Symptoms of an ear infection

Most dogs or cats with an ear infection will have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Red, irritated ear
• An increased buildup of wax
• A discharge that is either brown, yellow or black
• Scratching at the ear
• Pain when the ear is touched
• Odor coming from the ear

There are other things that can cause ear problems as well such as ear mites, sarcoptic mange, immune system diseases and other problems.

Many dogs with recurrent ear infections have underlying allergies either to food or to environmental factors such as ragweed. Some dogs with recurrent ear infections may have hypothyroidism.

What can you do?

Ear infections are usually quite uncomfortable and should always be treated by a veterinarian. Some mild infections will benefit from being cleaned with an over the counter ear cleaner. Similarly, you can use a mixture of 50:50 vinegar:water. However, this can be irritating if there are any open sores in the ear.

If the infection comes back again after cleaning then your dog or cat will need prescription medicines to clear this up.

Dr. Marie is a veterinarian treating cats, dogs and pocket pets in a busy metropolitan practice. She runs the veterinary advice site, Ask A Vet Question. If you have a question about your pet you can talk to Dr. Marie by clicking on this link: