I get tons of pet care questions about ears. Both in and out of the clinic.. Ears are one of the most common client complaints that bring pets in to see me.
I understand most people
think that a smelly, itchy (as indicated by head shaking or rubbing the ears),
redness,or pain are all the same thing; an ear infection. But the
diagnosis is not so simple. Without a diagnosis it is almost impossible for any
of us to give you a treatment.
Here is one of the
most common questions that I get:
Question from Chris on
Pawbly.com;
"What do you think
of Zymox enzymatic solution for treating dog ear infections? (My English
bulldog has a red, wet ear with yellow discharge.) What about the different
hydrocortisone concentrations - 0.5% vs. 1%?"
Here is my answer;
"Here is the
constant dilemma with ears; you have to treat an infection that you are
diagnosing. That is the reason we look in the ear and take a sample of the debris
to look at it under the microscope, if there is any.
Here is where clients
misdiagnose and misuse ear medications.
In many many bulldog
cases the ears are inflamed due to an underlying allergy and need both an otic
and a systemic steroid or antihistamine, or a combination of both.
These guys need to see
their vet when the ears flare up. Often the ears are the first sign of an
impending or underlying problem. I love bulldogs to pieces but most need
frequent life long management for their skin issues. It is best to start that
relationship now. Don't treat on your own. If you guess wrong you will probably
make it much harder to treat the next time. In my experience there is
always a next time.
Here is my blog on dogs
and ears. It has a lot of important information. Ears, everyone has them, no
one treats them right.
Sincerely,
Krista"
My pups, Jekyll on the left, and Charlie, on the right. Can you guess which one has ear issues? (Yep, the long big-eared beagle on the left). |
More on Bulldogs here.
More on Ear Hematomas
(what happens if your pet keeps shaking their heads).
If you have a pet question you can ask it for free at Pawbly.com. Pawbly is a place dedicated to helping pet people by providing lots of information to help build and strengthen the bond between you and your pet. All answers are provided by people who care, and it is a community built on support and knowledge, all centered on pet care. Please join us today!
If you want to talk to me directly you can meet me on Twitter @FreePetAdvice, or in the vet clinic, Jarrettsville Vet, in Jarrettsville Maryland.
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