Ear Problems

Itchy, smelly, lumpy, and bumpy.

Ear problems are one of the most common reasons that dogs and cats are presented to veterinary clinics. Issues such as ear infections, excessive wax build-up, hematoma formation, masses, and hearing loss are all common complaints for our animal companions. The remainder of this article will discuss these common ear problems in the cat and dog.

Ear infection. Ear infections can be divided into two categories' outer ear infections and inner ear infections. Animals most commonly have outer ear infections. Infections in the outer ear typically cause inflammation and irritation of the ear canals to the level of the eardrum. Signs include excessive ear debris, redness, foul odor, and discomfort that 

results in excessive scratching or shaking of the head. 

Most outer ear infections are caused by one or more of the following: yeast, bacteria, or ear mites. Since yeast, bacteria, and ear mites can result in the same appearance, a sample of the debris should be examined in order to reveal which pathogen(s) is/are present and what type of medication is needed. Typically, outer ear infections are treated with a 

combination of daily cleaning and twice daily ear drops.

Sometimes chronic yeast and bacterial ear infections are the results of other conditions. For example, excessive ear hair, ear shape/structure, chronic moisture, foreign objects, and allergies can all cause chronic or repeat ear infections. In order to effectively treat these ear infections, identification and treatment of the underlying cause are necessary. For example, excessive hair needs to be clipped or plucked regularly, wet ears need to be kept dry, and foreign bodies, such as seed awns, need to be removed. If the pet suffers from inhalation or food allergy, appropriate medical management of the allergy should aid in the resolution of ear infections. 

Inner ear infections affect the structures on the other side of the eardrum. Inner ear infections may or may not coincide with outer ear infections. Small, pinpoint holes or full tears of the eardrum can allow infectious agents to pass into the inner ear. Signs can include nausea, vomiting, head tilt, staggering, seizures, and loss of balance. A combination of topical and oral medications is often needed to treat inner ear infections. In addition, medications to control nausea and vomiting may be necessary.

Excessive Wax. Animals can accumulate excessive amounts of wax because of an excessive amount of wax secreting glands, a lack of removal of accumulated wax, or chronic irritation of the ear. Some animals can develop a thick, irritating, ball of wax, deep within the ear canals. If left unattended, secondary ear infection and discomfort can result. Periodic cleaning can eliminate the excessive accumulation of wax and prevent infection. Professional removal and thorough cleaning under anesthesia may be necessary in extreme cases of wax build-up.

Hematoma. An ear hematoma is simply a blood clot that forms in between the skin and the cartilage of the ear. Ear hematomas are usually the result of excessive blunt trauma that results in broken and bleeding blood vessels. This trauma is usually self-induced and a result of chronic itching. It is not uncommon for dogs with severe ear infections to 

develop ear hematomas. 

Treatment is two-fold. First, the blood clot must be surgically drained and removed. The ear is then sutured to close the space in which the blood clot formed. This helps to prevent additional blood clot formation. Secondly, the underlying cause must be treated to prevent reoccurrence. If an outer ear infection is the cause of the ear hematoma, the ear infection must be treated. If bite wounds caused hematoma formation, antibiotics will often be used to prevent/treat abscess formation. Without proper treatment of ear hematomas, scar tissue will form and contract resulting in a thick, shriveled ear. 

Masses. Masses in or on the ear can be polyps, cysts, inflammatory nodules, benign tumors, or malignant tumors. Diagnosis is often made by histopathology (biopsy) of the tissue in question. Treatment will vary by the type of mass. Some masses are fully curable with complete surgical excision. Inflammatory nodules can be the result of chronic ear infections. They will reoccur if the underlying ear infection is not managed and treated properly. Malignant masses of the ear can be difficult to treat. Radical surgery and/or radiation may be necessary to treat aggressive ear tumors.

Hearing Loss. Like people, dogs will often experience hearing loss as they age. Unfortunately, there are no treatments for progressive, age-related hearing loss. Hearing loss can also be the result of ototoxic medications, such as gentocin, and chronic ear infections. Prompt discontinuation of the offending medication can result in the reversal of the hearing loss in some cases. In other cases, hearing loss may be permanent. 

Several over-the-counter ear cleaning products are available in our webstore.

***The information contained here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of a veterinarian. As always, if you have questions or concerns regarding the health of your pet, please do not hesitate to contact a veterinarian.***