How Are Dog Ear Infections Treated
Your veterinarian will thoroughly clean your dogs ears using a medicated ear cleanser. Your vet may also prescribe an ear cleanser and a topical medication for you to use at home. In severe cases, your vet may prescribe oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications.
Most uncomplicated ear infections resolve within 12 weeks, once appropriate treatment begins. But severe infections or those due to underlying conditions may take months to resolve, or may become chronic problems. In cases of severe chronic disease where other treatments have failed, your veterinarian may recommend surgery such as a Total Ear Canal Ablation . A TECA surgery removes the ear canal, thus removing the diseased tissue and preventing the recurrence of infection.
It is important to follow your veterinarians instructions closely and return to the veterinary hospital for any recommended recheck appointments. Lapses in your dogs treatment may lead to the recurrence of the infection. It is especially important that you finish the full course of your dogs medication, even if your dog appears to be getting better. Failure to finish the full course of treatment may lead to additional problems such as resistant infections.
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The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. For more articles go to the Medical Library index page.
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Precise Diagnosis Needed For A Dogs Ear Infections
If your dog is showing any of the common signs of ear infections, its important to visit your veterinarian as soon as possible. Quick treatment is necessary not only for your dogs comfort , but also to prevent the spread of infection to the middle and inner ear. Do not try to treat ear infections at home.
Be prepared to provide your vet with a thorough history of the problem. This is especially important for first-time infections, or if you are seeing a new veterinarian. Your vet will want to know the following:
- Duration of any symptoms, such as pain, swelling, discharge, and odor
- If your dog has any allergies or other underlying medical conditions
- If your dog is on medication
- What your dog has been eating
- How often you clean your dogs ears and which products you use
- If youve trimmed or plucked the hair in your dogs ears
- Recent activities, such as baths, grooming, or swimming
- If your dog has a history of ear infections, when they occurred, and how they were treated
After obtaining your dogs history, your veterinarian will perform a physical examination. In severe cases, your vet may also recommend sedating your dog to facilitate examination deep within the ear canal. Your vet will evaluate both ears, and the exam may include:
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Prevention Of Staph Infection
Staph infections are contagious, so one needs to take precautions since the infectious bacteria resides close to the body, such as in the sweat glands, nose, mouth, and other areas on the skin. The staph bacteria can even be transmitted through person-to-person contact, including clothes.
One can also reduce the risk of infection by treating wounds or scratches appropriately and by cleaning them regularly with antibacterial medications.
Home remedies that can effectively prevent staph infections include tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and onions, which can be used in everyday life. However, you should consult your doctor before using any home remedies.
Homemade Dog Ear Cleaner For You To Try
Apple cider vinegar is commonly used in home remedies for dog ear infections.
Bacteria and yeast growth can be killed by the acetic acid in vinegar. Remember though, not to use any vinegar on your dogs ears if they are red or have open sores the vinegar will sting and be painful for them .
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Inspection Of The External Auditory Canal
Before inserting the speculum, it is important to straighten the external auditory canal. Its natural curvature obstructs ones view of the tympanic membrane. Gently pull the pinna backwards and upwards with your free hand. In young children, you should pull the pinna backwards only as the curvature of the pinna differs to adults.
Steadily insert the speculum into the canal, using your little finger as a brace against the patients cheek. Look through the viewing window for common causes of conductive hearing loss, such as wax and foreign bodies, the latter being common in children. Inspect the walls for signs of inflammation, such as reddening, discharge and oedema.
Conductive hearing loss occurs in the outer or middle ear, and is due to an obstruction of sound waves, preventing them from entering the inner ear. Causes include excess ear wax, infection and foreign bodies.Sensorineural hearing loss occurs in the inner ear, and is usually due to damage of the sensory cochlear hair cells. Causes may be congenital , genetic or acquired .
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What Does A Yeast Infection Look Like On A Dog’s Belly
Yeast infections can occur anywhere on a dog’s skin, including the belly. They are often seen in areas that are moist, such as in skin folds, especially in wrinkly dog breeds. The affected skin may be red, irritated, itchy, greasy, or flaky, and there may be hair loss.
There may be signs of irritation and dark flecks or substances.
Your dog may be itching and scratching around their ears and shaking their head a lot.
Dog ear mites are barely visible to the human eye, unlike fleas.
Yeast infections may look similar, but your dog’s ears will often have an odor or funky smell.
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Causes Of Ear Infection
Ear infections are typically caused by viral or bacterial infections, often as a result of other conditions such as a cold or flu. In the case of otitis media, these illnesses can result in a blockage of the Eustachian tubes. This blockage creates a vacuum which allows bacteria to enter the middle ear.
