Otitis in Dogs Due to Allergy

OTITIS: Inflammation of the ear

INFLAMMATION: The body’s response that increases blood supply to the area. More blood means a pinker color to the skin.

EAR CYTOLOGY:  The use of a microscope to evaluate the wax from the ear to determine if there is a yeast infection, bacterial infection, or both.

EAR CULTURE:  A medium that is sent to an outside lab in order to culture (grow up) the bacteria on the swab. Once the determination of the organism(s) is made, then the sensitivity is determined as to which antibiotic will best eliminate the infection. This will take 7 days.

ANATOMY: Dogs’ ears and human’s ears are quite different in structure. Humans have a horizontal ear canal that leads straight in to the eardrum. A dog’s ear canal is more of an “L” shape, with first a vertical canal and then a turn into a horizontal canal. This allows for a tremendous amount of ear cartilage and additional ear flap.

ATOPY: a dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) caused by antigenic stimulation that is not contact in origin. This means that inhaled environmental antigens cause the condition. Antigens could be  grasses, pollen, dust mites, etc. Atopy = Allergy in dogs.

Atopy in Dogs

Atopy in dogs is a frustrating condition. It cannot be cured (no allergies can), but it can be controlled. In my experience, the most common areas of skin affected in the dog by are:

1. Feet and foot pads, as demonstrated by the constant licking of one or all four feet. Hair will be stained reddish-brown (which is not removable until either shed or groomed away).
2. Ears, one or both. The inside ear cartilage may be  swollen and closing (known as stenotic). There may be just a subtle change in the inner ear flap skin, from smooth to bumpy and thickened. The ear may feel hot to the touch, have an odor and be waxy, or have stained reddish-brown hair. These atopic allergy ears are very itchy!
3. The underside of the pet may be red, hot or crusted. This is especially true in the groin or axillary (armpit) areas. These areas are itchy. Typically, a dog will scratch the front areas, while licking the rear abdomen and groin. Over time, the skin in the areas may blacken and thicken.

Secondary Yeast Infection

To complicate your pet’s OTITIS DUE TO ALLERGY, is the fact that we often see a secondary yeast infection in these ears. We do a cytology to assess this. Yeast is opportunistic. It doesn’t exist everywhere. It wants 3 things in order to flourish. Yeast wants it dark. Check. Yeast wants it moist and humid. Check. But mostly, yeast wants it hot. Checkmate!

Remember the definition of inflammation? That pink, hot skin will turn your pet’s ear into the perfect incubator. More blood means more heat. More heat to the area, increases yeast in the ear, and oftentimes more bacteria. Now you’ve got a hot, itchy ear. Bacterial ear infections may need a culture, depending on the cytology results.

Best Treatments for Otitis in Dogs

We will offer your pet the latest and best treatments. This may include instilling a product called CLARO into your pet’s ear. This medication will adhere to the lining of the ear for 4 weeks. Do not wash or wipe it out. It contains anti-fungal (anti-yeast), anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial medicine all in one. Your pet may also benefit from the oral atopy medication called APOQUEL or the injectable product CYTOPOINT.