Introduction – The Anatomy of the Canine Ear

Just as with humans, a dogs ears mainly function for hearing. The difference is the appearance. The outside part of a dogs ear is referred to as the Pinna and is sometimes floppy like a Basset Hound or straight like a Corgi. The main function of the pinna is to funnel sound into the ear canal. While human ear canals are straight, dogs are shaped like the letter “L”. The ear canal is made up of the vertical or descending canal and the horizontal canal. The latter canal ends at the eardrum or tympanic membrane. In a dogs ear the eardrum is a clear membrane and separates the external middle an inner ear.

Common Causes for Ear Infections

Otitis Externa is the most common ear infection in dogs. The three main causes are ear mites, bacteria and yeast and it affects the external part of the ear including the horizontal and vertical canals.

Ear mite infections are caused by the mite Otodectes cynotis. Ear mite infections are seen more in puppies than adult dogs, but any dog can get ear mites. A dog gets ear mites from other infected dogs. Ear mites can live in the ear and on the head and neck.

Staphylococcus is the most common cause of bacteria related ear infections. Malassezia is the most commonly seen cause of yeast related ear infections. These two types of infections are seen more frequently than ear mite infections. However, there are predisposing factors that make your dog susceptible. They include:

Malformed Ear Canal – When a dogs ear canal is too long or too small, this provides ample opportunity for moisture and debris to become trapped leading to an infection.

Excessive Ear Canal Hair – When there is too much hair in the ear canal, it tends to trap debris and retain water which leads to ear infections.

Swimming and Humid Areas – If a dog loves to swim, he/she can have water trapped in the horizontal and vertical canals which leads to infection. In addition, if a dog resides in a humid climate, the ear can retain moisture from the air, thus resulting in an infection.

Folded or Floppy Pinna – If the pinnae are folded over or cover the vertical ear canal, debris and water can become trapped, thus resulting in infection.

Allergies to Food – Not only will food allergies cause skin problems; they can also alter the environment of the ear canal. When this happens excess moisture is retained and results in ear infections.

Seasonal or Inhalant Allergies – This is also known as Atopy. If a dog has an allergic reaction to grass, trees, mold, dust and other environmental factors it can affect the environment of the ear canal. When this occurs, moisture accumulates creating an ear infection along with skin afflictions.

Systemic Diseases – Some diseases of the endocrine system, such as hypothyroidism, change the environment of the skin and decrease the ability of the immune system to fight off infection. The combination of these things can lead to ear infection.

A Growth or Foreign Object – If there is an abnormal mass or some kind of foreign particle in the ear, it can trap debris and moisture causing an ear infection.

Cleaning the ears too much and leaving water or cleanser in the ears may also predispose a dog to getting ear infections.

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For many dogs with mild diarrhea that are still eating, drinking and acting normal, home treatment may be all that is required. This can be done by providing your dog with a bland diet such as white rice and boiled, skinless, boneless chicken breast. Implementing this food in small portions every two to four hours during the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours of the onset of diarrhea will allow the intestines to resume a normal balance of enzymes. Once the diarrhea has resolved, you can then begin re-introducing their normal food in small amounts. If the diarrhea does not resolve or it returns after re-introducing the dogs regular diet, this can be an indication of something more serious and warrants an immediate visit to the veterinarian for testing and further treatment options.

There are several options for treatment of diarrhea.

Metronidazole is an antibiotic used to remove any abnormal bacteria in the intestines.

Pectin and Kaolin are medications often given in conjunction with Metronidazole as together they work to stop diarrhea and firm the stool more quickly.

Probiotics are sometimes used also. These are beneficial bacteria that help restore the balance of normal bacteria in the intestines. Some probiotics are used to treat diarrhea and others can be used to prevent diarrhea.

Another option is bland food. Giving your dog white rice and boiled chicken allows the intestines to calm down and readjust to a normal balance.

Do not give your dog over the counter medications such as Immodium, Kaopectate, or Pepto-Bismol without checking with your veterinarian first. Most cases of simple diarrhea respond to treatment within a few days. If your dog continues to have diarrhea, you may need to re-visit the veterinarian for more testing or a change in therapy. The video below discusses treatment of simple diarrhea.

Tar like stool or blood stool, additional symptoms and a dog that just doesn’t feel well must be taken to a veterinarian immediately. If gone untreated, the condition can become worse rapidly, leaving your dog vulnerable to more serious and dire consequences.

How to Prevent Diarrhea

Listed below are several ways you can prevent your dog from having diarrhea:

Keep all trash, human food and medications out of reach.

Do not feed your dog human food or table scraps.

Always supervise your dog while he/she is outside in order to make sure they are not eating something they shouldn’t.

