Dark spots in a dog's ears. Types of ear diseases in dogs and their treatment. Prevention of ear diseases

When can we talk about the presence of a disease?

The main indicator that a dog has ear problems is its behavior. She shakes her head, scratches her ears and temples, and avoids tactile contact. The plaque takes on some color, usually dark. It gives off an unpleasant sour or simply pungent odor, and the structure becomes grainy. The amount of sebaceous secretion secreted increases greatly, it accumulates and rolls into lumps. A number of otolaryngological diseases are also characterized by lacrimation, swelling of the eyelids, inflammation of the skin on the temples, and partial loss of hearing or vision at an early stage.

It is possible that pus is released or even bleeding. This indicates a critical stage of the disease and a high probability of bacterial infection of an open wound deep in the ear canal. In this case, you can only quickly disinfect exposed tissues with chlorhexidine and quickly take the animal to a veterinarian. Blood poisoning can have fatal consequences, but with timely treatment, your pet will retain hearing and will not have chronic diseases.

Preventive measures for ear diseases

Ear diseases in dogs are completely curable, and serious consequences arise from them only if treatment is not timely. Chronic inflammation leads to complications, tissue changes, and perforation of the eardrum.

To prevent diseases, it is necessary to monitor and care for your dog’s ears.

In order to notice problems with your dog’s ears in time and prevent inflammatory processes, it is necessary to carry out daily care for them:

Clean the ear with a damp swab.
Remove hair from the ear canal using an arterial clamp or depilatory cream.
Carefully remove any water that gets into your ear while bathing using napkins.
If the inner surface of the ear is red, find out the cause with the help of a veterinarian and begin treatment immediately.

Timely treatment of ear diseases in dogs and compliance with recommendations for caring for this important organ is a guarantee of preserving your pet’s hearing. You need to approach the elimination of hearing problems in your pet with all responsibility.

Ear diseases are not uncommon in dogs. And you can notice them by the dog’s behavior: it often scratches its ears and shakes its head. Inside the ear you can notice discharge: pus, black-brown flakes, ichor, bad-smelling wax.

There can be quite a few reasons. For example:

The most susceptible to such diseases are dogs with long floppy ears - dachshunds, setters, Afghan hounds and others. Such ears are constantly on the floor and are poorly ventilated.

A short list of types of ear diseases in dogs:

Inflammation of the outer ear or otitis externa.
Otitis media.
Ear mites.
Auricular (ear) hematoma.
Hearing loss.

Let's tell you more about each.

What does the plaque indicate?

Most often, owners notice a brown coating in the dog’s ears. In small quantities, it can only be dust, which gets into the sebaceous secretion and rolls off at the exit from the ear canal. In certain periods it appears more, for example, in hot weather. However, the skin reacts in the same way to the presence of any irritant - a wound, a foreign object, a parasite, a fungus. Then the epidermis tries to protect itself by secreting more earwax, which leads to the opposite consequences - even more irritation.

Often, brown or black plaque in a dog’s ears indicates that the animal has ear mites complicated by otitis media. Self-treatment is not recommended, since an incorrectly selected drug will lead to the real disease progressing to a critical stage. For example, black plaque often occurs with fungal infections. Tests that detect parasites are different from fungal cultures and simply will not show the presence of a yeast infection. Therefore, it is worth bringing your dog for diagnostics and taking swabs and scrapings from the ear. You can only wipe the area around the ears and close to the canal with a hygienic lotion on your own. If time is critically short, the veterinary clinic may allow you to bring a smear taken with a cotton swab yourself.

White plaque in a dog’s ears may indicate both excess wax production due to otitis media (infectious or allergic) and ear mites. It is noteworthy that, unlike fungal diseases in humans, yeast infection in dogs appears not white, but black. The white dots are ear mites themselves. Brown and black granular masses that appear after some time are traces of the vital activity of parasites.

Plaque in a dog's ears photo

How to help your dog before visiting the veterinarian?

Self-treatment with antibiotics or hormonal drugs against allergies without an appropriate diagnosis can lead to serious consequences and even hearing loss. Therefore, only basic ear hygiene is acceptable before visiting a veterinarian. Ready-made lotions can be used for this, but in no case alcohol-containing liquids. Despite good disinfection, they dry out the skin, causing it to more actively produce earwax. A good option is to use chlorhexidine to disinfect the areas around the ears if they have been scratched by the dog.

In order to clean out ordinary gray plaque in a dog’s ears, you need to take a bandage or other natural fabric and roll it with the edges inward so that the threads cannot remain in the ears. It can also be wrapped around a finger; animals usually respond better to being cleaned directly by the owner's hands. This also allows you to control the force of pressure, which is very important for inflammation. The use of cotton pads and swabs is not recommended because they leave small lint behind, which irritates the skin and causes the dog to scratch the ear even more. The lotion is dropped into the ear, a gentle massage is performed at its base, after which the dog is allowed to shake it out and the excess is removed with a bandage or napkin.

Foreign objects in the ears

In most cases, dogs suffer from the penetration of plant components into the ears - a piece of branches, grass, bark, etc. Naturally, this phenomenon is more often observed in service and hunting dogs working in the forest area. But an ordinary trip to the park can lead to similar consequences.

But it is not so much the damage to delicate skin that is dangerous, but the likelihood of pathogenic microorganisms entering the wound. Therefore, it is important to inspect the dog’s ears after walking.

Treatment consists of removing the foreign object, and if inflammation has already developed, then antibiotic therapy or antimicrobial drugs are used (depending on the pathogen).

Causes of wax accumulation in the ears

The main causes of formation are diseases of various etiologies. Each of them poses a danger to your pet's health.

Ear mites

A disease in domestic animals caused by ear mites is called otodectosis. Main symptoms:

itching In this case, the dog will itch constantly and severely until blood appears;
a large amount of sulfur. It will be dark, in the form of a black or brown coating;
growths in the form of scabs along the edge of the shell, formed after the purulent discharge dries;
unpleasant pungent odor.

If the disease is neglected, complications may develop: deafness, disruption of the integrity of the eardrum, and nervous phenomena.

Hematomas and foreign objects

Accumulation of blood in the form of hematomas occurs when small vessels in the auricle are damaged or ruptured. This happens due to scratching, hitting, biting, or sudden shaking of the ears. Symptoms: ear swelling, thickening, sagging, cyanosis. It gets hot. If the hematoma is large, then black wax is released in the dog’s ear with a possible admixture of pus.

Ear infection

Otitis can be external, middle ear, or internal. Fold-eared breeds are most susceptible to it: cockers, poodles and others.

External inflammation is characterized by itching, brown-black discharge, and a specific odor. In most cases, otitis media becomes chronic.
Inflammation of the middle ear is the passage of infection through the eardrum. Additional symptoms: fever, pain when chewing, refusal to feed, conjunctivitis. Complications: inflammation of the meninges, impaired coordination and functioning of the vestibular apparatus.
Internal otitis is a deeper inflammatory process. Characteristic manifestations: loss of balance, stumbling when walking. Causes pain and swelling.

Inflammation of the ear cartilage

Symptoms: edema, swelling, hyperemia, soreness of the auricle. It may become deformed. Necrotic processes often develop in the form of ulcers, the appearance of pus and black wax in the dog’s ear. Causes: injury or infection from the ear canals.

Common ear diseases

One of the most common ear diseases in dogs is otitis media

– inflammation of the outer and middle ear. Otitis media is the most dangerous. The disease cannot be neglected, as complications can lead to serious consequences.

Ear mites

, the presence of which may be indicated by itching, an unpleasant odor, cause discomfort and can cause inflammation in the ear canal. Getting rid of ticks is not so easy; treatment lasts at least 3 weeks.

Deafness

– deterioration or complete loss of hearing. Deafness can be caused by injury, loud sounds, diseases of the nervous system, medications, heredity, and old age.

Infections

develop quickly. Dogs with vulnerable immune systems - allergies, hormonal disorders - are predisposed to ear infections. The presence of moisture in the ears can also trigger the development of an infection. Dogs with excess ear hair and long ears are susceptible to ear infections. Due to the lack of ventilation in the ear, a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria is created.

Ear hematoma

– accumulation of blood in the cavity between the ear cartilage and the skin. Causes include damage to the ear, such as scratching or bruises.

Foreign bodies in the ear

, for example, plant seeds, can cause irritation with subsequent complications.

Hereditary diseases

ears are more common in a number of breeds, for example, collies and shelties. One of the hereditary diseases that affects the skin, muscles, and ears is dermatomyositis, which is an inflammatory process.

Treatment

It is not recommended to treat yourself. Consultation with a veterinary specialist is required.

otodecosis - antihistamines (Diazolin, Suprastin, Tavegil, Zirtek), ear cleaning (cotton swabs soaked in herbal decoction), anti-mite drops (Amit, Dekta, Bars, Otokan);
hematoma - antiseptics (boric acid, Iodinol), healing agents (Vishnevsky ointment);
otitis - cleaning the ear canals using antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-swelling drugs;
inflammation of the ear cartilage - surgical intervention in a veterinary clinic, antiseptics (Furacilin).

If you notice any abnormal discharge or odor coming from your ears, you should contact your veterinarian.

How to properly clean a dog's ears?

Cleaning a pet's ears of excess wax, dirt, and dust is the same responsibility of the owner as proper, timely feeding and daily walks. Regular examination will help to identify in the early stages of the disease, unusual odor, and the presence of parasites. An important nuance - some people are so worried about their pet’s health that they start cleaning their dog’s ears every day. This is also incorrect. Sulfur and sebum in small quantities are a natural barrier to protect the ear canals from germs, dirt, dust, mites, and foreign bodies.

How to clean at home?

Products you will need: cotton swabs or pads, sanitary napkins, ear lotion. The most common are Bars, Otifri, Hartz, Kleene. Chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide can be used instead, but only in cases where disinfection is necessary. Cleaning steps:

Secure the animal. It is important to consider that if the pet runs away or shows aggression, then it is better to postpone the procedure.
Inspect to determine the degree of contamination. If there is dried dirt, pre-treatment with oil is required.
Apply lotion and massage the ear. This will lead to rapid dissolution of sulfur and calm the pet.
Remove any remaining product. To do this, use a cotton pad or napkin.

Video about otitis media in dogs

Quite painful phenomena that can occur not only among people, but also among our smaller brothers. Moreover, the ears are one of the most unprotected and sensitive organs in dogs, so their diseases can bring a lot of unpleasant sensations to the animal. Every caring owner should know not only about the symptoms of diseases, but also how to provide first aid to their pet at home.

You can notice the first signs of ear disease by the behavior of your pets: they worry, scratch their ears, walk with their heads tilted to one side, roll on the ground, shake their heads

. And in the inner surface of the ear it is easy to detect discharge and foul odors.

Otitis

This disease most often occurs in dogs with long floppy ears: setters, dachshunds, poodles, cockers and others.

There are three types of otitis media:

Outer.
With it, the process of inflammation occurs in the area between the ear canal and the eardrum. This disease is characterized by itching, as a result of which the pet scratches its ears with its paws or rubs them against various objects. Upon visual inspection, discharge with a characteristic odor can be detected in the animal’s ears.

The discharge is present both with an admixture of earwax and pus. Inflammation of the outer ear most often develops due to mites, insects, pathogenic microorganisms or foreign bodies entering the ear canal. The disease can also be triggered by chronic diseases or hypothermia.

As a rule, the external one becomes chronic and, despite treatment, recurs again and again,

Therefore, it is important to pay attention to periodic prevention of the disease.

Middle ear.
Most often it occurs as a result of the penetration of pathogenic microflora through the membrane of the eardrum. The infection comes from the outer ear. Otitis media can cause severe complications that can lead to damage to the facial nerves and infection in the brain.
Internal otitis.
It is characterized by inflammation of the labyrinth of the ear. In this case, the dog begins to lose balance when walking and may fall and stumble.

Internal and otitis media are the most painful and dangerous. Inflammation develops very quickly, the inflamed ear swells. If you do not treat your dog, the pus can affect the meninges, cause meningitis and even lead to the death of the pet.

Allergic otitis media also occurs, which can be caused by an allergy to food.

or hormonal imbalance in the dog's body. This type of otitis is characterized by severe itching of the ears and brown discharge.

