Otitis in dogs: treatment with antibiotics and folk remedies. Types and symptoms of otitis media in dogs. Otitis media problems
Ear problems in dogs are always quite severe because they are difficult to diagnose and treat. Often the owners turn to the veterinarian too late, in which case the question of the probable hearing loss of the animals already arises. Therefore, you should be vigilant and identify the slightest deviations from the norm in the well-being and behavior of the dog. This article discusses otitis media in dogs, its symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Otitis is a disease caused by inflammation of the ear (external, middle or internal). Since the structure of the auditory canal in dogs is very specific, and all its parts are located close to each other, this problem occurs quite often in animals. Below are the main causes of otitis media in domestic dogs.
Ear mite injury
The presence of a tumor
A tumor that has formed in the auditory canal can completely block it, as a result of which the ear cannot be ventilated normally and becomes inflamed. Additional signs of the presence of the disease in this case is a slight ear bleeding.
Foreign body entry
Often, due to inattention, the owners do not notice that some foreign object has got into the ear of their four-legged pet. At the same time, even something small (for example, a bead or a piece of bark) with a long stay in the auditory canal will lead to the development of inflammation.
Allergy Development
Allergic reactions are usually the result of increased levels of earwax production. Another common cause of this form of the disease is an imbalance of microflora and infection with a fungus. The problem is that the treatment of fungal otitis in dogs requires a lot of time, because first you need to identify the type of irritant and only then start fighting it.
Overgrowth of the auditory canal
This problem is typical for dogs with a large number of skin folds (bulldogs, pugs, sharpei, etc.). Part of the skin obscures the ear canal and clogs it, as a result of which fresh air does not enter the ear, and it becomes inflamed.
Varieties of otitis media in dogs
These reasons cause the appearance of several types of ear inflammation in pets.
In accordance with the form of the disease, a scheme is also determined on how to treat otitis in a dog with the greatest efficiency:
Separately, it is worth mentioning such a phenomenon as chronic otitis media. This is an inflammation of the ear, which goes away with periodic exacerbations, and then the disappearance of symptoms. This diagnosis is difficult to eliminate, so the treatment of chronic otitis media in dogs is always long-term and should only be carried out under the supervision of an experienced veterinarian.
Otitis media symptoms in dogs
Every owner is concerned about the question of how to recognize otitis media in a dog before it is too late. Usually this disease is characterized by pronounced symptoms, which include:
Complications after otitis media in dogs
Ear diseases in animals are always fraught with the manifestation of negative consequences already in the process or even after the treatment. The most common complications of otitis media in dogs include:
How to treat otitis media in dogs
The choice of technique, how to cure otitis in a dog, largely depends on the form of the disease. However, the main types of medications used for therapy are roughly the same: gels and ointments, antibiotics in various forms, and ear drops for dogs for otitis, which may include steroids.
Medical treatment of otitis media in dogs
It involves the use of various drugs adapted to different types of disease.
So, malassezial otitis in dogs is treated with the use of topical preparations, in particular, drops. However, it is important to treat the entire skin of the animal with special ointments, gels, since the infectious agents are located there, and if they remain viable, re-infection is possible.
The rarest form of the disease, otitis media in a dog, may require the use of antibiotics (usually in the form of drops) and steroids to achieve the effect of complete recovery. It is important to use these drugs in combination with anti-wax preparations, otherwise the cause of the inflammation cannot be eliminated.
Otitis, formed in connection with the overgrowth of the auditory canal, is treated only by surgery: excess skin is simply excised, after which normal ventilation of the ear is restored.
When asked how to treat purulent otitis in a dog, most veterinarians answer the same way. The therapy is carried out according to the following scheme:
As mentioned above, otitis media is a serious disease that requires mandatory medical intervention. In this regard, any folk recipes can only act as auxiliary methods of help, but not as the main therapy option. The most common home remedies for otitis media in dogs are:
All of the above medicines should be used in combination with veterinary drugs.
So, they usually come with otitis media drops for dogs (Ottipaks, Sofradex, etc.).
