Ear infections are common in dogs, especially those with demodectic mange. This is because the yeast that causes most ear infections is the same one that causes fungal skin infections in the majority of dogs with demodicosis. While yeast is the bigger nemesis, bacteria, ear mites, and foreign objects can also cause ear infections.
The yeast that causes nearly every ear problem is Malassezia pachydermatis, and it can create an environment attractive to mites and fungal infections. The most common triggers of Malassezia flare-ups are moisture, parasites, allergic reactions, buildup of residue, and bacterial infections. Fortunately, if these problems are not severe, you can tackle them yourself.
Common Symptoms
- A buildup of debris in one or both ears
- Red, irritated, swollen, or smelly ears
- Chronic ear infections
- Excessive ear scratching or rubbing ears against objects
- Head shaking or tilting
- Loss of hair around the ear
- Loss of balance
- Loss of hearing
- Walking in circles
- Unusual eye movements
- Matted fur or crusts around the ears
- Pain around the ears
- Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge
- Changes in behavior, such as depression or irritability
Ear mites are actually a type of mange!
These teeny little parasites are common enough and serious enough to be classified as mange mites. There are several types of mites that can live in your dog’s ear, but the most common is Otodectes Cynotis. An infestation of contagious parasitic ear mites is clinically known as Otodectic mange.
Ear mites are often thought of as more of a nuisance than a threat, but truth be told, they should be taken seriously. They can cause an ear infection, spread to the body, make your dog miserable, and infect your other pets.
Causing irritation and inflammation, ear mites can infest the external and internal canals and lead to more serious skin or ear infections if left untreated. Infection usually produces a characteristic dark discharge and in some cases, the ear canal can become entirely obstructed by this coffee ground-like debris.
Ear mites are highly contagious and can be easily transmitted to other dogs or pets, including cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, mice, and ferrets. They do not spread to people under normal circumstances. Ear mites are transmitted through social interaction, such as sleeping or playing together. For this reason, all animals in a household must be treated for ear mites, even if only one or two have symptoms of an active infection.
Treating ear mites involves deep cleaning the ear (see below) and then following up with an antiparasitic treatment. We recommend natural over chemical and recommend Davis Ear Mite Lotion.
In addition to treating all pets, the environment should also be cleaned. Wash pet bedding in hot water, then run it through a hot dryer until completely dry. Thoroughly vacuum areas where pets spend a lot of time.
The best prevention for an ear mite infestation is to keep your dog’s ears totally clean. You should give your dog a deep ear cleaning at least once a month. More if your dog is prone to ear buildup.
Start by improving the ear environment
Both yeast and ear mites couldn’t ask for a better environment to live in than a warm, dark, moist ear canal, where they can cause severe ear problems! The diagram at the top of this post shows the shape of a dog’s ear canal — that long, deep canal can hide problems.
Yeasty ears typically have a dark reddish brown buildup of waxy gunk around the folds of the ears and deeper within the ear canal itself, and/or a pungent, yeasty odor, and the grainy discharge mentioned earlier in this article. All are indicators of unhealthy ears. Depending on the condition of the ears, it may take a few cleanings to clear all the yeast and debris. Once things are cleared out, keep them sparkling with regular maintenance cleanings.
How to clean your dog’s ears
This is one of those times when you really need the right tools for the job.
- Wash your dog with a special medicated anti-fungal shampoo meant for Malassezia. Studies have identified that using a broad-spectrum formulation containing 2% miconazole nitrate & 2% chlorhexidine gluconate is more effective against Malassezia. Ours contains that formula. Removing the yeast around the ear and on the inside of the ear flaps is an essential part of the quick resolution for topical Malassezia yeast. When bathing, try to avoid getting water down into the ear canal. Dry the ear as far as you can safely reach by hand after bathing. If you suspect that water has made its way into the middle ear, dry it out with homemade swimmer’s ear drops. (See recipe below) If you’re also treating with Mite Avenge, bathe your dog on non-treatment days.
- Get yourself a good veterinary ear cleaner, or flush, designed for removing yeast pathogens and any sticky debris that harbors it. We recommend Boracetic Ear Flush because it gently yet effectively eliminates ear conditions caused by bacteria, yeast, and other fungi. It also provides relief for ear inflammation & pain, discharge, pruritus, and head shaking. It’s great for flushing oily or crusty ears and, most importantly, flushing out the yeast mites that feed on them.
- If you suspect your dog has ear mites, now is the time to send them packing. After the ear is dry, apply a natural antiparasitic ear mite lotion as directed. Repeat at least weekly for 4 weeks to ensure the parasite’s life cycle is broken.
Tips for using an ear flush
- Give your pet a treat for sitting and show her the ear cleaner.
- Gently hold the ear flap upright and fill the ear canal with ear cleaner. Direct the tube vertically downwards.
- Keep hold of the ear and move your hand down to where the ear meets the head.
- Massage the base of the ear to help mix the ear cleaner throughout the ear canal. You should get a squelchy noise if you are doing this correctly. Check out the video below.
- After you have massaged the ear for 20–30 seconds, stand back and release the ear. Your dog should now vigorously shake his head.
- Grab some cotton balls and use it to wipe out the folds at the opening of the ear canal until it looks pretty clean.
- Repeat until you can’t get any more matter out.
- Give your dog a treat and move on to the other ear.
The key with ear cleaning is to use a liberal amount of ear cleaner. Because the ear canals are quite long, the wiping step alone is not enough to remove all the ear discharge. The idea is that when you massage, you will break up the discharge lining the inside of the ear canal, allowing it to mix with the ear cleaner. Your pet can then shake the liquid out. The video below will walk you through the process.
Preventing future ear infections
The best treatment is prevention. These tips will help.
- Keep hair trimmed around the ear and canal.
- Give those ears the sniff test and check your dog’s ears regularly for abnormal discharge, and/or redness.
- If your dog’s outer ear appears dirty, clean gently with a cotton ball dampened with your ear cleaning solution. Dry well.
- After baths and swimming, be sure to dry your dog’s ears thoroughly. Again, if you suspect water has entered the middle ear, dry it out with homemade swimmer’s ear drops. (Recipe below)
- Consider putting cotton in the ear when swimming or bathing to prevent water from entering the ear.
- Deep clean with an anti-yeast ear flush at least monthly following the steps above. Clean as often as necessary if your pooch is prone to buildup or ear mites.
- Never put anything into the ear canal, and don’t use anything bigger than a Q-tip to clean the upper ear. Never syringe pet ears; this is a veterinary procedure only.
Swimmer’s ear drops
If you know your dog doesn’t have a punctured eardrum, you can use swimmer’s ear drops preventatively to dry moisture in the ear canal, and alter the ph to make it less conducive to yeast proliferation. You can buy a commercial product at your local drugstore, or you can make your own using the following recipe offered by the Mayo Clinic.
- Mix together 1 part white vinegar to 1 part rubbing alcohol.
- Pour 1 teaspoon (about 5 milliliters) of the solution into each ear and let it drain back out.