Inflammation of the ear cartilage

This is a pathological process of an inflammatory nature. It affects the auricle and is accompanied by swelling, swelling and redness of the tissues, and painful sensations. The disease leads to ear deformation or even necrosis of cartilage tissue. Necrosis looks like large ulcers,

and the ear cartilage begins to turn black and rot, causing deformation processes.

The cause of the disease may be an ear injury or an infection from internal organs entering the perichondrium,

being its hearth. For example, with purulent otitis media. The disease requires serious and qualified treatment, including surgical intervention.

Hematoma

Blood from ear

Bleeding from the ear

- a dangerous symptom that occurs as a result of injury or a number of diseases.

Most often, blood from a dog’s ear occurs as a result of injury or due to neoplasms:

warts, polyps, sebaceous gland adenomas. Invasion of ticks or fleas can also cause bleeding.

Advice!

If the bleeding is severe and the dog is shaking its head, then you need to calm it down and try to stop the bleeding. To do this, press a sterile bandage or clean towel to your ear for 4 minutes.

Then you need to moisten a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide and carefully treat the auricle, carefully examine the ear from the outside and inside. If the cause of bleeding is not external, but internal, then a thorough examination by a veterinarian is necessary.

Sores

Sores usually appear on the tips of the ears.

They can degenerate into ulcers, bleed, and emit a foul odor. The owner should not ignore them.

Common causes:

ear mite;
vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels);
allergic reaction.

Ear mites are a dangerous disease for dogs that can lead to complete deafness.

If a puppy's ears are infested with mites, the baby may be developmentally delayed and have difficulty learning commands.

Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels that results in ulcers and scabs on the ears,

redness of large areas of the pet's skin.

Tumors

Ear tumors are most common in adult dogs,

who have previously suffered any head diseases and have not undergone full therapy.

With this disease, the glands that produce lubricant become severely inflamed. Neoplasms can be either benign or malignant.

To establish a diagnosis, you need to contact a veterinarian who will prescribe effective treatment.

Growths

Growths on a dog's ears are quite common. They are viral in nature and most often are benign.

These include warts and papillomas, which slowly grow if left untreated.

Important!

Malignant tumors grow quickly and can spread to other tissues; one of the most dangerous types is carcinoma. This disease usually affects older dogs.

Sulfur plugs

Wax plug is a collection of wax and sebum in the external auditory canal.

which are produced by glands located in the ear.

German shepherds and dogs are especially susceptible to this disease.

as their ear glands produce more wax than other breeds. Also, if your pet's ears are covered with thick hair, this provokes the formation of wax plugs in the ear canals.

Signs of earwax blockage: the dog often shakes its head or partially loses hearing.

Earwax practically clogs your dog's ears. Plugs are identified by a veterinarian during a visual examination.

Deafness

Deafness in dogs is a serious condition.

As a result, sound vibrations are not converted into nerve impulses.

There are two types of deafness:

Congenital
is an inherited genetic feature that is characteristic of some breeds.
Acquired
- occurs after ear disease (ear mites, otitis, meningitis), injuries, strong sounds.

Congenital deafness cannot be treated

and it is quite possible to heal from an acquired one by prescribing competent therapy.

Advice!

If a dog is deaf or deaf from birth, he may feel especially vulnerable. It is necessary to look for other ways of communication. Use touch to warn your pet about your departure and arrival, and attract its attention with certain gestures, for example, clapping your hands. Methods of understanding in communication are achieved through training. If you are walking with your four-legged friend in the dark, you can wear a glowing bracelet, vest or other thing that will let the dog know that its owner is nearby.

Comments

Good afternoon, can anyone tell me, I have an English bulldog. About 2 weeks ago I noticed that he was shaking his head, I started to examine him, his ears were full of black wax. Added to everything was the smell from the ears. I don’t have the opportunity to go to the veterinarian, since I’m out of town now, while I clean with cotton swabs and treat with chlorhexidine, but by the evening my ears are dirty again...

The ears are one of the most vulnerable organs of dogs, as they are more sensitive than those of humans. Ear diseases in dogs cause a lot of suffering to animals, so it is important for the owner to know their symptoms and begin treatment on time.

