Introduction

When an owner suspects that her dog has an “ear problem,” she should take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Ear disorders are extremely common in domestic dogs, and they can become very serious if left untreated. The goals of treating ear infections and inflammation are to prevent the development of irreversible pathologic changes to the ear and to restore comfort to the affected animal.

Treatment Options

The initial treatment for most canine “ear problems” is a course of topical or systemic corticosteroids. This first-line therapy is designed to reduce inflammation and irritation and can help to reduce overgrowth of certain bacterial organisms. Antibiotics are also commonly prescribed - usually topically but also orally - to treat secondary bacterial infections. Antifungal drugs are available both topically and orally to address fungal ear infections. Many veterinarians will recommend that owners flush their dogs’ ears to remove any waxy build-up and impacted debris from the ear canals. This can be done a number of ways, which the attending veterinarian is in the best position to discuss. One common method is to flush the ears with a body-temperature solution of one part white vinegar in three-to-five parts water. Commercial preparations are also available. Again, owners should consult with their veterinarian before attempting in-home treatment of suspected ear irritation.

If the ears have become completely obstructed by irritation and tissue overgrowth (hyperplasia), the only effective treatment is surgical. Several surgical options are available, including a bulla osteotomy and a total ear canal ablation (TECA).

Prognosis

Dogs with infections of their outer ear (otitis externa) have a very good prognosis, if the infection is diagnosed and treated promptly. Once the middle and inner ear are infected, the prognosis becomes more guarded, and the dog may develop permanent hearing loss.