Otitis is a very recurrent problem in veterinary clinical practice and is manifested by itching, redness, excess wax and ear pain in the dog, which causes discomfort not only to him but also to the guardian who watches over him. However, this is not the only cause that can explain the discomfort that your dog feels in the ear, whether it is the external or the internal.
In this article on our site we will explain the causes of ear pain in dogs and their possible treatments. Likewise, we will talk about how to relieve ear pain in dogs, although, as always, a visit to the veterinary center is essential.
Causes of ear pain in dogs
The main cause of ear pain in dogs is otitis, which, in turn, appears for different reasons. However, there are also other reasons that can cause discomfort in the ear. We talk about all of them below:
Otitis
The ear is divided into inner, middle and outer ear, and the latter is divided into vertical and horizontal canal. Otitis in dogs is an inflammation of the ear (ear and ear canal) and, depending on the location, is classified as internal, middle and/or external otitis. However, the most common type that arises in dogs is external otitis. If treated poorly, it progresses medially and/or internally, causing more serious problems that can manifest in neurological symptoms.
This inflammation produces pain, which is why it is one of the main causes. Another very common sign of otitis is the increased production of cerumen (wax) by the ceruminous glands. If your dog shakes or tilts his head, scratches his ear excessively, has excessive earwax, and has an unpleasant odor, you should consult a veterinarian.
There are risk factors that make animals of certain ages, breeds, and lifestyles more likely to develop recurrent ear infections. For example, older dogs are associated with more tumors or inflammatory polyps. Breed is also an important favor, since the dogs with hanging ears create the ideal conditions for the microorganisms that inhabit the pinna to develop and cause inflammation and infection. Similarly, the anatomy of the ear canal of brachycephalic breeds, such as the bulldog, or the narrowing of the ears of the Shar Pei are other factors that predispose to the appearance of otitis and, consequently, to ear pain in dogs. Finally, the bath without drying at the end makes the environment of the ear moist and dark, ideal for the development of otitis.
Otitis can be caused by primary or secondary causes. Starting with the primaries, we have the following:
- Foreign bodies In fact, foreign bodies are high on the list of differential diagnoses when a dog with ear pain and suspected unilateral otitis (only one ear is affected). The vet should look for plant thorns or seeds (very common), small stones, dust, insects, or fur.
- Masses in the ear canal. Polyps or other types of tumors can develop inside the ear or ear canal and cause pain and otitis with secondary infection.
- Mites. The Otodectes cynotis mite is the cause of otodectic mange, which occurs inside the ear and, therefore, produces otitis in the affected animal. These parasites are more common in cats, however, they can also be seen in dogs.
- Autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases can cause recurrent bilateral otitis (both ears are affected).
- Endocrine diseases. Endocrine problems are also included in the list of differential diagnoses for canine otitis, as they can cause an overproduction of cerumen in the glands and trigger secondary infections.
As for the secondary causes, mainly the fungi, such as Malassezia pachydermatis, or the bacteria A dog with a predisposition to earwax problems or to develop a good microenvironment in the ear, will suffer more frequently than opportunistic microorganisms proliferate
Allergies
Allergies also cause otitis, however, they deserve a separate mention due to their complexity, since a considerable percentage of dogs suffer from some type of food or environmental allergy. If the dog is allergic to any environmental component, it develops atopic dermatitis at certain times of the year.
One of the most common symptoms in chronic allergies is earache As it is a generalized reaction, otitis caused in these cases it is usually bilateral, that is, both ears are affected, although they can be affected to different degrees of severity.
A dog suffering from environmental allergies usually shows symptoms such as thickened and reddened skin, reddening of the ear, alopecia, sneezing, itching or even anaphylactic shock. These signs will vary depending on the type of allergy and the contact the dog has had with the allergen, that is, if it has been direct contact, has inhaled it, etc. In cases of food allergy, the region of the anus can be irritated and gastrointestinal symptoms usually appear, as well as inflammation of the eye and mouth area.
Injuries
Virtually any type of injury to the ear can cause ear pain in your dog. Thus, a blow, a wound caused by a fight or even by aexcessive scratching may have triggered this discomfort.