If a change must be made to your dogs regular diet, be sure to do it gradually. This can be accomplished by simply mixing a little of the new food with the old. Gradually increase the amount of new food until that is all your dog is eating. By doing this, you allow your dogs intestines to become slowly adjusted to this new introduction. For most dogs a period of about seven days is all that is needed, however some dogs may require longer.

When boarding your dog, take your own food.

Deworming. It is important to do this every month. Most heartworm medications will also deworm your dog.

Please bear in mind that no information in this article is designed to diagnose or treat your pet nor should it replace a visit to your veterinarian for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Heather Fox is an an experience veterinarian who loves to share her knowledge. You can find her class about Dog Diarrhea Treatment and other lessons like Dog Parvovirus Infection Diagnosis on Clivir – the Free learning Community Site.

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The Anatomy of the Canine Ear

A dogs ears are the same as a persons ears in that their main function is hearing. Dog ears just do not look like peoples ears. The outside part of the ear is called the pinna. In some dogs it is floppy (like a Basset Hound) and in some dogs it stands up (like a Corgi). The pinna helps to funnel sound into the ear canal. Whereas people have a straight ear canal, the ear canal in the dog is a little L shaped. It is made up of the vertical (descending) canal and the horizontal canal. The horizontal canal ends at the eardrum, or tympanic membrane. The eardrum is a transparent membrane that separates the external ear from the middle and inner ear.

Common Causes of Dog Ear Infections

The most common is an infection of the outside of the ear including the horizontal and vertical canals. This infection is referred to as Otitis Externa and is caused by three main reasons; ear mites, bacteria and yeast.

Ear Mites or Otodectes cynotis cause these ear infections. While they are most commonly found in puppies, any dog at any age can get them. They are contracted by exposure to other animals infected with them and can live on the head and neck as well.

Malassezia is the most common cause of a yeast related ear infection while Staphylococcus is the most seen factor in bacteria related ear infections. These two forms are generally more common than ear mite infections; however there are predisposing factors that can make your dog vulnerable. These factors include:

Malformed Ear Canal – When a dogs ear canal is too long or too small, this provides ample opportunity for moisture and debris to become trapped leading to an infection.

Over Abundance of Hair in the Canal – This excess amount of hair is the perfect tool for trapping debris and holding onto water which can lead to an infection.

Swimming and Humid Areas – If a dog loves to swim, he/she can have water trapped in the horizontal and vertical canals which leads to infection. In addition, if a dog resides in a humid climate, the ear can retain moisture from the air, thus resulting in an infection.

Floppy or Folded Over Ears – Pinnae that cover the vertical canal can trap debris and retain water which results in ear infection.

Food allergies – An allergic response to a particular food ingredient can change the environment of the ear canal leading to moisture build-up and an ear infection. Dogs with food allergies may have other skin problems, too.

Seasonal or Inhalant allergies (atopy) – An allergic response to grass, trees, mold, dust, etc. can change the environment of the ear canal leading to moisture build-up and an ear infection. Dogs with seasonal allergies will usually have other skin problems, too.

Systemic Diseases – Diseases that affect the endocrine system such as hypothyroidism can affect the skin and the immune system. When both of these systems are compromised, an ear infection can occur.

A growth or foreign object in the ear – A growth or foreign object in the ear can trap water and debris in the ear canal leading to an infection.

Cleaning the ears too much and leaving water or cleanser in the ears may also predispose a dog to getting ear infections.

Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian who loves to share her knowledge about Dog Illness Diagnosis. She has an online classroom at Clivir.com where you can find more of her articles about Ear Infections in Dogs.

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No matter what the root cause of an ear infection is, the symptoms are all the same. Here are signs you should watch for at home:

Shaking of the Head

Scratching at the head or ears

Continuous rubbing of the head and ears on the ground or floor

A distinct redness or irritation in the ear canal

Discharge coming from the ears

A brown or yellowish discharge present in the ears

Foul smell emanating from the ear

Pan when ears are petted or touched

The Veterinary Visit – Diagnosis of an Ear Infection

At the first sign of symptoms an appointment should be made with a veterinarian. It is also important to remember that you should never put anything into your dogs ears before seeing the veterinarian. This could result in additional symptoms including neurological which include head tilting and walking in circles.

For dogs that get repeated ear infections or have infections that will not go away with treatment, it is important to find the underlying cause of their problems. Some things are easy to figure out just from a physical examination. If a dog has a lot of hair in its ears, floppy pinnae, or small ear canals, a visual examination will show this. Tumors and foreign objects in the ear can usually be seen during a physical examination, too.

In order to rule out an allergy to food, the veterinarian will put your dog on a hypoallergenic food for a period of about eight weeks. During this time you will monitor your dog and keep a journal of any receding symptoms, increasing symptoms or no change in symptoms at all.