Prevention of otitis media in dogs
The most important points of pro otitis in dogs have been identified above: symptoms and treatment that every breeder should know about. However, there are also preventive measures that will help prevent the development of the disease or its complications. These include:
Otitis media is one of the most common dog ear problems faced by pet owners. Otitis is a sign of an inflammatory process in the ears, but this does not mean that there is an infection in the ear. Ear infections can provoke otitis, and can be their consequence, i.e. one must clearly understand the difference between these two states.
General information about otitis and the causes of their occurrence
Otitis externa
Inflammation of the ear canal causes a lot of inconvenience to the pet, including pain, itching, fever and general malaise. Initially, the structure of the ears in all dogs is such that there is always a risk of otitis media. There are also breeds with a clear predisposition to this pathology. These are the animals:
- with long ears;
- with hairs in the ear canal;
- with skin folds on the body;
- prone to allergic reactions.
The potential risk group is made up of breeds:
- German Shepherds;
- setters;
- hunting dogs;
- bulldogs;
- spaniels;
- sharpei;
- bassets;
- labradors.
In dogs, otitis occurs in the form of:
- inflammation of the ear canal and outer ear (otitis externa);
- inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media);
- inflammation extending to the inner ear (the rarest type of otitis media).
Suppurative otitis media |
Otitis media and ear mites |
Tumor in the ear |
Allergic otitis media If you do not find out the cause of otitis media, treat it incorrectly or not treat it at all, then this will all provoke perforation of the eardrum (rupture or dissolution of it with pus). In this case, purulent discharge will accumulate not only at the base of the auditory canal, but will also go to the inner ear, penetrating into the meninges. With such a course of the disease, at best, the dog will lose his hearing, at worst, he will die from purulent meningitis. The main symptoms of ear problemsThere are a number of main signs of otitis media, according to which the owner of the dog will involuntarily pay attention to his ears. Symptoms of inflammation in the ears:
In addition to the general symptoms for all ear problems, there are individual clinical signs of otitis, depending on the causes:
What Hosts Shouldn't Do
How to help a dog with signs of otitis media before going to the vetIf it is not possible to immediately seek help from a veterinarian, the pet owner can somewhat alleviate his condition with simple procedures:
All subsequent treatment at home should be carried out with the drugs prescribed by the veterinarian and in the order determined by him. In special cases, for example, when the auditory opening is overgrown, a reconstructive surgical intervention is performed, during which the ear canal is reshaped. Important: it is impossible to cure secondary otitis without eliminating the cause that caused it! With one symptomatic treatment, the disease can become chronic. The sequence of medical manipulations:
Consolidated list of drugs for otitis mediaThey are most often used in the treatment of otitis media of various etiologies. Prevention of otitis mediaFor the prevention of otitis, it is enough:
Do not forget that this article is presented for informational purposes and provides an opportunity to understand what treatment can be in different situations. Only an experienced veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis, therefore it is recommended to contact him at the first signs of canine otitis media. Otitis in animals what is it, is it contagious, from what, causes, signs, classification, causative agent Pseudomonas aeruginosa, types, diagnosisOtitis or inflammation of the outer ear is a fairly common disease in animals. If otitis media is caused by a fungus or mites, the disease may be contagious. Otitis caused by a foreign body entering the ear canal, or associated with increased sulfur production or an allergic reaction for other animals and humans is not dangerous. Otitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is dangerous because the infection can spread throughout the body. The first signs of otitis media are swelling and redness of the external auditory canal. In this case, the animal often shakes its ears, tilts its head, and experiences pain when opening its mouth. From the ear, secretion can be observed - pus, blood, serous fluid, and so on. Ear inflammation is divided into 3 categories: External otitis is relatively easy to diagnose, it is more difficult to determine the average and internal otitis media. Treatment of otitis media, in addition to antibiotics, includes local treatment of the ear canal and auricle with anti-inflammatory drops. Otitis