|
Warning: This slide show contains graphic imagery that may
not be appropriate for children!
 Chronic
ear infections plague many dogs and cats. Food allergies, bacteria
resistant to antibiotics, yeast infections, and breed predisposition
are all common reasons for ear problems.
The ear canal of the dog
and cat consists of both a vertical portion and a horizontal portion,
making a “J” shaped ear canal
(darker line in above diagram). This is very different from the
human “horizontal only” canal which goes straight into
the head.
Because of the vertical portion that dogs and cats have,
it is thought that infectious debris and wax has a harder time
draining and this is an important factor in why dogs and cats have
so many ear infections.
The veterinarian looks into the ear through a special instrument
called an otoscope. This allows the internal structures to be observed
through magnification. When an ear infection is suspected the doctor
will place an ear swab in the ear and a sample of the exudates
is examined under the microscope. Depending on what is found during
the microscopic exam (yeast, bacteria, etc.) the doctor or technician
will clean the ear canal so that the debris will not hamper the
medications from getting to the source of infection. We typically
treat ear infections with oral antibiotics and ear medications.
We recommend that patients return in 7-10 days so that the ear
canal can be checked for progress in healing.
Allergies to certain ingredients found in pet foods can cause flare
ups within the ear canal that mimics a bacterial infection. If
a food allergy is suspected, we recommend changing the food to
a hypoallergenic diet. Food allergies can be very frustrating because
these diet changes can take many months before benefit is seen.
Food trials often fail because the hypoallergenic diets typically
are more expensive then over the counter brands and if the owner
does not see instant results they tend to think the problem is
something else.
Many breeds such as cocker spaniels are prone to constant ear problems.
The breeds that have heavy, pendulous ears tend to encourage a
warm, damp environment with in the ear. Bacteria thrive in these
conditions, and a tell tale sign of infection is an ear that smells.
For
patients plagued with reoccurring infections, sometimes all the
ear cleaning, antibiotics and ear lotions in the world won’t
clear up the problem. For these patients we sometimes recommend
a Lateral Ear Resection, which cuts the vertical canal in half
lengthwise down to where it turns horizontal. (See slides) The
surgery Dr. Kelly performs is called the Zepp Procedure. The skin
is removed from the area on the outside of (or lateral to) the
ear and the ear canal is dissected in half and folded down. The
procedure literally turns the dog’s ear into something more
like that of a human, straight in. We not only make cleaning access
easier, but since ventilation is improved we no longer have the
moist environment conducive to bacteria growth. Sometimes this
procedure is also used to help remove tumors with in the canal,
making them more accessible.
Unfortunately
if your dog is suffering from a food allergy, this procedure will
not help the ear situation. The underlying condition must be identified
before this surgery is performed. Ear problems could also be a
symptom of a larger condition that is why the yearly physical examinations
are so important for your pet. We require an ear exam before refilling
any prescription because the nature of the infection may have changed
since the last treatment.
Sometimes bacteria grow resistant to
antibiotics and culture and sensitivity may need to be run to make
sure the antibiotic we are using will actually eliminate the particular
bacteria. The infection that is now troubling your pet may be secondary
to the original infection and therefore may need a different treatment
protocol. Ear infections are painful enough the first time, our
goal is to keep your pet from having to experience that as a chronic
problem, and through careful treatment and preventative plans we
can avoid unnecessary discomfort.
Sometimes narrowing of the horizontal canal occurs after chronic
ear infections, and thus this procedure would not be enough to
benefit the patient. When the horizontal canal is affected, a Total
Ear Canal Ablation would need to be performed. This procedure removes
all the diseased tissue: the entire ear canal, bones of the middle
ear etc. and the healthy tissue around the ear is then closed.
We
recommend cleaning ears one time weekly for those pets prone to
excessive wax and other debris buildup.
Begin slide show >>
Home • News & Views • Services • Tour • Staff • Contact |
