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YEAST OTITIS (EAR INFECTION WITH YEAST FUNGUS)
Dogs seem to get ear infections with a surprising frequency and some dogs have to deal with ear infections nearly constantly. When one considers that human ear infections seem few and far between, one wonders how man's best friend came to be so unlucky. It turns out there are a couple of factors at work: the shape of the ear canal and the common frequency of conditions leading to excess ear wax. The first problem for the dog's ear is structural. As demonstrated by the above illustration, the dog's ear canal has both a vertical and a horizontal component, unlike the human ear canal which goes straight in. This "J" shape of the dog's ear creates a predisposition to ear infections as debris must work its way upward rather than straight out. If ear wax cannot get out, it accumulates. Accumulation of ear wax, skin oil, and other debris feed the bacteria and fungi that live in the normal ear canal leading them to proliferate. Soon an infection results. Anything that facilitates ear wax accumulation, sets the stage for ear infection. It might be the narrowed ear opening of the Shar pei further hampering ear drainage, irritation from water in the ear canal after a bath, or actual disease causing over-production of ear wax. Allergic skin disease affecting the ears is the most common cause for recurring increased ear wax production/ear infection; other causes of ear infections include ear mites, and foreign bodies in the ear (such as grass awns or foxtails), or hair growth deep in the canal (common in poodles and schnauzers especially). The moisture of the wax promotes bacterial growth, yeast proliferation, and perhaps even pus development.
TREATMENT OF EAR INFECTIONS
LEVEL ONE: THE SIMPLE EAR INFECTIONS Most ear infections are cleared up simply with professional cleaning followed by medication at home. If only mild debris is present in the ear canals, simple disinfection and washing of the ear is adequate; however, in many cases, a full ear flush is needed to even examine the eardrum. For patient comfort, we recommend sedation for this procedure as the ears are sore and the instruments can be damaging if the pet jumps at the wrong time. A sample of ear discharge is commonly examined under the microscope so as to assist in selecting medications for home use. After a couple of weeks of home treatment, the ear canals are rechecked to be sure the infection is gone. In most cases this completes treatment but for stubborn cases, we must proceed to the next step. LEVEL TWO: ON-GOING EAR INFECTIONS Some dogs have chronic ear problems (the infection is not controlled by general medication or returns when general medication is discontinued). In these cases, the ear discharge should be cultured so that the precise organism can be pinpointed and treated specifically. Regular treatment at home with disinfecting ear washes should become part of the pet's grooming routine. Further testing may be in order to determine why the infection continues to recur. Allergy is the most common reason for recurrent ear problems but hormone imbalances can also be underlying causes. LEVEL THREE: THE END-STAGE EAR Some ear infections simply cannot be controlled with the above steps. These cases have transcended medical management and must proceed to surgical management. What this entails will depend on the state of the ear canal. Your veterinarian will make recommendations accordingly.
Page last updated: 5/5/2024 |