In the case of outer ear infections, certain factors make the occurrence more likely. These include:
- Substances in the ear: Water or other substances in the ear may create an environment where an accumulation of bacteria becomes more likely. This can cause infection. The subsequent itching after infection can cause skin irritation, which may make an infection worse. As otitis externa is common in people who swim regularly, the condition is sometimes referred to as swimmerâs ear.
- Warm weather: The condition is more common in warmer countries.
- Skin issues: Irritated skin, as a result of skin problems such as eczema, may make otitis externa more likely.
- Otitis media: Ear discharge as a result of otitis media can sometimes become lodged in the ear and cause otitis externa.
Inner ear infections , in most cases, follow a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. Less commonly, labyrinthitis can be caused by an infection that affects the rest of the body, such as measles, mumps and glandular fever. In rare cases, both labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis can be caused by a bacterial infection.
Whats The Difference Between Ear Mites And Yeast Infections In Dogs
Yeast infections in a dogs ears generally cause redness, a brown discharge, head shaking or rubbing, odor, and itching.
Ear mite infections are extremely itchy and can cause many of the same symptoms. The discharge from the ear is usually dark and waxy or crusty. Ear mites are barely visible to the naked eye and highly contagious to other animals.
Your veterinarian can easily determine whether a dogs ear problem is caused by yeast or mites by taking a swab from their ear and looking at it under a microscope.
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Dog Ear Cleaners Might Help Your Pooch
Dog ear cleaners can be used on an occasional basis to remove any signs of debris and buildup and help prevent any infections recurring. Use a clean cotton pad or cotton ball to apply home remedies to the external areas of your dogs ears only. If youre looking to purchase something to use, we recommend the PetMD Wipes below.
Are Ear Infections Contagious
Ear infections are not contagious. However, many children develop ear infections after a cold or other viral infection. Since viral infections are contagious, it is important to do your best to prevent illness. By preventing colds, you’re also taking steps to prevent ear infections. Thorough handwashing is the best way to prevent colds. Other preventive measures against infection include avoiding secondhand smoke, receiving the annual seasonal flu vaccine, and breastfeeding babies for at least 6 months to enhance their immune systems.
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Vaginal Bacterial Infection Symptoms
Certain vaginal bacterial infection symptoms are very different from the ones caused by a yeast infection. If you see any of these symptoms, you may have a bacterial infection.
For a mapping of the vagina different areas, see the vaginal anatomy diagram.
How to treat a yeast infection?
Yeast infection treatment is directly related to the cause of the yeast infection:
| Areas Infected |
| Antifungal creams . |
only the vagina is affected
If only the vagina is affected with no other symptoms present in other areas of the body, a yeast infection treatment using antifungal creams is usually enough for a complete yeast infection cure. For cases of chronic yeast infections, oral antifungals are usually used .
The options for antifungal creams is available either as antifungal drugs such as fluconazole , clotrimazole or by using natural antifungal creams. Certain natural antifungal creams such as ozonated olive oil are shown in published human studies to be very effective for vaginal yeast infections as well , and are prefered by many who do not want to use synthetic drugs.
Unlike many prescription or nonprescription over the counter antifungal drugs that can cause irritation and burning when used topically on the already irritated vagina, Ozonated olive oil has a unique ability to reduce candida and yeast growth on one hand, while helping to soothe skin irritation and accelerate wound healing at the same time .
Additional facts you should know
the vagina and other areas are affected
What Does An Ear Infection In Cats Look Like
Ear infections in cats cause pain and discomfort in their already sensitive ear canals. Symptoms can occur suddenly or gradually, and last for long periods of time. Many cats will shake their head and scratch their ears trying to remove the debris and fluid from their ear canal, causing more harm as their ears become red and inflamed.
Ear infections in cats are categorized by the part of the ear thats affected:
- Otitis Externa, or outer ear infection, is when the outer portion of the ear becomes infected.
- Otitis Media, or middle ear infection, is when the middle part of the ear becomes infected.
- Otitis Interna, or inner ear infection, is when the inner ear becomes infected.
While cats dont often get ear infections, they are painful and wont go away on their own. Its important to familiarize yourself with the signs of an ear infection so that you can get your feline friend healthy as soon as possible.
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What Does A Yeast Infection Look Like
Yeast infection looks like cottage cheese discharge which has a thick chunky curd like appearance. Yeast infection is usually odorless, although some people describe the yeast infection smell as similar to bread yeast. The discharge color is usually milky white or light yellow.
