Otitis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Otitis is a fairly common condition in puppies. It affects the ear and can cause pain, and if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications. How do you know if your pet has otitis? Why does otitis occur in puppies? How does it manifest? How can it be treated and prevented? You can find the answers to these questions and much more information by reading on.

• What is canine otitis
• Types of canine otitis
• Causes of canine otitis
• Which dogs are prone to otitis
• Symptoms of otitis in dogs
• Potential complications
• How canine otitis can be treated
• How canine otitis can be prevented
• What a dog with otitis eats

What is canine otitis

Otitis in puppies is an inflammation of the ear canal, generally of the outer ear. It is painful and can cause complications, as the infection can spread to other areas of the ear. Therefore, the infection must be detected as quickly as possible, after which treatment must be administered.

Although it is an ENT problem, it mainly has dermatological manifestations, which is why it is classified among dermatological (skin) conditions.

Generally, the starting point of otitis is the accumulation of earwax. Although earwax formation is an important element for self-cleaning the ear, it can accumulate for various reasons: the presence of a parasite, an allergy, a foreign body, etc. Its accumulation can lead to inflammation and even superinfection.

It is very important to pay attention to your dog's hygiene; otherwise, you risk the chronicization of the disease, in which case it reappears 2-3 times a year and there is a greater risk of complications.

See here the entire category of treatments for DERMATOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Types of canine otitis

Otitis in dogs comes in several types, classified according to the cause of the disease and the location of the infection. You can read about them below.

Types of otitis in dogs based on the cause of the disease

Depending on the cause of the disease, otitis in dogs can be infectious (bacterial or mycotic), parasitic, and allergic.

Infectious otitis in dogs

Infectious otitis can be caused by lack of ear ventilation or a cold. Puppies most susceptible to infectious otitis are those with floppy ears, such as Labradors, Cocker Spaniels, or Greyhounds, and small breed dogs (Poodles, Bichons, Yorkies, etc.), which have hair in the ear canal.

Mycotic otitis appears due to a fungal infection. It can affect any dog breed. The infection can become chronic as a result of inadequate treatment for another form of otitis.

In cases of infectious otitis, the dog will scratch its ear, shake its head, and whine. It is advisable to seek prompt help from a veterinarian.

Parasitic otitis in dogs

When dogs are affected by parasites such as ticks or fleas, they can develop parasitic ear infections, including otitis. Some parasites attach themselves to the ear canal and consume earwax.

This type of otitis is transmitted from one puppy to another but not to humans. It manifests as intense itching. The dog scratches persistently and whines. Dark crusts may appear in the ear area.

Allergic otitis in dogs

As its name suggests, allergic otitis appears mainly in puppies with allergies. Due to the allergic cause, the infection can recur frequently, requiring aggressive and regular treatment to keep the allergy under control.

It manifests as redness on the outer part of the ear and thick, foul-smelling earwax deposits.

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Types of otitis in dogs, depending on location

Depending on its location, otitis in dogs can be external, middle, and internal. Let's find out more about each of these:

• External otitis – occurs most often in dogs. It is an inflammation of the external auditory canal and can reach the eardrum. It is accompanied by intense itching, and the dog shakes its ears frequently. Due to the pain experienced, many dogs refuse to be examined by their owner. Depending on the cause of the disease, black, brown, or even purulent discharge may appear. Often, these have an unpleasant odor.
• Middle otitis – appears in the eardrum area. It can be associated with external otitis, but not always. Examination of the ear canal does not indicate the presence of the disease. However, the puppy will indicate the presence of an anomaly through itching, pain when touching the base of the ear, during chewing or when opening the mouth, nasal discharge, sneezing, other inflammations of the ENT sphere, and, in rare cases, neurological symptoms (deafness, paralysis of one half of the face, etc.), because cranial nerves pass through this area. A specific sign of middle otitis is that sick animals often hold their head tilted.
• Internal otitis – appears rarely and can affect the auditory nerve, causing hearing problems or issues with the vestibular system, where the puppy will have difficulty maintaining balance.

