The canine ear is a wondrous thing. Eighteen muscles help to rotate, twist, and turn each ear individually in the direction a sound is coming from. Much like humans “cupping” the ear to hear better, a dog can turn its entire earflap (pinna) to do the same. Dogs with upright ears tend to hear better than soft-eared dogs, but even they can adjust the position of their ears to pinpoint sounds, allowing more sound waves to enter the ear canal.
The Role of Earflap Shape in Ear Health
The shape of the earflap plays an important role in the health and cleanliness of the ear canal. A prick ear allows for constant airflow, which is vital for the health of the tissue, but it also works like a funnel for debris. In contrast, soft-eared dogs have the opposite issue: debris has a harder time getting into the canal, but airflow is limited, allowing bacteria or water to fester in a warm, damp, and airless environment—perfect for growing unwanted microbes!
Due to the shape and length of their ear canals, dogs are prone to ear infections. There is both a horizontal and vertical canal, so any debris, water, or bacteria must travel upwards to exit the ear. Have you ever watched your dog shake his head after a bath or swimming? It’s the perfect movement for clearing the ear canals of water and debris, but unfortunately, it’s not always enough. A buildup of earwax can trap bacteria or debris, and no amount of shaking will loosen their grip.
Ear Health and Grooming Challenges
The breed of dog can also affect overall ear health. For instance, consider the ear of a Standard Poodle or Cocker Spaniel. These dogs have thick, heavy ear leather, and part of their grooming involves allowing the ear fur to grow long and thick, further limiting airflow. The area around the ear canal is shaved to create a clean line for the head’s shape, but this removes the natural hairs that act as filters for the ear canal.
Poodles, Bichon Frises, and many small hypoallergenic breeds that require regular grooming also face the problem of hair growing within the ear canal. The amount and depth of hair growth varies from dog to dog, but in most cases, it needs to be plucked (typically done during grooming). If not removed, the hair can form a thick plug that not only affects the dog’s hearing but also traps bacteria and debris while significantly reducing airflow.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Ear Infections
The first signs of an ear infection are head shaking, ear scratching, and a cockeyed ear set. The ear flap and canal may be hot, red, and accompanied by a foul smell. If your dog persistently exhibits any or all of these behaviors, a visit to the vet is necessary. Do not attempt to treat the ear at home or ignore the situation, as the infection will only worsen.
Your vet will likely take a swab of the ear to run a Culture and Sensitivity test to identify the pathogens causing the infection. Yeast is the most common culprit, but other bacteria or ear mites may also be responsible (though ear mites present differently, typically causing dark, crusty debris in the ear canal).
Types of Ear Infections
There are three types of ear infections in dogs: Otitis Externa, Otitis Media, and Otitis Interna.
Otitis Externa and Otitis Media are infections that occur in the external ear canal (visible) and the area between the ear canal and the eardrum. These infections often occur together, and treatment is similar: clean the ear daily with a vet-recommended ear cleaner and apply topical antibiotic ointment to the affected ear twice a day for up to three weeks. Most infections are caused by yeast, and the extended treatment is necessary to fully eliminate the bacteria.
Otitis Interna is a deeper infection that occurs between the eardrum and the inner ear. This is a more serious condition and can cause deafness, loss of balance, and facial paralysis. Oral or injectable antibiotics are prescribed and are usually effective in clearing up the infection.
Chronic ear infections, however, are a different matter altogether. One infection is bad, but a recurring and persistent infection can be a nightmare. The underlying cause must be identified and treated before the infection will resolve completely.
Allergies and Hormonal Imbalances as Underlying Causes
Allergies in dogs are on the rise, and many food allergies manifest as ear infections. Other symptoms, such as itchy, flaky skin, may also occur, but on their own, these are not always concerning enough to worry an owner. If your dog has had three ear infections within six months, consider switching to a hypoallergenic food formula. If the ear infections disappear, make a note of the ingredients in the hypoallergenic food and ensure that all treats, biscuits, and snacks contain the same ingredients, while avoiding those in the original food.
A healthy dog can usually fight off bacteria, so if changing the food doesn’t work, have your vet run a broad blood panel, including Free TSH and Free T4, to check thyroid function. Dogs with thyroid or hormonal deficiencies may develop ear infections because their bodies are less effective at fighting bacteria.
Preventive Care and Treatment Options
A few simple steps can help prevent ear infections: Dry out the ears after swimming or bathing, administer antibiotic ointment once a week even when no symptoms are present, and tie back the ear flaps of breeds with heavy ears (like a Cocker Spaniel or Poodle) to allow greater airflow. You can use Vet Wrap for this (ask your vet to show you how to wrap the ears properly to avoid pinching skin or cutting off blood flow; it’s best to monitor your dog closely while doing this).
If the ear infection doesn’t improve, it may be time for a more aggressive treatment: Prednisone. This is a last resort before surgery and should not be administered lightly. However, the healing effects of steroids are unparalleled in situations like this. Other antibiotics and topical medications may also be prescribed.
If a course of Prednisone doesn’t clear up the infection, surgery may be required. By this point, the eardrum may be ruptured, causing permanent hearing loss. Because of the scar tissue built up in the ear canal, airflow can no longer reach deep enough to heal the damaged tissue. In such cases, part or all of the ear canal may need to be removed through a procedure called ear canal ablation. This is often done bilaterally (on both ears).
Although this surgery is not easy, the prognosis for a full recovery is excellent. Chronic ear infections can cause significant pain, aging a dog prematurely, and most dogs will become lethargic and depressed. Once the source of the discomfort is removed and healing begins, your dog will experience a new lease on life!
Ear infections in dogs are like many other health issues—if you ignore them or fail to take them seriously, they will eventually come back to bite you! At the first sign of trouble, get your dog to the vet and follow through with treatment. Your dog will thank you in the end.
