be difficult to diagnose without various specific tests. In order to differentiate between fly strike and these other diseases, an ear exam, skin scraping, bacterial or fungal culture, or a skin biopsy may be required. Your veterinarian may also want a complete blood count, chemistry profile, and urinalysis to make sure the rest of your pet’s body is healthy.

What kind of veterinary treatment is available?

Treatment involves physical removal of the maggots if any are present, wound flushing and cleansing with an antibiotic liquid medication, removal of any remaining dead tissue from your dog’s ears, and clipping hair from the area to aid in drying of the affected areas. Most vets will recommend giving your dog a systemic antibiotic to speed healing. Because this condition can be particularly painful, many veterinarians will opt to either anesthetize or sedate your dog during the initial treatment process.

How can I help my dog at home?

Whether you live in the city or country, do not underestimate the pain that these flies can inflict and be sure to initiate treatment at the first sign of fly bites on your pet. Gently cleanse the ear with warm water and a mild antiseptic soap, or an all-natural, organic ear cleanser containing peppermint and tea tree oil. Peppermint has a high menthol content and has long been used for its anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties. Some holistic veterinarians suggest tea tree oil is for its antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities.

Then, apply a topical antibiotic ointment that will help to control any infection that may be present. If the fly bites are severe, or maggots are present, veterinary attention is needed.

If your dog lives mainly outside (which we DO NOT recommend), you’ll need to spray your dog’s outside living quarters to help keep fly numbers to a minimum. Remove any materials that may attract flies, including fecal material, uneaten pet food, and garbage from the area.

Whether your dog stays mainly inside or outside your home, keep your pet clean and well-groomed, using an all-natural insect repellant spray to keep flies and other pests away from exposed ears and other delicate areas of the body.

The most important treatment for this problem is prevention, which consists of keeping your dog inside as much as possible during the heat of the day, except when exercising or eliminating.

The canine ear canal, with its horizontal and vertical layout, predisposes certain dogs to ear infections because the debris accumulated in earwax and skin oil must work its way upward, instead of straight out. This debris feeds the fungi and bacteria that normally live in the ear canal and breeds painful, itchy ear infections.

For dogs that love to get in the water to play and swim, the extra moisture in the ear can mean chronic ear infections that, if left untreated, result in deafness, balance issues, and constant pain.

So what can a responsible pet parent do when your dogs can’t seem to stay out of the water and you don’t want to curtail their fun? Learning what causes the infection, getting a proper veterinary diagnoses and treatment, then preventing any further disease with regular ear cleaning at home helps keep your pooch healthy and safe, while still allowing for the summer time activities you both love.

What causes my dog’s ear infections?

There can be any number of reasons your dog has an ear infection ranging from an abundance of yeast, an invasion of bacteria, mites, trauma, allergies, or hereditary issues. For dogs that love the water, the warm, moist layout of the canine ear canal can be a ripe environment for all types of infections. Dogs with heavy, floppy ears, like the Beagle and the Cocker Spaniel, are prone to infections due to excess moisture build-up. Additionally, Cockers, Poodles, and the Maltese – just about any breed with an excess of hair in the canal – tend to be primed for ear infections unless the hair is regularly plucked during grooming.

What symptoms should I watch for?

It’s fairly easy to tell if your dog has developed an ear infection. If you notice any of the following signs, veterinary treatment is recommended to alleviate the problem.

· Scratching or rubbing of the ears

· Excessive head shaking

· Red, inflamed ears

· Black or yellowish discharge

· Offensive ear odor

· Constant head tilting

· Pain upon handling of the ears

· Behavioral changes, such as depression or irritability

What kind of treatment is available?

Veterinary treatment typically relies on antibacterial or antifungal eardrops depending on the diagnosed cause of your dog’s ear infection and may require several treatments daily. Your veterinarian may also prescribe systemic antibiotics or corticosteroids to deal with any lingering skin infections and inflammation. These drugs often take several weeks to become effective and, over time, can lose their efficacy if your dog’s ear infections are chronic.

Is there a way to prevent ear infections?

The best way to prevent your pooch from cultivating an infection is by starting a regular, at-home ear-cleaning regimen. You can purchase ear cleaning solutions from your veterinarian, but those products typically contain an assortment of chemicals that become less effective over time, and they can be cost prohibitive when used regularly.

An all-natural, organic formula with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties may be just the answer to your problem. A few drops in each ear per week can break down any waxy buildup that can become a breeding ground for infection. Additionally, if you look for a solution containing essential oils and organics such as comfrey, calendula, and arnica, you’ll ease any itching and discomfort caused by inflammation and repel any water that gets into the ear while swimming or bathing.

