How to Treat Itchy Dog Ears
One of the most common symptoms of infected ears in dogs is itching, so any dog with itchy ears should be taken to a veterinarian. Not only can your veterinarian provide medication to relieve the itching and cure the infection, but he or she can also work on diagnosing the underlying cause of the infection. Finding and treating this root cause means stopping future ear infections before they start.
- Take your dog to a veterinarian for an examination. Itchy ears are often a sign of some underlying problem, so seeking prompt veterinary care is an essential first step in helping your dog.
- Have your veterinarian perform a thorough physical examination as well as a specific ear examination on the dog. A good ear exam will probably include ear cytology and a check for parasites like mites.
- Ask your veterinarian to prescribe a treatment based on the exam findings. In many cases, dogs with itchy ears have secondary bacterial infections and need antibiotic drops. Frequently, dogs also have yeast infections and need drops with anti fungal ingredients. Additionally, many ear drops contain steroids which help stop itching and inflammation. In cases where your veterinarian discovers mites, he or she may also prescribe oral ivermectin to rid the dog of these parasites.
- Treat the dog's ears as directed. Make sure not to stop treatment early unless told to so by your veterinarian. Ending treatment early can lead to recurrence of the problem. If you notice that the problem persists or gets worse, contact your veterinarian for advice.
- Consider additional testing, such as basic blood work, thyroid tests, intradermal allergy testing and food allergy trials, to discover the root cause of your dog's ear problems. In most cases, bacteria and yeast cause infection only when the dog's ear is made vulnerable by other problems such as parasites, allergies, endocrine diseases and other conditions. Finding and treating the root cause of the itchy ears can put an end to recurrent infections for good.