There are many symptoms of ear disease, but the
most common are:
l
Scratching or rubbing at ears
l
Unpleasant odour
l
Discharge within the ear canals
l
Redness and swelling of the areas surrounding
the ear
l
Shaking of the head
l
Haematoma (Blood blister) of external ear
No matter what the symptoms are, it is important
to remember most ear disease is accompanied by
discomfort and pain so treatment should be sought
as soon as possible.
To diagnose ear problems, veterinarians use a
variety of means including visualising the canal via
an otoscope - looking for any foreign bodies or
parasites, the discharge present, potentially sampling
any debris and also, importantly, ensuring the ear
drum is intact before any treatment is initiated.
Occasionally, full examination under sedation or
general anaesthesia may be necessary.
Treatment of ear disease can take many forms,
inclusive of foreign body removal, treatment of any
underlying allergies, injection or tablet forms of
antibiotics and pain relief, as well as local medicated
ear drop therapy. It is always important to follow the
treatment plan as directed by the vet thoroughly, as
recurrence can easily happen if a small amount of
the inciting cause is
left behind.
The key to healthy
ears and helping to prevent
ear disease developing is
keeping them clean. Check
your animal’s ears weekly
to ensure no more than a
normal amount of wax
build-up is present. If your
dog swims a lot, has
drooping ears or much
hair growth which covers
the canal entrance, regular
cleaning once or twice per
week with a gentle cleanser
may also be necessary.
The Winter months are now upon us! Jess Glover from Penbode
Vets provides top tips on keeping your rabbit warm this winter.
Vicki Harrington from Hook Norton gives advice on
feline behaviour and there is also an article on
treating and preventing ear disease.
In this
edition
of
Small Talk...
Ear disease
is possibly more common than you may think, with
it being estimated that up to 20% of our pets are affected by it
at some point. Dogs and cats can have ear problems for many
different reasons, with some being more predisposed compared
with others, meaning it is not always simple to determine the
exact underlying cause.
Rebekah Dude
BVetMed MRCVS
EU Veterinary
Advisor, Norbrook
Laboratories