in dogs symptoms, how it looks and treatment at home, folk remedies at homeSymptoms of otitis media in dogs are: It is not recommended to treat otitis in animals at home with the help of folk remedies. However, on the Internet you can read advice to bury heated boric alcohol or calendula tincture, as well as sunflower or nut oil in your ears. How and how to treat purulent otitis media in dogs, antibiotics, what drops, drugs for treatment, pills, human medicines and cost, where to buyAn approximate treatment regimen for purulent otitis media in dogs is as follows: General treatment includes injections of Synulox and Suprastin, taking Serrat, Liarsin, Mezim and Karsil tablets, as well as novocaine blockade at the base of the auricle. All of these drugs can be purchased at the pharmacy. The cost of a particular medicine can be found by making an appropriate request on the Internet. Treatment of otitis in dogs with boric alcohol, boric acid, blockadeFor the treatment of mild otitis in dogs, boric alcohol can be used, with the help of which the ears of the animal are cleaned of dirt and secretions. A warming compress of camphor alcohol diluted in half with water or novocaine blockade at the base of the ear helps to calm the pain. External, allergic, fungal, bacterial otitis in dogs treatmentFor the treatment of otitis externa in dogs, veterinarians usually recommend Vetzyme drops. Treatment of allergic otitis in animals begins with the elimination of allergies. In addition to cleaning the ears, doctors recommend enriching the food of a sick dog with fatty acids. Fungal otitis is usually treated with 2% Gaselan or dilute phosphoric acid ester. The most effective medicine for the treatment of bacterial otitis media is Surolan spray. A corneal ulcer causes pain and suffering to the animal. It can occur in a dog or cat of any age and any breed. Regardless of the cause... Any infection can cause otitis media in dogs, so it is ubiquitous. The disease of the external and internal sections of the hearing aid affects large pets and small puppies, animals with ears of various shapes. It is advisable for responsible dog breeders to carefully familiarize themselves with the causes of this unpleasant ailment. Otitis in dogs - symptomsVeterinarians are constantly faced with a variety of inflammatory processes in the hearing aid, causing suffering to our pets. Signs of otitis in dogs are easy for experienced owners to detect. Hearing loss, itching and headaches immediately manifest themselves in an unpleasant way, forcing the animals to change their behavior. Careful observation and examination of the head quickly helps to detect an infection at an early stage. How does otitis media present in dogs?
The causes of this disease are diverse and common, it is difficult to insure and prevent one hundred percent otitis media in dogs. Some breeds are more susceptible to this infection than others. These include animals with long or heavily furred ears, pets with large folds on the head. A small enumeration of the main factors that lead to inflammation of the ear canals will help to understand this unpleasant problem. Common factors that cause otitis media in dogs include:
Types of otitis media in dogsHaving found signs of this disease, you need to carefully examine the animal in a gentle way, to find out the main cause of this problem. It is advisable to carefully study both ears. Sometimes external symptoms indicate the defeat of one passage, but often a latent inflammation begins in the second shell. Depending on the type of otitis media in dogs, its symptoms and treatment may vary. There are inflammation of the middle and inner ear, there are several external forms of this disease. All types of otitis require immediate timely treatment. Otitis in dogs of a purulent form is easily detected by a foul-smelling oily secret. This process is caused by microorganisms or fungi that can ulcerate the mucous membrane and eardrum. Chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine antiseptic, acetic acid, peroxide, and other medicinal solutions are suitable for therapy. The affected areas are treated with effective means, when the disease passes into the middle ear, potent drugs are used - antibiotics, fungicides, ointments and creams of the glucocorticoid group. Allergic otitis media in dogsIt is advisable to carefully study the living conditions of the pet, to eliminate the possibility of contact with the irritant. The sore ear should be washed with antiseptics, removing pus from the passage. In case of complications, the veterinarian can prescribe specific therapy in addition to drops, lotions and ointments, if dangerous microorganisms have settled in the places of scratching at the time of the examination. This otitis refers to skin diseases that can be detected on the mucous membrane with the appearance and increased spread of malassezia