Tests able to determine if dog's scratching caused by ear mites
Tests able to determine if dog's scratching caused by ear mites

By Tina Neel

Published: September 22, 2008

Q:My dog will not let me put medicine into its ear and it has been scratching its ears and shaking its head.

Can dogs just take a pill for the ear infection?

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A:Many ear infections are treated with oral tablets, but usually they are used in conjunction with medicines to be put into the ears.

There are numerous reasons for dogs and cats to develop ear problems.

However, not all dogs that shake their head and scratch at their ears have an ear infection. In fact, sometimes food allergies will cause those symptoms.

Have your veterinarian examine your dog and look at its health history. Knowing your dog's history including the duration of the problem and the type of food and treats that your pet eats will help to pinpoint the cause of the problem.

Besides looking into the ear canals with an otoscope, your veterinarian will need to do a complete examination of the pet.

Skin lesions on the body or head, hair loss and weight status can indicate additional potential causes of the problem.

To determine whether there is an ear infection and whether ear mites are present, an ear swab can be placed in each ear to gather a sample, which is placed on a slide. The slide can be examined under a microscope in an effort to identify yeast and bacteria.

Ear mites can be treated in a variety of ways. Medicines such as Acarex can be applied in the veterinarian's exam room and may not need another dose to eliminate the mites.

However, if the infections are severe and painful, they also will most likely need oral tablets.

Pain medicines and even cortisones may be needed to make your pet comfortable until the medicines begin to help heal the problem.

Your veterinarian will want to recheck your pet in seven to 14 days to determine whether the problem has completely cleared.

Failure to clear up the problem initially can result in chronic ear problems, including eventual loss of hearing.

In the event that additional problems occur, your veterinarian may want to perform a culture from the ear canal. This often is sent to a laboratory for analysis.

If there is not an infection causing your dog's problem, food allergies may be the problem. Treatment generally involves elimination of the types of food that cause the allergic reactions.

There are specific diets that are hypoallergenic for most pets or you can cook specific foods for the pet.

Once your pet is cleared of the ear problem, ask your veterinarian for a plan to stop this problem from reoccurring. Your veterinarian may prescribe weekly ear washing and give you advice on how to keep the pet's ears free of hair and debris.

Tina Neel is a veterinarian and owner of Neel Veterinary Hospital. Submit your pet health questions online at NeelVet.com.

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