Foreign bodies entering the ear canal

Burdocks, stubble from cereals, just pieces of stems, bark, sedge and other foreign bodies in the ears - this is the “disease” of the ears in dogs, which owners of hunting and service dogs often have to deal with. Of course, if the animals are used for their intended purpose. What is dangerous is not even the damage that dogs receive as a result of their penetration into the delicate tissues of the ear canal, but the pathogenic microflora that gets there.

If your pet is a quiet terrier or poodle, then you are unlikely to encounter serious injuries to your pet’s ears. But if your pet is a bulldog or bull terrier, then problems with ears completely torn to shreds are a harsh reality (shown in the photo). And for this there is no need at all to use your dog in the fighting arena, since the breeds we have listed are aggressive by nature, and therefore do not miss the chance to intervene in the next fight.

Content:

Diseases of the hearing organs (aures) of dogs are accompanied by inflammation (otitis). The owner notices a change in the pet’s behavior: he shakes his head and scratches his ears (pinna). A pathological excrement with an unpleasant odor is released from the aurical canal. The outer ear swells, the animal tilts its head, holding it in a certain position. Touching aures is painful.

Symptoms of ear problems in dogs

Any inflammation in a dog’s ears can be determined by a change in the animal’s behavior. The dog performs the following actions:

Shakes his head.
It scratches his ears.
He rubs his head on the furniture.
Whines when the owner touches the head.
Walks with his head tilted to the side.
Rolling on the ground.

In addition to behavioral signs of inflammation, the following are observed:

discharge from the ears, from serous to purulent;
smell, from fetid to sickly sweet;
swelling of the ear area;
redness of the mucous membrane.

How to Recognize Symptoms and Signs of Otitis in a Dog

Symptoms of ear inflammation are often pronounced, so it will not be difficult for an attentive owner to determine that his four-legged pet is affected by this dangerous disease.

Constant itching in the ear area is one of the symptoms of otitis media.

Signs of illness

Otitis is accompanied by itching, as a result of which the animal constantly scratches its ears, often scratching them until they bleed.
If the dog often shakes its ears and tilts its head,
this may indicate the first symptoms of otitis media.
An animal with ear inflammation experiences severe pain, so the pet becomes restless, walks in circles
and cannot find a place for itself.
Sometimes the dog refuses to eat
, games do not arouse any interest in him and he is reluctant to go for a walk.
The dog looks tired and sick
.
When the owner tries to touch the sore ear, the dog runs away, and in some cases bares its teeth and may even bite the owner
.
The skin of the ear becomes red and inflamed, hot to the touch
.
After cleaning the ears, a large amount of wax accumulates in them already on the second or third day
.
Otitis media can also be recognized by signs such as purulent discharge from the ears with an unpleasant odor
. Sometimes there may be streaks of blood in the discharge.
In some cases, the dog's lymph nodes in the neck become enlarged.
An illness may also be indicated by the fact that a pet, while eating or trying to yawn,
suddenly begins to scratch its ears and whine pitifully.

Complications

If treatment for otitis media is not started in time, the disease can become chronic and cause the following complications:

Partial or complete hearing loss;
Sometimes dogs develop strabismus or experience;
The animal's temperature rises;
The area inside the ear becomes swollen and swollen.

If there is a complication, pus may appear from a dog’s eyes.

If the owner notices at least one of the above symptoms in his pet, then he needs to urgently take the dog to a veterinary clinic, because it is much easier to cure the disease in the early stages than when it becomes advanced.

Types of ear diseases and methods of their treatment

Any of the above symptoms should prompt an urgent visit to the veterinarian. Timely assistance to your pet will prevent the disease from becoming chronic and will allow you to quickly restore the normal functioning of the organ.

Otitis media can occur in acute or chronic form. The disease is divided into three types:

Outer. The inflammation is localized in the area located between the opening of the ear canal and the eardrum. Otitis externa develops as an independent disease or as a complication of a skin disease.
Average. The structures behind the eardrum become inflamed. A complication of otitis media is damage to the facial nerves, keratojunctevitis, and pain.
Interior. Inflammation of the labyrinth of the ear. With such inflammation, the dog’s coordination of movements, vestibular disorders, and eye fluctuations are disrupted.