pachydermatis fungi in the body. Under normal conditions, microorganisms manifest themselves weakly, in order for inflammation of the inner ear in dogs or the outer shell of the shell to reach critical values, special favorable conditions or weakened immunity are necessary. In the worst cases, malasseziosis is complicated by the appearance of pathogenic microflora, the development of a bacterial infection, so it must be treated immediately. If a fungus is found in a microscope, then it is expelled with chlorhexidine, sulfur, miconazole. The skin is treated with special shampoos with a therapeutic effect. The skin is treated with ointments twice a day, the treatment lasts a long time, often up to several weeks. For a disease of this genus, a special name was coined - otomycosis. It can be an independent problem or appear as a complication of bacterial infections, tick bites, and allergic reactions of the body. Scratching provokes otomycosis, which leads to wounds and abrasions that violate the integrity of the skin. Often they affect animals that have previously suffered from severe infections, four-legged friends with a weakened immune system. This disease is caused not by a fungus, but by infections in the form of streptococci, staphylococci involved in pathogenesis. They are well affected by neomycin, chloramphenicol, in especially acute cases and relapses, gentamicin is used. Organisms of the Pseudomonas group are eliminated by polymyxin B, glucocorticoids. If chronic otitis in dogs is not treatable, then strong agents are used - sulfadiazine, chlorhexidine, ceftiofur, Tris-EDTA paired with gentamicin. The second name of this disease is warty otitis media. This is a skin form of the disease that causes special formations in the ears of the animal. Warts significantly narrow the ear canal, eventually blocking the canal completely. In this case, it is not possible to effectively clean the passages of sulfur, remove pus, which complicates the disease. In the initial stage, ear inflammation in a dog is treated with drops and powders, removing deposits. In difficult cases, the growths are removed by excising a part of the auditory canal, preventing unwanted changes in the cartilage tissue. Treatment of otitis media in dogsSerious forms of inflammation of the ear canal are eliminated under the supervision of veterinarians, but when a specialist cannot be found quickly, you have to use the means available at home. If you find otitis in a dog, then you can try to find it in your medicine cabinet. Simple manipulations and some common human medicines help in cases where the disease is in the early stages.
A variety of human antibiotics for otitis in dogs are often used, but it is advisable to prescribe them on the advice of a specialist. Ampicillin is given to animals an hour before a meal or a couple of hours after a meal. The dosage must be observed exactly so as not to harm the animals. Dogs are prescribed this antibiotic at a dose of 20-40 mg orally or 10-20 mg / kg intramuscularly per 1 kg of body weight with a frequency of 8 hours a day, the course of treatment is 5 days. This tool is suitable for topical use, it dissolves easily in alcohol and is used to destroy many microorganisms. It is prescribed in cases where the disease has passed into the middle and inner ear, and the recommended drops in the dog's ears do not help with inflammation. A swab is impregnated with a 10% solution and put into the auditory canal for half an hour. With external otitis, applications are made from dimexide. Wipes soaked in a light solution are applied to the auricle. An antibiotic is prescribed for the treatment of advanced otitis media. It is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly, observing the dosage of 1 ml per 10 kg of the pet's weight. It is necessary to observe a four-legged patient, in case of undesirable reactions, stop taking amoxicillin and change the drug. This medicine for otitis in dogs is prescribed for diseases of the middle ear to destroy pathogenic bacteria. Levomekol is supplied in the form of ointments, the active ingredient in it is levomycetin, which kills up to 20 types of pathogens. Such preparations for the treatment of otitis in dogs are excellent in the early stages. The ointment enters the ear canal with a swab, which is left for 10 minutes in the diseased ear, where it is absorbed into the skin. Leaving the animal unattended during the procedure is undesirable. Levomikol treatment is repeated 2 times a day. Read in this article Causes of otitisFaced daily with inflammation in the ear canal, veterinarians identify the following causes of otitis media in dogs: Ticks violate the integrity of the skin, damage blood vessels, release toxic waste products into the surrounding tissues. This leads to itching, the development of otitis in the animal. Most often, dogs are diagnosed with otodectosis.
