Dog Ear Infection Yeast Vs. Bacterial

Treating Your Dogs Ear Infection: How To Care For Your Pet

In most cases, canine ear infections can be treated with a cleaning at your vets office followed up with prescription treatments at home. Your vet may prescribe oral and/or topical medications, so its important to follow dosage information and ask any questions when administering meds to your pet.

Depending on the severity of your dogs ear infection, treatment methods may vary. If his ear infection has become debilitating, your vet may require your dog to be kept in the hospital for additional treatment, rehabilitation, and assessment for possible neurological symptoms. Once hes in stable enough condition to be released, your pooch will require a follow-up visit about two weeks after treatment to ensure he has fully recovered.

In the instance of milder ear infections, your dog can be treated at home with different medications antimicrobials are commonly prescribed to fight the bacterial infection. Typically, these infections are resolved with aggressive antibiotic therapy if caught early on and wont recur however, if your dog is prone to recurrent ear infections, he may be a candidate for surgical drainage.

However, as in every form of treatment, its important to consult with your vet before administering any type of solution, pill, medication, or ointment, even if it is touted as organic or all-natural.

What Causes Ear Mites In Dogs

Ear mites are highly contagious from animal to animal. If your dog has been in contact with another dog who is dealing with ear mites, theres a good chance the parasite will spread to your dog.

Its rare for a human to get ear mites, so you dont have to worry about getting them from your dog. Some people are susceptible, but mites will rarely cause more than a slight itch for humans. But, you might have to worry about other animals in the house if one of them shows signs of ear mites.

Ear mites spend their entire life cycle in the ear canal of an animal. According to VCA Hospitals, they go through five life stages while in the ear canal. The good news? They only live for about two months.

During that time, they are continually reproducing. So, unless you treat your dog for ear mites, its unlikely they will ever go away on their own as new eggs are constantly being hatched and growing into adult mites.

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So when your dog is obsessively scratching, itching, moaning and otherwise telling you he has a problem with his ear, dont wait. Get a solid diagnosis on the cause and swing into action with the best treatment for dog ear infections and mites buy visit the page

We hope you found this article helpful and if your dog ever gets any cuts, abrasions, skin infections or hot spots, we hope you keep Banixx Pet Care in mind. Go to our dog page to learn more about how to keep your dog happy and healthy!

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Yeast Infections In Dogs

Itchy, irritated skin with a distinct odor can be an indication of a yeast infection, a common skin concern for dogs. A dog will typically develop a yeast infection on the skin or in the ears. Regardless of location, a yeast infection can cause extreme discomfort and can be an indication of a more serious issue.

In This Article

Yeast Ear Infections In Dogs

Yeast is a naturally occurring fungi found on your dog’s skin and in their ears. When the correct balance of yeast exists your pet’s skin and ears stay healthy. However, inflammation of the ear can cause yeast levels to accelerate and grow leading to a brown, greasy discharge within the ear canal and around the inside flap of your pup’s ear. This discharge can be both itchy for your pup and smelly.

Our Bartlett vets see yeast infections in dog’s ears far more often in the summer months when it is hot and humid than any other time of year. Hot humid weather provides the perfect environment for yeast to grow. When that moisture and warmth are combined with a lack of airflow caused by the shape of your dog’s ears, yeast infections can often result.

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Does Your Pet Have Earmites Or An Ear Infection

And if so, how do you treat yeast infection in dogs and cats? Howdo you treat ear mites indogs and cats?

It is essential to monitor and manage your pets health wheneverthey show systems of illness or irritability. Taking charge of your furry loved ones health can increase their lifeexpectancy and elevate their mental health. So if your dog or cat is constantly scratching their ears, shaking theirhead or flattening their ears back, they could have ear mites or ear infection in their ear. What is the difference between ear mites and ear yeastinfections? How do you know if you pethas one of them? Lets take a look:

Typically, ear mites are common in puppies and kittens. They are generally passed down from theirmother since their young immunes system is fragile and ear mites are very contagious. Once a puppy has transitioned into an adult dog,ear mites in dogsis relatively low compared to ear mites in cats, unless the dog spends the majority of thetime outdoors or they are infected by another pet or animal.

Dog Ear Mites Vs Ear Infection

The symptoms of each issue can be virtually indiscernible to the untrained eye.

Seeing the mites is the only way you can know for sure they have them, and that doesnt rule out a secondary infection.