Skin and blood testing is used to rule out Atopy. This word stands for seasonal and inhalant allergies. The test will provide the veterinarian with exactly what your dog is allergic to, if anything.

Hypothyroidism and other endocrine diseases affecting the skin are usually diagnosed through a series of one or more blood tests which test the function of a particular endocrine organ. Usually dogs with endocrine disorders will have other symptoms besides ear infections that will lead the veterinarian to suspect another problem.

Treatment of Ear Infections

Once the underlying cause is determined, the treatment can begin. For dogs with food allergies, avoiding these foods is paramount. In dogs with seasonal and inhalant allergies, a combination of medications including antihistamines, omega-3 fatty acid supplements and cyclosporine will be prescribed and your dog will most likely be required to take them for the rest of his/her life.

In addition, topical treatments, antibiotics, antifungals, shampoos and rinses may also be required. However, each dogs case is different and will depend on the severity of their allergy.

In general, an ear infection can be cleared up with a combination of oral medication and medication inserted in the ear. However, it is imperative that you clean your dogs ears once or twice a week to remove excess buildup of medication which can retain debris and impede the healing process. An ear infection is usually treated for two weeks, although some cases may take longer. If the infection does not clear up, a swab or ear culture may be needed for further testing.

How to Prevent Ear Infections

Treat all underlying diseases

Dry your dogs ears out after a bath.

Dry your dogs ears out every time it swims.

Do not use water or cleaner inside your dogs ears unless absolutely necessary and always make sure to dry them thoroughly

Remember: Keeping your dogs ears dry is the one key element in preventing as well as treating ear infections.

An experience veterinarian with great passion for writing, Heather Fox loves to share her knowledge about Dog Health Symptoms with fellow pet lovers. You can find more of her lessons including Dog Flea Allergy Dermatitis Treatment on Clivir.com.

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What defines a Hot Spot?

A hot spot is a single area of skin that has an infection on the surface. These localized areas of infection are more likely to happen in dogs that have thick hair coats, dogs that swim a lot, and in moist or humid environments. Sometimes flea bites or other insect bites can also be involved. A hot spot starts to develop when more than the usual amount of moisture stays close to the skin. This changes the local environment of the skin and allows bacteria to grow. The bacteria release toxins, which cause inflammation in the skin. This makes the skin itchy in that one spot. A dog will chew and scratch on that spot to relieve the itching, but this makes the situation worse. The chewing damages the skin more and makes the skin infection worse. This makes the area even itchier. This becomes a vicious cycle. A large hot spot can seem to develop over only twenty or thirty minutes and can get bigger quickly. A flea or insect bite can also start the itching process.

Hot Spots – What to look for

These spots are very easy to identify. They are large areas of the skin that are red, inflamed, hairless and sometimes oozing or scabbed over. Most commonly these spots are found on the rear legs and neck but can appear on other areas of the body as well. This are will be so irritating that a dog will not be able to stop licking, chewing, biting and scratching at it. This can make the area very painful to touch.

Diagnosing Hot Spots

Diagnosing a hot spot usually only requires a visual inspection or physical examination.

If several hot spots are present, a visit to your veterinarian may be needed for testing. These include:

Skin scrapings to rule out mange

Fungal Culture – This test is used to eliminate Ringworm as a cause.

Testing of Blood – This test is performed in order to ensure that seasonal or inhalant allergies are not the cause.

Blood and Skin Test – This can rule out an allergy to fleas.

Invasive treatment for fleas even if none are present.

Food Testing – This is performed in order to rule out an allergic reaction to food.

Treatment of Hot Spots

Things to remember when providing treatment include:

Ease Itching

Clear up the infection

Prevent the dog from biting or scratching the area

Keep the hot spot dry

Initially, the remaining hair on the hot spot and the surrounding hair are clipped. The spot is then cleaned well with an antibacterial soap and dried. Clipping and cleaning can be so painful that a dog may have to be sedated for the procedure. This depends on how bad the hot spot is.

A topical and oral antibiotic are the most common treatments. Each one contains a corticosteroid to stop inflammation and itching. By using these medications, your dog is more comfortable thus ending the itch, chew, infection cycle and speeding the healing process.

If your dog is unable to stop licking the area, an Elizabethan collar or lamp shade like collar may be needed. This is generally only needed for a short period of time as most dogs become comfortable within 24 hours. Within one week, the hot spot is usually healed.

Methods to Prevent Hot Spots

To prevent hot spots, several things can be done:

Use effective flea control on a dog and in the environment

Trim the hair of long and thick haired breeds during the summer months

Whenever possible, prevent your dog from swimming

If a dog does swim, dry it well afterwards

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