For the dog that loves to swim (or the dog that is frequently bathed), look for an ear cleanser with gentle, drying properties. A formula consisting of essential oils and aloe softens ear wax and sanitizes ear tissue, while the touch of alcohol helps dry any moisture left in the ear after playing in the water or bathing. The inclusion of lavender, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil in the solution relieves any swelling or redness, and promotes the healing of any infected skin tissue. What always works for my dogs is using Ear Clear before a bath or swim. It’s a viscous serum that actually repels water.  After swimming (or a bath) try putting in Ear Cleanser which will help to dispel any water that may have found its way into your dogs ears.

by Cate Burnette, RVT

Statistics show that ear infections are the number one reason pet parents take their dogs to the veterinarian. Golden retrievers, cocker spaniels, Labrador retrievers, schnauzers, Westies, wheaten terriers, and all the setters tend to have more ear diseases than other breeds, but all dogs can contract the infection at some point in their lives. Knowing what to look for, how to treat it, and how to prevent the next ear problem should be an integral part of every dog owner’s education.

How can I tell if my dog has an ear infection?

While some signs of an ear infection are fairly obvious to a knowledgeable pet parent, other signals are more obscure and can be misjudged as being symptomatic of other diseases. Listed below are some of the indications that your pooch may be suffering from this very common disease.

· Your dog is constantly scratching at his ears, rubbing them on the carpet or furniture, and shaking his head. Because the yeast, bacteria, or parasites infecting your dog’s ears cause intense pruritus – or itching – your pup may be constantly trying to find ways to stop the irritation.

· You notice the visible part of the ear is red and inflamed, and you can smell a distinctive, musty odor coming from it. The redness and inflammation is caused by your dog’s immune system trying to rid itself of the cause of the infection. Typically, a bad smell indicates yeast or pasty discharge in the ear canal.

· A visible brown, yellow, or bloody discharge – called exudate – seeping from your dog’s ears points toward a serious infection.

· Scabby, crusted skin and hair loss around your dog’s earflap and down his neck indicates excessive itching and scratching, often caused by bacteria, yeast or parasites.

· Signs of a long-term infection, or one centered in the middle and/or inner ear, can include a pronounced head tilt, walking in circles, and a loss of balance, called ataxia.

· Nystagmus, a condition where your dog’s eyes move rapidly back and forth, can be a signal to a serious ear infection and a precursor to ataxia.

· Sudden hearing loss can indicate a busted eardrum caused by inflammation, and/or an accumulation of exudate in the ear.

What can I do to help get rid of the infection?

The first thing to do to help get rid of the infection is to see your veterinarian. Your pooch needs a complete ear examination, which includes allowing the vet to take samples from the inside of the ear to inspect under a microscope. The veterinarian determines which type of antibiotic to prescribe depending on whether the infection is bacterial, fungal, or caused by parasites.

You’ll be prescribed an aural antibiotic to use at home for 7 to 10 days. To be most effective, make sure to continue applying the medicine for the entire course of the prescription. Failing to do so can allow the infection to reoccur.

Additionally, gently massage the ointment or liquid medicine into all parts of your pup’s ears, rubbing it throughout all the crevices of the ear canal and up into the underside of the ear flaps. Bacteria, yeast, and mites can travel to all the parts of the ear, and you’ll want to destroy all of the offending organisms to fully get rid of the infection.

How can I prevent another ear infection?

After the ear infection is totally gone, there are organic products available to help you prevent further disease.

If your pooch is particularly prone to ear infections, daily or semi-daily cleaning with an all-natural ear cleanser containing essential oils and a tiny amount of alcohol may work for you. The alcohol dries any moisture found in the ear canal – very important for dogs that like to swim – and ingredients such as aloe vera, tea tree oil, lavender oil, citronella oil, and eucalyptus keep the skin hydrated and smooth. The oils also work as natural anti-inflammatories, keeping the ears refreshed and smelling nice.

Products that contain colloidal silver and extra virgin olive oil work to suppress bacteria, and relieve pain and inflammation in the ear. These components, along with arnica, chaparral oils, organic comfrey, and witch hazel, can loosen the waxy build-up that attracts bacteria and yeast, while relieving the itching and irritation inherent in canine ear infections.

by Nicola Parry, DVM

Discharge from the ear canal is one of the most common ear issues in dogs, and typically indicates an ear infection. Just like in people, your dog’s ears will normally produce some discharge even when completely healthy. This is mostly composed of a waxy substance called cerumen that tends to be a yellow-brown color. Cerumen acts to coat the ear canal, helping to prevent excessive growth of bacteria or yeast that can set up infections in the ear. When the ear is irritated for any reason, however, it produces more of this cerumen, and sometimes its quantity can seem never-ending!

So if healthy ears produce discharge, how do you recognize an ear problem?