Treatment of otitis in dogs is carried out only after diagnosis.

Some breeds have a predisposition to the disease. Internal and otitis media causes pain when opening the mouth, hearing loss, impaired yawning, and discharge from the eyes. Inflammation develops quickly, the ear swells. If left untreated, pus can enter the brain and cause meningitis and even death of the animal.

If you suspect otitis media, your dog can be given first aid to relieve pain. The drugs Otipax and Sofradex are instilled into the animal's ear. The crusts are removed with a swab moistened with hydrogen peroxide, and the wounds are treated with brilliant green.

Treatment of otitis media can be carried out at home, but only after consulting a veterinarian and only with medications prescribed by him:

Allergic otitis media is treated with local medications and a hypoallergenic diet.
Purulent otitis is characterized by the release of an oily secretion that has an unpleasant odor. For treatment, Chlorhexidine solution, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Cefazolin, Ceftriaxone) are used.
Fungal otitis. The ear canal is treated with phosphoric acid.

Auricular hematoma

The cause of the disease is injury to the ear. The presence of a hematoma is indicated by thickening or swelling of the ear, its sagging, or the dog's head tilting to the side.

Hematoma is treated by applying a pressure bandage for 5-6 days, then opening and removing dead tissue. Large wounds are stitched. After the operation, the ears are wrapped around the head and a bandage is applied. Healing occurs within 10-12 days. For better healing, the bandage is applied with ointments Levomekol, Methyluracil, Solcoseryl.

Eczema

The cause of irritation in the form of eczema occurs due to pollen entering the ear. Water, chemicals, sulfur accumulation. Sometimes the cause is parasitic insect bites.

Itching begins in the ear, redness appears. The dog shakes its head and tries to scratch its ears. As a result of scratching, the eczema blisters burst and become infected. Secondary inflammation of the skin may develop against the background of eczema.

Ear diseases in dogs - Veterinary Service of the Vladimir Region

Often dog owners have to deal with such a problem as neck disease in their pet. The fact that your pet’s ears hurt is not difficult to notice by the behavior of your dog: he often begins to scratch his ears with his paws, shake his ears, and various kinds of discharge appear from his ears. Moreover, an unpleasant odor emanates from these secretions.

Ear disease is most common in those breeds of dogs that have long floppy ears - setters, dachshunds, Afghan hounds, spaniels, beagles, etc. And this is due to the fact that the ears of such dogs often lie on the floor and are poorly ventilated.

Causes of ear disease in dogs.

Ear mites.
Inflammation of the middle ear.
Inflammation of the outer ear, including otitis externa.
Allergic and skin diseases.
Trauma in the ear area, incl. ear hematoma.
Foreign bodies that enter the dog's ear while walking (dry grass, plant seeds, etc.) initially lead to irritation of the delicate skin of the ear and the development of inflammation.
As a result of bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeast entering the ear canal.
Disease of the endocrine glands (hypothyroidism).
Various types of hereditary and immune diseases, as well as cancer.

Ear diseases

This disease is usually common among lop-eared dog breeds; inflammation of the outer ear is especially common in hunting dogs due to the fact that they have to swim a lot during hunting.

The disease in dogs is accompanied by itching in the area of the auricle, as a result of which the dog strongly scratches its ears with its paws or rubs them on various objects. The disease is accompanied by swelling and sometimes eczema in the ear area.

An unpleasant specific smell comes from the ears, which has a sickly sweet or fetid aroma. Upon examination, we note redness and swelling of the external auditory canal. A sick dog loses its appetite, and sometimes its body temperature rises.

There are two types of discharge in dogs - serous and purulent.

Inflammation of the middle ear in dogs

Inflammation of the middle ear in a dog occurs, most often as a result of an infection from the outer ear entering the eardrum, as well as as a result of local and general infection in the dog (canine distemper).

The disease in a dog is accompanied by pain when opening its mouth, difficulty chewing, sometimes there is discharge from the eyes, strabismus, the dog may twist towards the affected ear. A sick dog's body temperature rises and its appetite disappears. If complications occur, the dog may experience meningitis or inflammation of the vestibular apparatus, accompanied by incoordination of movement.

