Disease of the ear canal in dogs – otitis externa
The ear canals are lined by skin and so are affected by most of the problems that can affect the skin elsewhere on the body. But it is a special area. It is hidden away and out of sight. The skin of the ear canal is easily diseased and can be difficult to treat.
Also, the ear canal leads to the ear drum, through which is the middle ear and which in turn leads to the inner ear. Otitis externa often breaks through the ear drum so that the middle ear canal becomes infected. This then makes treatment of the ear canal disease itself difficult to manage.
The ear canals are lined by skin and so are affected by most of the problems that can affect the skin elsewhere on the body. But it is a special area. It is hidden away and out of sight. The skin of the ear canal is easily diseased and can be difficult to treat.
Also, the ear canal leads to the ear drum, through which is the middle ear and which in turn leads to the inner ear. Otitis externa often breaks through the ear drum so that the middle ear canal becomes infected. This then makes treatment of the ear canal disease itself difficult to manage.
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As well as the pain and distress that they cause, long-term ear problems often lead to permanent deafness. Once a dog is deaf then medical treatment of the otitis externa may not be worthwhile: for dogs with long-term problems that are challenging to control it may be better to have surgery performed to remove the ear canals (called a TECA – Total Ear Canal Ablation [and lateral bulla osteotomy]). This surgery does not alter the external appearance of a dog unless the ear is closely examined. The best way to determine if a dog is deaf is to perform BAER hearing testing and this is part of the service that I offer to clients owning pet with ear problems. www.vethearingservice.co.uk
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Polly having a BAER hearing test.
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Ear problems are very common in dogs but I will only usually get involved when either they have been going on for a long time or if they are part of a problem that is affecting the skin elsewhere.
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There are three fundamental parts to me helping a dog with ear problems
1. Is it best to stop medical treatment and arrange for TECA surgery? Is the dog deaf or is the ear canal so badly scarred and damaged that it cannot be saved? I can tell this by examinations with an otoscope (I will be able to show you the pictures) and with a BAER hearing test. Even if surgery is the best option for the ears, I may well need to help out in managing problems on the rest of the skin, especially the pinnae (ear flaps). 2. To find and manage the cause of the ear disease – most commonly this is an allergy. For further detail please see http://www.davidgodfreydermatology.co.uk/canine-atopic-dermatitis-information.html but there are many other possible causes. 3. To find out which of the following complicating problems are present - secondary infections with bacteria and yeasts, inflammation, narrowing and otitis media and to come up with a plan to eliminate these problems and stop them recurring. This plan must always take into account what is possible for you and your pet. Many dogs with ear problems find them very painful and are difficult to treat and some owners cannot afford all the treatment options. I understand this. |
View down a diseased ear canal using a video otoscope.
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BAER hearing test on a puppy
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BAER hearing test on a kitten
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