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In this guide
My Cat Has Just Been Diagnosed With An Inner Ear Infection What Is This
Inflammation of the inner ear is called otitis interna, and it is most often caused by an infection. The infectious agent is most commonly bacterial, although fungus can also be implicated in an inner ear infection.
If your cat has ear mites in the external ear canal, this can ultimately cause a problem in the inner ear and pose a greater risk for a bacterial infection. Similarly, inner ear infections may develop if disease exists in one ear canal or when a benign polyp is growing from the middle ear. A foreign object, such as grass seed, may also set the stage for a bacterial infection in the inner ear.
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The Role Of Eustachian Tubes
The eustachian tubes connect the middle ear to the back of the throat. The ends of these tubes open and close to regulate air pressure in the middle ear, resupply air to this area, and drain normal secretions.
A respiratory infection or allergy can block the eustachian tubes, causing a buildup of fluids in the middle ear. Infection can occur if this fluid becomes infected bacterially.
The eustachian tubes of young children are smaller and more horizontal than in older children and adults. This means that fluid is more likely to collect in the tubes rather than drain away, increasing the risk of an ear infection.
What Is A Middle Ear Infection
Middle ear infections are one of the most common childhood problems. Let’s start by talking about infections. An infection happens when germs like bacteria and viruses get inside the body and cause trouble. Germs can get into your ears. The ear is divided into three parts: outer, middle, and inner. When the germs bother your outer ear, it’s called swimmer’s ear.
The middle ear is a small pocket of air behind the eardrum. You have a middle ear infection when germs get into the middle ear and the area fills up with fluid , which contains germ-fighting cells. When the pus builds up, your ear starts to feel like a balloon that is ready to pop, which can really hurt.
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Middle Ear Infection Images
Six year old with an early ear infection. He had complained of ear pain for three to four hours. Red dilated blood vessels at the upper part of the ear drum.
Seventeen year old male with a two day history of ear pain and sore throat. The photograph shows dilated blood vessels and a collection of purulent material seen through the ear drum.
Ten year old female with fever, chills and severe right ear pain. The ear drum is thickened, bulging and severely inflamed. If treatment is not started the ear drum will probably rupture and drain.
Adult with severe right ear pain and pressure with hearing loss. The ear drum thickened, inflamed, bulging and will probably rupture and drain. The patient has a fever and looks very ill.
Eight year old boy with fever, severe ear pain and the outer ear being pushing forward by swelling behind the ear. This is an ear infection that has spread to the mastoid area behind the middle ear and is called acute Mastoiditis. He requires intravenous antibiotics and possible surgery.
Young person with a resolving ear infection after being treated with antibiotics for a week. The remaining fluid should resolve over the next several weeks.
Can An Inner Ear Infection Be Seen With An Otoscope
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Making A Diagnosis Of Staph Infection
Minor staph infections can be treated at home, but you have to get medical attention the moment you notice the following symptoms:
- Painful blisters full of pus
- Skin area becomes red and painful
- Mild fever and feeling tired
- The skin infections are passed between family members
Doctors diagnose the staph infection by testing the bacteria from the infected area, which has become crusty with drainage, or a wide, red blister. The microbiological technique is used to test the staph infection for its resistance against antibiotics such as methicillin.
The different types of staph infections that are either minor and easily treated or major and need immediate attention are as follows:
- Impetigo: When streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus bacteria come in contact with an open sore or wound, they cause a bacterial skin infection. Usually, children and elderly adults suffer from red sores, which break open and ooze fluid that develops a yellowish-brown scab. Impetigo is a contagious disease that spreads very easily.
- Bacteremia:This occurs when the infected bacteria enter the blood stream and spread the infection to different areas of the body. It causes fever as the first warning. Areas like the heart valves and the immune system are at a high risk if the person suffers from any health issue.
What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Swimmer’s Ear
Ear pain is the main sign of swimmer’s ear. It can be severe and gets worse when the outer part of the ear is pulled or pressed on. It also may be painful to chew. Sometimes the ear canal itches before the pain begins.
Swelling of the ear canal might make a child complain of a full or uncomfortable feeling in the ear. The outer ear may look red or swollen, and lymph nodes around the ear can get enlarged and tender. Sometimes, there’s discharge from the ear canal this might be clear at first and then turn cloudy, yellowish, and pus-like.
Hearing might be temporarily affected if pus or swelling blocks the ear canal. Most kids with swimmers ear dont have a fever.
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