The Aussie Magazine Autumn 2020

Regardless of the causes, as long as the dog is not acJng
unusual, ear infecJons are totally treatable and not a
reason for concern. Here are a few simple remedies that
you can safely use for your pet.
Regular ear washes at home are frequently needed to disinfect
the ear and control the recurrent inflammaJon.
ComplicaHons of Yeast Ear InfecHon
Aural Haematoma
Ear mites
This is something that when the signs are first seen, an
owner can panic. On the ear there appears to be what
looks like dried blood. Invariably it is the sign of ear mites.
These parasites are highly contagious, and will quickly
spread from pet to pet in mulJ-pet households. Even from
cats to dogs. The first sign is usually excessive ear
scratching and some head shaking. If you spot this, pop
their ear flap back and have a look for dark, crumbly
coffee grounds-like detritus in the ear. Ear mites can also
be treated with medicated drops, and some spot on flea
treatments will also kill ear mites.
When a dog with
uncomfortable ears shakes
and scratches vigorously,
a blood vessel in the
earflap may rupture. This
leads to bleeding into the
Jssues of the pinna
(ear flap).
The usual recommendaJon is to have the blood clots removed
and the ear bandaged and cleaned under anaesthesia. If the
haematoma is not so big as to occlude the ear canal (thus
prevenJng medicaJon of the ear canal), the opJon to
forgo exists; but without surgery, the ear may scar down into an
abnormal appearance. Haematomas can be caused by other
damage, like nip and bites from other pets. In Australian
Terriers, the result invariably means a loss of the ear carriage.
Certain condiJons, such as a build-up of wax and reduced
air circulaJon, are conducive to ear infecJons starJng.
Such condiJons keep the ear canals warm and humid,
ideal for bacteria and yeast to thrive. If it impedes
removal of debris and reduces air circulaJon, it is an ear
infecJon winner. In most cases of canine ear infecJons,
these present as a pair.
Yeast infecHons
Another ear problem that is not unusual. Some dogs just
seem to be prone to it, whilst others never seem to have
an issue. Yeast infecJon is the most common type of ear
infecJon in dogs. The yeast organisms are fungi
called Malassezia pachyderma=s and they are normal on
the skin and in the ears.
When the ear becomes inflamed and the canal
environment changes, the yeast overgrow and create a
brown or gray, greasy ear discharge. It is especially itchy
and somewhat smelly. It isn’t long before a dog is seen
scratching at his ears, shaking his head, or holding one ear
slightly dropped. Discharge and odor may be noJceable to
the owner.
Yeast overgrowth can have many underlying causes but
allergy is parJcularly common. If the ear infecJon involves
the ear flap or entrance to the ear canal rather than the
canal itself, this is a hint that allergy is at the root of the
problem. In these paJents, ear infecJons are oden
recurrent and accompanied by other skin disease.
Prolifera@ve Ear Canal Change and Middle Ear Infec@on
A rouJne ear infecJon is uncomfortable enough but if the
infecJon persists, it can become an even bigger problem. The
infecJon can lead to proliferaJon and scarring in the canal
which makes the infecJon especially difficult (and potenJally
impossible) to clear up. Yeast organisms are joined by resistant
bacteria and the infecJon becomes even more difficult to
address.
The ear canal may mineralize and the middle ear may come to
be involved, leading to nerve damage. Affected animals may
have a head Jlt, a lack of balance, and unusual back-and-forth
eye movements (called “nystagmus.”) These symptoms are
called vesJbular signs” and are a complicaJon of middle ear
infecJon. Middle ear infecJons can also cause paralysis of the
facial nerve, leading to a slack-jawed appearance on that side of
the face. Severe cases will lead to surgery.