How do you treat an inner ear infection in a dog?
Antibiotics (such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, enrofloxacin, clindamycin, or cefpodoxime) will be used for a bacterial infection for 6-8 weeks minimum. If the infection is fungal in nature, an anti-fungal medication (most often itraconazole) will be prescribed.
What happens to a dog with an untreated ear infection?
What Untreated Ear Infections May Lead To. Ear infections that are not treated can spread from the outer part of the ear into the middle or inner ear of the dog. When the infection or inflammation spreads to the middle ear, it is termed otitis media.
Can an ear infection in a dog go away on its own?
In most cases, a dog’s ear infection will not go away on its own. What’s worse, if you wait too long to treat the ear infection, it can become much more difficult to get under control. An untreated ear infection can lead to chronic issues, hearing loss, and sometimes the need for expensive surgery.
How long can a dog have an inner ear infection?
In severe cases, your vet may prescribe oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. Most uncomplicated ear infections resolve within 1–2 weeks, once appropriate treatment begins. But severe infections or those due to underlying conditions may take months to resolve, or may become chronic problems.
How do vets diagnose inner ear infections in dogs?
Otitis interna may be diagnosed based on similar signs with the addition of loss of balance. Examination using an otoscope and x-rays of the round bone behind the ear may confirm the presence of simultaneous middle and inner ear inflammation.
What are symptoms of inner ear problems?
Signs of Inner Ear Infections
- Ear ache.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Tinnitus or ringing in your ears.
- Hearing loss.
- Feeling of fullness in your ear.
What foods cause ear infections in dogs?
An excess of grain and/or sugar in the diet is a common causes of ear infections in dogs. Sugar feeds the yeast already in the body and causes an overgrowth, which results in the dark, yeasty-smelling buildup inside the ears.
What an inner ear infection looks like?
A healthy eardrum looks pinkish-gray. An infection of the middle ear, or an ear with otitis media, looks red, bulging, and there may be clear, yellow, or even greenish hued drainage.