Canine ear tumor
Factors contributing to the development of otitis in dogs, veterinarians include:
The risk group includes breeds such as sharpei, basset hounds, spaniels, poodles. Owners of large erect ears - German Shepherds, suffer from otitis due to the free entry of dirt and germs due to the large size of the ears. Breed predisposition to the disease is due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the auricles, the degree of their openness, the presence of many folds, thick wool. According to veterinary statistics, spaniels, sharpei, German shepherds, poodles, bulldogs, and many hunting breeds most often suffer from otitis media. About the anatomy of the dog's ear and the causes of otitis externa, see this video:
Symptoms of the disease in dogsThe following clinical manifestations testify to the inflammatory process in the auricle in a tailed pet:
In severe cases, a sick dog may experience deafness (stops responding to sound stimuli) and strabismus due to a deep development of the inflammatory process that captures adjacent organs. Types and their featuresVeterinarians distinguish between primary and secondary types of the disease. An independent form of otitis media is primary. The most common is secondary otitis, which develops as a result of pet infection with ticks, the development of allergies, hormonal imbalance, etc. outdoor, middle, indoorAccording to the anatomical distribution of the inflammatory process, the disease of the outer, middle and inner ear is distinguished. The external form does not affect the eardrum, the inflammation is localized outside. Pathology of the middle part of the ear canal is fraught with hearing loss for the pet.
In a number of studies, the animal is sedated or lightly anesthetized. The diagnosis is established on the basis of a comprehensive examination with the identification of the cause of the disease. pet treatmentGiven the variety of forms and varieties of inflammation, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate with problems with the ears of four-legged friends. Only a qualified specialist should treat a sick pet based on laboratory tests. Therapy for otitis in dogs is complex and has a local and general focus. Antibacterial drops and ointments with anti-inflammatory action are applied locally. Drugs relieve swelling, reduce itching. In veterinary practice, for inflammation of the ear canal, the following drops are prescribed: Otipax, Sofradex, Ciprovet, Aurizon, Otoferonol, Otinum and others. Means are selected based on the root cause of the disease. Drops should be prescribed only by a veterinarian, since some drugs in their composition have antibiotics that have an ototoxic effect and are contraindicated in case of damage to the eardrum. The general effect on the body with otitis is the use of antibiotics, sulfonamides in the form of tablets, intramuscular injections. Antimicrobial agents are applied according to the sensitivity test. Effective for otitis media are drugs such as Amoxicillin, Ceftriaxone (injections are made on lidocaine), Baytril and others. In order to increase the immunity of a sick pet, a course of immunomodulators is carried out. Such drugs as Anandin, Roncoleukin, Gamavit are prescribed. Good results are obtained by the use of Cycloferon, Immunofan. In the event that neoplasms, growths, polyps have become the cause of otitis media, they are removed surgically. Get rid of inflammation at homeTherapeutic measures can be carried out by the owner and at home with strict adherence to the prescriptions of a veterinary specialist. The success of treatment largely depends on the correct preparation of the inflamed area for the use of drugs. Before dripping the prescribed funds to the pet, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the auricle and passage from dirt, purulent masses, and accumulation of earwax. For this purpose, antiseptic agents are used: chlorhexidine, miramistin, boric acid. Hydrogen peroxide is used only to cleanse the outer ear. Special wipes are suitable for the cleaning procedure. Ear sticks are not used in animal hygiene. PreventionBased on many years of medical practice, veterinarians have developed a set of preventive measures that allow owners to avoid ear problems in their four-legged pets:
Otitis in a dog is a polyetiological disease. The disease causes pain to the pet. In advanced cases, there is a high risk of developing inflammation of the brain, sepsis. Comprehensive diagnosis allows you to clarify the root cause that caused the inflammation. Treatment of the disease should take place only under the supervision of a veterinarian. Useful videoTo learn how to properly clean your dog's ears, see this video:
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