Parasites
Mange mites are not the only parasites that can cause ear pain in dogs. Ticks tend to stick to the thinnest areas of skin, which is why the ears are among their favorite spots. Especially when we are facing a moderate or severe infestation, the animal not only experiences itching, but also other discomforts and, of course, pain. This is common in puppy dogs that have not yet been dewormed, but also in adults and the elderly.
Symptoms of ear pain in dogs
It's not always easy to identify a dog's ear pain, so it's important to pay attention to any signs it shows. In general, when a dog has ear pain, it usually shows the following symptoms:
- He scratches his ears a lot
- Shake head
- Tilt your head
- Red or hot ears
- More wax
- Bad odor from ear canal
- Touch Sensitivity
- Cry when scratching
- Aggressiveness when trying to manipulate or clean the ear
- Hearing loss
- Lack of motor coordination
If you observe any of the symptoms mentioned, it is essential to go to the veterinary center as soon as possible, since, as we have seen, the causes are very varied and many of them are serious. Once there, the vet can perform the following diagnostic tests:
- Otoscopy to observe the canal directly
- Cytology and microscopic observation of possible microorganisms
- Culture and antibiogram to know which antibiotic is best to use
- Bone scan
- Magnetic resonance
- CT scan
- Biopsy and Histology
How to relieve ear pain in dogs?
In order to relieve ear pain in dogs, it is essential to identify the cause that causes it and treat it. The treatment will not be the same if the pain is caused by parasites than if the reason is a tumor.
In any case, one of the first steps is usually to clean the ear to remove excess wax and keep it dry.
Ear cleaning
There are various cleaning solutions suitable for many different situations:
- A ceruminolytic (with urea, for example) prevents the formation of more cerumen.
- A ceruminous solvent (glycerin or lanolin) softens the earwax and causes it to release from the walls of the ear canal.
- There are also Drying solutions that dry the canal and are indicated for productive or purulent otitis (propylene glycol, acetic acid, etc.).
If your dog has a lot of wax and you want to clean it at home, follow this step by step:
- Soak a clean gauze pad in saline or cleansing solution.
- Wipe away excess wax with gentle circular motions.
- Avoid using cotton swabs or sharp objects to try to dig deeper. Cotton swabs can be used in the shallow recesses of the ear, but it's best to avoid them anyway.
- Use a dry gauze pad to remove excess liquid and avoid leaving wet spots.
- Cleaning is complete when the pad comes out clean and free of dirt.
- You can also cut the hairs that go into the ear canal to ventilate the region.
Of course, before carrying out this cleaning we recommend going to the vet, since the presence of earwax can guide the diagnosis.
Treatments for ear pain in dogs
Depending on the cause of otitis or ear pain in the dog, the treatment to be followed will be one or the other. Thus, drops for ear pain in dogs must be prescribed by the veterinarian. For example, in cases of infection it will be necessary to administer antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or systemic corticosteroids. When the cause is a fungus or bacteria, antifungal or antibacterial medications are used.
If what is causing the pain is a mite or another type of parasite, it will be necessary to administer the appropriate antiparasitic to the dog. Likewise, in cases of allergies that cause atopic dermatitis, in addition to administering corticosteroids, it may be necessary to bathe the dog with a specific shampoo. For food allergies it will be necessary to establish a hypoallergenic diet. In cases of tumors, the veterinarian will determine if it is possible to operate and what treatment to follow.
As you can see, the treatments are very varied and totally depend on the cause of the problem, therefore it is not possible to relieve ear pain in dogs without a diagnosisprevious. Likewise, if you are looking for home remedies for ear pain in dogs, you should know that without the cause that produces it, they cannot be applied either.
Consequences of not treating ear pain in dogs
In conjunction with canine otitis or simply as a result of more vigorous shaking of the head, microleakage of the ear cartilage and cause a bruise called otohematoma, where produces the buildup ofserosanguineous fluid between the skin and the cartilage, creating a bag of blood in the ear.
This situation, apart from being very uncomfortable, is also very painful for the dog. The treatment is surgical under anesthesia, during which the otohematoma is drained and fissures are created to continue the drainage and prevent further fluid accumulation. Additionally, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed after surgery to aid healing and pain management.
Therefore, once again, we insist on the importance of going to the veterinary center if you notice that the dog has pain in the ear.