Ear mites in dogs

The most common ear mite in dogs is otodectosis. The disease is accompanied by itching, the sick dog shakes its head, scratches its ears on various objects or tries to comb the affected areas of the skin with its paw claws.

Subsequently, as the inflammatory process in the auricle develops, first serous and then purulent-ichorous exudate begins to be released from the ear canal, which, when flowing out, sticks together the hair of the lower edge of the auricle.

This exudate, when dried, forms scabs and crusts of gray or light brown color on the inner surface of the ears, as well as in the external auditory canal.

The diagnosis of otodectosis is made based on the symptoms of the disease, which must be confirmed by the results of a microscopic examination of scrapings from the inner surface of the skin of the ears, for the presence of the mite – Otodectes cynotis.

Among mites, canine demodicosis can cause ear disease in dogs.

Allergic otitis media in dogs

Allergic otitis in dogs often occurs as a result of an allergic reaction to the food consumed or as a result of a hormonal imbalance in the dog's body.

This type of otitis in a dog is accompanied by abundant secretion of sulfur from the external auditory canal and intensive proliferation of fungi in the microflora.

In a dog, allergic otitis media is accompanied by itching; the dog unsuccessfully tries to stop it by scratching its ears with its paws. As a result, the dog develops scratches and ulcers, as well as brown discharge that has a purulent consistency.

For more information on this topic, see our article on food allergies in animals.

Ear hematoma in dogs

An ear hematoma in a dog occurs as a result of mechanical damage to the large blood vessels located in the delicate ears of dogs. A hematoma in a dog can occur as a result of scratching the ear with claws, or from the bites of another dog.

In lop-eared dog breeds, hematoma can sometimes occur from shaking their long ears.

With a hematoma, bleeding occurs in the vessels in the ear, between the cartilage and skin (on the outer surface of the ear) or between the cartilage and the perichondrium (on the inner surface of the ear).

In its initial stage, the hematoma is hot upon palpation, and upon visual examination the skin is reddened and bluish. A dog's hematoma itches and bothers it.

Such a dog shakes its head or tilts its head to the side of the damaged ear, trying to reach it with its paws. Three days later, on palpation at the site of the hematoma, due to the accumulation of air, crepitus appears (the ear seems to crunch).

After a few more days, with a small hematoma, the veterinarian notes its thickening and decrease in pain. If the hematoma is large, then the dog’s ear begins to rot.

Foreign body of the auricle

When a foreign body (grass, grass seeds, plant awns, etc.) gets into the ear, the dog begins to shake its head violently, while it whines and rubs its head on the ground, floor, etc. Upon careful examination of the auricle, we find a foreign body.

Ear eczema in dogs

Ear eczema in dogs appears as a result of a variety of external irritants that have a harmful effect on the dog’s ears. Irritants can be: dust, various chemicals, pollen, water, sulfur, etc. Sometimes eczema in dogs can be a concomitant complication of diseases that are caused by tick or flea bites.

When affected by eczema, the dog scratches and shakes the ear that is affected by eczema and becomes irritable. On examination, the affected ear is red and swollen.

When examined on the surface of the auricle, you can sometimes find bubbles that burst when pressed, releasing a light or brown liquid.

The auditory canal of a sick dog is sometimes filled with foul-smelling exudate.

Tumor of the ear in dogs

Tumors in the ear canals in dogs have recently become quite common. They are registered in dogs over 5 years of age who have previously suffered from certain ear diseases and have not undergone full treatment.

When examining such dogs, we visually register the fusion of the auricle with loose folds. At the same time, an unpleasant odor is heard from the dog’s ear.

Diagnosis of ear diseases in dogs

As with other diseases of domestic animals, the diagnosis of ear diseases in dogs is carried out comprehensively.

When visiting a veterinary clinic, diagnosis of the disease begins with a clinical examination of the sick animal.

*During a clinical examination, the veterinarian uses an otoscope to examine the external auditory canal. During the examination, the specialist carefully examines the cavities of the outer and middle ear, assesses the condition of the eardrum, skin, and the presence of swelling.

