Treatment measures for dog otitis externa

1. Before treatment, the external auditory canal should be blocked with absorbent cotton balls, then the hair around the ears should be cut, and the external auditory canal should be flushed with saline or 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
2. When flushing, tilt the dog's head toward the affected ear to facilitate the flow of flushing fluid, then remove the cotton ball plugged in the ear canal, and then use a dry cotton ball to absorb the fluid in the ear canal.
3. Use an otoscope to examine the deep part of the external auditory canal, and use otological forceps to remove foreign bodies, earwax or tissue fragments from the deep part. Finally, apply boric acid glycerin (1:20) solution or tannin glycerin (1:20) solution to the external auditory canal.
4. For suppurative otitis externa, apply antibiotic ointment to the ear canal after cleaning it as mentioned above.
5. In severe cases, rinse 1 to 2 times a day and then apply ointment. Dogs with obvious systemic symptoms can be treated with systemic antibiotics. External ear drainage should be performed on sick dogs with deformed ear shells or tumors.

Causes of otitis externa in dogs

Dogs usually suffer from otitis externa and otitis media at the same time or one after another. Common causes include infection by pathogenic bacteria through the blood route; spreading infection of otitis externa or direct infection through the perforated tympanic membrane; infection through the Eustachian tube.

Symptoms of otitis externa in dogs complicated by otitis media

Dogs often shake their heads, turn in circles (turning to the affected side), have ataxia, earache, deafness, and otorrhea. In severe cases, the inflammation invades the facial nerve and parasympathetic nerve, causing facial paralysis, keratitis sicca, and tympanic membrane perforation visible on nasal mucosa otoscopy. Those with Eustachian tube infection or blood-borne infection may see tympanic membrane protrusion or discoloration.