Dogs with ear infections, or otitis interna, can display ear discharge, which can be brown, bloody, or yellow. It will also likely have a foul odor.

Their ears might also feel warmer than usual, or they may not allow you to touch their ears at all due to pain and tenderness.

The inner ear can also appear swollen and red.

If youre asking, does my dog have ear mites or an infection, youll get the most accurate answer from a vet.

Why is it so important to diagnose the issue properly?

In severe infections, the facial nerve can be affected. Your dog might have trouble blinking, drools excessively, have trouble eating, and droopy eyes.

Mites and infections are two separate problems that require different treatments.

Bacterial infections require vet-prescribed antibiotics to treat.

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Epi Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser

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Product Details

Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser is recommended for pets with chronic otitis externa. Inhibits inflammation and infection by emulsifying and removing the wax and drying the ear canal to prevent further pathogenic growth.

It also neutralizes the bad odors that normally go along with chronic ear infection. Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser has a neutral pH which means its gentle on sensitive skin and can be used often as well as used with other ear medications.

Made for use on cats and dogs of all ages.

Reviews From Real Customers

Weve been using this on my Mini Aussie for the last ~6 months and its been a life saver! Due to anxiety issues, shes only been able to get her ears professionally cleaned by the groomer once so we have really been relying on this for cleaning her ears.

I know its supposed to be supplemental but man, its worked like a charm as her main cleaning solution! Normally I just use a cotton pad with some solution if she just needs a bit of surface cleaning.

During bath time we pour a bit into her ear for a deeper clean and she knows that after I massage it a bit, she should shake it out! Shes surprisingly calm about it for a dog that cries the entire time shes in the bath.

A little goes a long way! The only potential downside : The scent is a bit strong, youll likely be able to smell through the following day when poured into the ear.

What Are Ear Mites

Ear mites are parasites that are hard to get rid of and almost impossible to see without a microscope. When you view an ear mite under a microscope, youll most likely see a tiny parasite with eight legs.

They are particularly fond of staying in a dogs ear canal. Ear mites cause infection and inflammation in the ear canal. Dogs are usually affected by the Otodectes cynotis, which is classified as a type of mange.

Although theyre called ear mites, these parasites dont limit their feeding to the ears, as they quickly spread around your dogs body. If a dog has ear mites and it isnt treated quickly, the ear mites can go into its skin and damage its hair follicles which can lead to hair loss.

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Lets Talk About Ear Mites

Ear mites are tiny parasites that are actually classified as mange. They feed off the wax in your dogs ear. They are very difficult to see with the naked eye, and its easy to write them off as a nuisance like fleas but they should be taken seriously, as they can lead to ear infections and even move on to attack other parts of your dogs body. Ear mites are more likely seen in puppies and kittens due to their weaker and developing immune systems.

Mercifully, ear mites dont appear to like humans but they are highly contagious for your other animals. So, if one of your pups has ear mites, your older dog/s may contract them and youll need to treat ALL of your pets. And since ear mites are transmitted socially, youll need to clean the environment: wash pet bedding in hot water with bleach and dry it in a hot dryer vacuum all common areas thoroughly, etc.

Ear mites cause inflammation and irritation and your dog will let you know by scratching and shaking his head constantly. If you look in your dogs ears, you might see dark, grainy specks that look a bit like coffee grounds.

For some dogs, an infestation of ear mites might just be a slight irritation. For others who are more sensitive, ear mites can become a raging battle with more serious symptoms. A dog can scratch so much that it creates a painful hematoma on the ear that needs to be seen by a vet.

How To Tell The Difference Between Ear Mites And Yeast Infection

Yeast infections in dogs ears typically result in head shaking and rubbing, itching, odor, redness, and brown discharge. Ear mites in dogs have many of the same symptoms, however, there are a few slight differences. Ear mites cause a dark discharge from the ear that can be waxy or crusty. Ear mites are also barely visible to the naked eye, extremely itchy, and very contagious to other animals. If your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your vet so they can determine whether its a yeast infection or ear mites and the best option for treatment.

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Are Certain Dog Breeds More Susceptible To Yeast Infections

Ear infections caused by yeast are more common in dogs with floppy ears, like cocker spaniels, basset hounds, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and poodles. Some breeds which have hair growing in the inner ear canal, like Schnauzers, are also more susceptible to yeast infection. So are dogs with allergies.