During the examination, the veterinarian excludes the presence of foreign bodies, spinous processes of grass, and ticks in the ear canal.

When performing an otoscopy, the veterinarian can register exudate from the outer ear, redness of the skin, pain at the base of the ear on palpation, bulging of the eardrum into the canal area - all this tells the specialist about swelling in the middle ear cavity.

*Laboratory tests, including:

A general blood test to determine, among other things, whether the dog has allergies. To exclude hypothyroidism, a blood test is performed to determine the amount of hormones - thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
To study microflora, diagnose tumors, autoimmune diseases, hyperplasia of the sulfur gland and determine microflora for sensitivity to antibiotics, cytological analyzes of secretions secreted from the ear are carried out in a veterinary laboratory.
Microscopy of skin scrapings and ear gland exudate is performed for the presence of mites, pathogenic microorganisms and signs of autoimmune diseases.

*If, during laboratory research, the veterinarian did not receive the necessary data to make a diagnosis. Then in veterinary clinics they resort to radiography, with the help of which a specialist can detect tumors and polyps of the nasopharynx, leading to chronic otitis.

*In large veterinary clinics, your sick dog can undergo computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Using these research methods, a veterinary specialist can obtain more complete data about the condition of the middle ear cavity in a dog and the possibility of involvement of neighboring organs, including the brain, in the inflammatory process.

Having made a diagnosis of otitis media, the veterinarian prescribes appropriate treatment for the sick dog.

Treatment of otitis media in dogs

Having established the cause and form of otitis, the veterinarian prescribes appropriate treatment for the sick dog. Treatment should be comprehensive and aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease.

Purulent otitis media in dogs

Treatment of this form of otitis begins with freeing the ear canal from accumulated exudate.

In the case when pus accumulates behind the eardrum and puts pressure on it, and also when, during the examination, the veterinarian discovers visible abscesses, it is necessary to make a small incision and clean the ear cavity of purulent exudate, and treat the wound with an antiseptic.

In mild cases of purulent otitis, the veterinary specialist is limited to local treatment - Otipax, Fugentin, Tsipromed, Normax, etc.

In order to maintain immunity and speed up recovery, the dog is given medications such as Gamavit, Immunofan, Ribotan, Vitam, Fosprinil and other vitamin preparations.

To relieve pain in the ear canal area, medications such as Otipax and Framycetin are used. These drugs additionally have a good anti-inflammatory effect.

Tick-borne otitis media in dogs

In case of otitis caused by ear mites, drugs are used to kill mites: Bars, Fipronil, Thiamethoxam, Cyfluthrin, Pyriproxyfen, Dana Spot-ON, Dana Ultra NeO. Additionally, if there are symptoms of purulent otitis, purulent otitis is treated.

Fungal otitis in dogs

In dogs, this form of otitis can be either an independent disease or a secondary one.

For this form of otitis, ointments or drops based on miconazole, nystatin, clotrimazole, ketoconazole and other antifungal agents are used. As an adjuvant and for cleaning the ears in this form of otitis, a complex drug is used - Oritsin, Anandin Plus, Nitrofungin, Oridermil, etc.

Traumatic otitis in dogs

Veterinary specialists treat traumatic otitis using locally healing drugs. To suppress pathogenic microflora, antibiotics with a wide spectrum of action are added to these drugs.

When treating traumatic otitis, first of all, the wound is treated and the foreign object is removed.

Prevention of ear diseases in dogs

Prevention of ear diseases in dogs is based on preventing the causes that can lead to ear diseases in dogs.

Clean your dog's ears regularly to remove dirt and dust.
When bathing your dog, be careful not to get water into your dog's ears. If water gets into the ears, they must be dried using a towel or cotton swabs.
It is advisable to cut off the existing long hair in the dog’s ears so that it does not get into the dog’s ears.
It is necessary to prevent the dog from becoming hypothermic while walking, etc.
Avoid exposing your dog to other dogs that have ear mites or ear diseases.

Carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene of the dog (Dog Care). Check your ears regularly for signs of inflammation.

Source: https://vetvo.ru/bolezni-ushej-u-sobak.html