My Dog’s Ear is Hot What Should I Do?
Did you know that ear infections are a common problem in dogs? It’s thought that as many as 20% of dogs suffer from ear infections.
If your dog’s ear is hot, it could be caused by an ear infection. In this article, we’ll take a look at ear infections, their causes, and treatment.
What Causes Ear Infections in Dogs?
First, there are three different types of ear infections in dogs including:
- Otitis externa: this is an infection of the outer part of the dog’s ears.
- Otitis media: this is a middle ear infection
- Otitis interna: is an infection of the inner ear
Of these ear infections, the most serious are otitis media and otitis interna. These can develop from an infection of the outer ear. If left untreated, they can cause deafness, facial paralysis, vestibular signs (head shaking and itching, for instance).
One more note—it’s possible for a dog to develop an infection of both the middle and inner ears at the same time.
Ear infections can be caused by:
- Ear mites
- Allergies
- Bacterial & fungal infections
- Parasites
- Autoimmune issues
- Endocrine disorder (such as thyroid disease)
- Wax buildup
- Foreign bodies
- Injury of the ear canal
- And more
Symptoms of an Ear Infection in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has an ear infection:
Excessive scratching of the ear
- Head shaking
- Odor
- Hot ear(s)
- Redness
- Swelling in the ear canal
- Pain
- Dark discharge
- Itchiness
- Crusting and scabs in the ears
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, then it’s time to call the vet. Left untreated, ear infections can become worse and lead to other health issues.
Treatment of Ear Infections in Dogs
At the vet’s, they will perform a physical examination of your dog, focusing on the ears. In some cases, the vet may want to more closely examine your dog’s ear, which means your fur baby may be sedated. They will be checking for all signs of ear infections, check the pain level your dog is experiencing, as well as collecting samples from the ear.
The vet may also choose to do an x-ray of your dog’s ears.
Once the diagnosis is made, then the vet will clean your dog’s ears. They may also prescribe a topical medication to apply to apply at home, as well as an ear cleaning.
If the infection is more complicated, then the vet will prescribe oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds.
In most cases, an uncomplicated ear infection will heal in 1-2 weeks, with treatment. However, in severe ear infections, it can take several months to heal. If none of the treatments have worked for these types of ear infections, then your dog may need surgery.
As you can see, ear infections can be a huge problem for your dog. However, with the right treatment, he should be back to normal and feeling better soon!