5 Signs That Your Dog May Have Ear Problems

1. Increased quantity of ear discharge
2. Scratching or shaking of the ears
3. A change in discharge color
4. Nasty smelling discharge
5. A head tilt

3 Ways To Attack Ear Problems

1. Consult your veterinarian

Have your dog examined immediately by a veterinarian if you suspect an ear problem. Ear discharge can result from a variety of causes, so it may not be obvious as to whether the problem is due to ear mites, bacterial infection, fungal infection, allergy, or a foreign body such as a grass seed in the ear canal. Your veterinarian may need to perform tests to diagnose the underlying problem, before prescribing any medications that may be necessary, such as antibiotic tablets or ear drops.

2. Grooming

Dogs with long hair around the ears or those with long, floppy ears (or a combination of both!) can be particularly prone to recurrent ear infections because their ear canals aren’t well ventilated. One important way that you can help in these cases, is to pay attention to any excess hair growth around the ear canal, and to trim it regularly.

3. Ear Cleaning

Your role here is especially important, especially if your dog is prone to developing recurrent ear infections. Weekly cleaning can be a vital part of your dog’s ear-care regime. Use a gently formulated product, such as alavender and eucalyptus ear cleanser, to remove moisture, wax and debris that may accumulate in your dog’s ears. Then follow this up with a few drops of Ear Clear, a natural serum to help clear debris, break down cerumen, and reduce itchiness. And then especially when weekly cleaning regimes are underway and the ear canal no longer contains excessive discharge, pre-moistened ear wipes can be a wonderful and convenient way to keep the ears clean and sanitized.

As you begin cleaning your dog’s ears, you will notice that tissue from inside the ear canal, and the skin around its external opening, may start to peel. This is completely normal! Your cleaning regime loosens the dead tissue and debris in this region – but this is a good thing! Getting rid of the dead tissue, in and around the ear canal, helps to get rid of debris that could otherwise act as a focus for development of further infection.

Ear infections are therefore one of the most common reasons for dogs visiting their veterinarians, and can be a result of many underlying causes. And although you can’t completely prevent ear infections arising, your regular ear cleaning regime can definitely help reduce the number of times your dog visits his vet!

Nicola Parry is a veterinarian at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is ACVP board-certified and her career has taken her along various paths, including general practice and academia. She enjoys teaching veterinary pathology, as well as writing for the veterinary, medical and scientific worlds. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her oddball cat, Tiddles

When a dog has an ear irritation, he will shake his head, scratch his ear and even rub the side of his face along the ground. As you can imagine, this can cause trauma to the flap of his ear, which is also known as the pinna.  The inside of the pinna can become quite red and inflamed and, in extreme cases, this scratching may lead to development of a hematoma or blood blister.

A hematoma occurs when a blood vessel between the skin and the cartilage on the pinna becomes broken. The ear flap becomes swollen with blood, and is very uncomfortable. Your dog is then even more likely to scratch and shake his ears.

Hematomas are most likely to occur secondary to infection or allergies in the ear canal. Your vet won’t have any trouble confirming the diagnosis of a hematoma; the swollen pinna is a giveaway.

Treating a Hematoma

How your vet treats a hematoma depends to a large extent on its size. If it is only a small blood blister, your vet may decide it can be left alone. The blood in the pinna will clot and shrink, and your dog’s ear may become crinkled. This is called a “cauliflower ear”; it doesn’t cause your dog any problems at all, but it may look a little odd.

It is very important that the underlying cause of the hematoma is treated. Most dogs that develop a hematoma have a chronic ear problem that has gone undetected for some time. If this isn’t managed properly, your dog will continue to scratch, and things may go from bad to worse.

Larger hematomas respond best to surgery.  The blood is drained from the ear flap and stitches are placed through the pinna to hold it together while it heals. The ear may then be bandaged to your dog’s head, which will look quite funny for a little while.

How to Prevent a Hematoma

Prevention is better than cure, so if you can avoid your dog developing an annoying unsightly hematoma, he will be much happier.

Here are the steps you can take to prevent a hematoma developing:

1.       Stay on top of your dog’s allergies. The skin in his ear canal is very similar to the skin on his body, so if he’s scratching himself a bit, it’s worth having a quick look in his ears to make sure they’re not also affected. If they’re red, smelly or the skin is thickened, it’s time to have them looked at by your vet.

 

2.       At the first sign of ear irritation, make an appointment with your vet for a check-up.  By doing that, you’ll prevent any infections becoming more serious, and stop your dog scratching at his ears. This reduces the likelihood of him breaking a blood vessel in his pinna.

 

3.       Preventative care of his ears is critical. An ideal product to keep his ears healthy is Ear Aid. Clean his ears regularly with Ear Wipes to remove any dirt and wax. They contain colloidal silver and witch hazel to cleanse his ear canals, and prevent the growth of bacteria.  When this is done, apply Ear Clear drops to his ear to soothe and heal any ear inflammation. By following this regime twice weekly, you’ll help prevent any irritation that may lead to hematoma development.