Zymox Otic Without Hydrocortisone 4oz

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Product Details

Zymox Otic is used for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammation of the external ear in dogs and cats caused by bacterial, viral and yeast infections. Treat once a day for 7 days for acute infection and once a day for 14 days for chronic infection.

Do not use in conjunction with other topical ear medications or cleaners.

Reviews From Real Customers

This stuff has saved my life! My beagle is super prone to yeast infections in his ear and the meds that the vet gives him never seem to cut it- they always come back. Rather than spending another $150 at the vet for treatment, I decided to give this a try.

Ive been using it for about a week and a half and the difference is amazing. He is scratching way less and the redness and brown gunk have gone down a lot. He doesnt like to have the bottle squirted directly in his ear, so I do have to put it on my finger and rub it in but it seems to be working well! Im only giving it 4 stars at the moment because the infection is not totally healed, but Im very hopeful!.

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How Dog Ear Infections Are Treated

If your vet diagnoses your pup with an ear infection they will generally begin treatment by applying a medicated cleanser and prescribing an antibiotic or other anti-inflammatory medication. Your vet may also prescribe a topical medication and instruct you on how and when to apply it to your dog’s ear at home.

If a mild infection is caught early it will typically clear up within just a week or two. If your dog’s ear infection is more severe or caused by an underlying health condition, treatment may be more challenging and the infection may take longer to resolve. Unfortunately, it is common for severe cases to lead to chronic ear infections in dogs.

It is important that you follow your vet’s instructions carefully and finish any recommended treatments. Not finishing prescriptions can lead to a recurring infection that becomes increasingly difficult to treat.

Follow-up appointments with your vet are highly recommended to ensure the treatment has worked and the infection has completely cleared. Even if it seems like your pup is okay there may be lingering signs of infection that your vet will be able to spot.

There Are Several Types Of Ear Infections That Could Be Affecting Your Dog

Otitis is a general term for inflammation or infection of the ear, and it can show up in your dog in several different ways.

Otitis externa is commonly diagnosed by redness or swelling on your dogs outer ear and the outer part of the ear canal. Essentially swimmers ear for dogs, this type of infection is often caused by water getting trapped in the ear canal. This moist environment is ripe for breeding bacteria, and can cause pain and swelling, as well as a spreading of the infection into the bones and cartilage around the ear if left untreated. If your dogs eardrum is not punctured and no pus or blood is present, the infection is most likely otitis externa, which is good news, because its the easiest type of ear infection to treat. Typical signs of an external ear infection include discharge from the ear, often brown or black in color, and a bad odor.

A similar, but less common type of infection is otitis media, which is inflammation of the dogs middle ear, which is located just behind the eardrum. Otitis interna , is perhaps the most severe of these basic inflammations, as it is an infection of the inner ear, which connects to the brain and contains nerves for balance and hearing.

A good way to figure out where the infection is coming from is to identify where the swellings concentrated and the state of the eardrum, whether its punctured or intact.

Common symptoms of any kind of otitis-related infection include

• inflammation of the ear or surrounding area, and

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Dog Ear Yeast Infections: Causes And Solutions

If your dogs shaking his head or scratching his ears constantly, it could be a dog ear yeast infection. One or both of his ears might have a yeasty smell, or black-brown gunk caking the insides. When your dogs ears are crusty, smelly and inflamed, its a warningsign of a bigger health issue

Heres how to look beyond your dogs earsto find the problem and the solution.

Are Ear Infections Common In Dogs

Yes, absolutely dog ear infections are widespread. However, some dog breeds are more prone to ear infections than others due to age, breed, and lifestyle factors.

A study showed that ear problems are most common in dogs aged 1 to 4 . Puppies younger than one year are much less likely to get ear issues.

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How Long Does It Take For A Dog Ear Infection To Clear Up

How long it takes for your dogs ear infection to clear up depends on how severe the case was. If it was allowed to spread to other areas of the ear, it could take a long time to heal. Some of the effects caused by the infection could last for a long time or even be permanent.

In most cases, though, an ear infection can be treated in under 30 days. Your dogs vet might request that you bring your dog in about a week after their initial check and treatment to see how everything is going. This is usually called a re-check. If your dog has chronic ear infections, you may need to go to the vet periodically for re-checks to make sure any infections are clearing up and not spreading or growing.