Causes of canine otitis

Otitis in dogs has a variety of causes:

• Improper hygiene – accumulation of earwax, bathing in water without cleaning the ears, using irritating hygiene products, or using cotton swabs.
• Presence of a foreign body in the ear – causes intense pain and can increase the likelihood of infection. Generally, this refers to parasites that can attach to the ear canal. If this happens, the dog will cry and scratch.
• A parasitic infection – especially ear mites or ear inflammation with high earwax production.
• Allergies – occur when the dog's immune system overreacts to the presence of a certain substance. In addition, the presence of an allergy increases the risk of bacterial or fungal infection.
• Presence of a tumor – occurs in rare cases of chronic ear infections. It can manifest as narrowing of the ear canal.

Which dogs are prone to otitis

There is a higher probability of otitis in dogs with floppy ears such as Beagles, Spaniels, or Cocker Spaniels.

In these dogs, ear ventilation is reduced, increasing the risk of infection. Also, Bulldogs, Labradors, Shar Peis, and other breeds with hair in their ears are predisposed to otitis.

Furthermore, puppies with allergies, especially skin allergies with a seborrheic tendency, have a higher risk of otitis. Excess seborrhea is oily and has a strong odor.

Symptoms of otitis in dogs

Otitis occurs when the skin of the ear canal becomes inflamed. Below are the main symptoms of otitis in dogs:

• Excess earwax;
• Itching;
• Black or brown discharge, sometimes pus;
• Strong, often unpleasant odor;
• Redness of the ear.

A dog with otitis will repeatedly shake its ear and scratch. If the pain is severe, it will not allow you to touch it and may even become aggressive.

Sometimes, the puppy will sneeze, have nasal discharge, and tilt its head to one side. In some cases, it may have repetitive eye movements, from right to left, and may appear disoriented.

Potential complications

Repeated and/or chronic ear infections can lead to damage to the blood vessels of the ear flap, as the dog tends to scratch and shake its ear. As a result, the ear will swell.

Also, after the appearance of symptoms, it is not advisable to delay a visit to the veterinarian. In some cases of external otitis, untreated infection can lead to thickening of the ear canal and even its blockage. Without treatment, external infection can lead to middle or even internal otitis, and even neurological problems.

However, treatment should only be administered on the recommendation of a doctor. Treating otitis without knowing the cause can worsen symptoms.

In very rare cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. Thus, a part of the ear canal will be removed to eliminate the risk of recurrence of the infection.

After medical treatment, it is advisable to regularly clean the puppy's ears using non-irritating solutions. Avoid using cotton swabs and opt for compresses. You can use herbal treatments. It is best to talk to your veterinarian for a suitable solution for cleaning your puppy's ears.

On the other hand, most dogs respond very well to specialized treatment, and if there are balance problems, these improve within 2-6 weeks of starting treatment; small breed puppies will recover even faster than large breed ones.

How canine otitis can be prevented

Preventing otitis in dogs is possible if:

• You choose to regularly clean your dog's ears, 1-2 times a week, in breeds predisposed to infections;
• You ensure air circulation in the ear canal;
• You request the trimming of long hairs in the ear during the veterinary consultation;
• You check the ears between cleanings, at least 1-2 times a week.

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What a dog with otitis eats

During medical treatment, it is advisable to adapt the diet to the puppy's bodily requirements. During this period, offer:

• Wet food – if the pet has severe pain when chewing, it may have difficulty consuming kibble. You can offer these combined with yogurt, salmon oil, or broth. This way, the food will be softer and easier to digest;
• Vitamin-rich foods – give eggs, rich in antioxidants and protein, zucchini, with iron, vitamin C, vitamin A, and magnesium content, and other nutritionally rich foods;
• Baby food – it is low in saturated fats, has few spices, and a high nutrient content, making it perfect for dogs in recovery.

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Otitis in dogs is a common condition that is relatively easy to treat. However, some people choose to ignore the signs of the disease, and therefore delay a visit to the vet. The problem is that only the veterinarian can make a diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment. They can also advise you on what to do to prevent the infection from returning.

Photo source: Shutterstock

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