Your Pets can have Ear Problems Too

Why does your cat rush in to the kitchen at the first faint sound of the can opener? Why does your dog alert you to the mail carrier who is still a half a block away?  Our pets have brilliantly designed ears that allow them to raise, rotate and tun in to the faintest sounds.  That's something to be envious of.

However, this heightened sensitivity can come at a price for our pets.  Just as ours can, cat and dog ears can be sensitive to health problems.  We need to be proactive and regularly check their ears and practice preventive maintenance.  Mites, bacterial or yeast infections, allergic reactions, excess water and dirt can all wreak havoc in those amazing ears.  You might see them scratch their ears, shake their head, nip if you get too close to their ears, lose their balance, and even lose hearing.

Dogs seem to be even more at risk that cats, especially those with floppy ears, because those ear flaps can trap dirt and debris and cause a decreased amount of air ventilation which can become a breeding ground for yeast and bacteria to grow.

Don't let it go.  Contact your veterinarian at the first signs of ear problems. It's going to be hard for you to make a diagnosis yourself, so leave that to the professionals.  Inflammation of that outer ear can be a symptom of several things like parasites, allergies, a simple ear infection, tumors or other medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism.

Six reasons to see your vet:

1. your pet constantly scratches her ears.

2. you can smell a foul odor coming from the ears.

3. your pet's ears are tender to the touch.

4. your pet has trouble with balance.

5. the ears are bleeding or swollen.

6. your pet seems to have trouble hearing.

How healthy are your PETS' ears?

Silence mites and other ear problems that can make your pet miserable:

It's easy to experience ear envy when comparing out hearing power with that of our dogs and cats. The design of their ears allows them to raise, rotate, and tune in to the faintest sounds. Which explains why your cat rushes in at the first sound of the electric can opener or why your dog alerts you to the mail carrier who's still half a block away.

But that heightened sensitivity comes at a price. Their ears can also be sensitive to health problems, unless we regularly check them and practice preventive maintenance. Mites, bacterial or yeast infections, allergic reactions, excess water and dirt can wreak havoc in our pets' ears, causing them to scratch, itch, shake their head, lose their balance  and even develop deafness. Dogs, particularly those with floppy ears, are especially at risk because their ear flaps can trap dirt and debris  setting the stage for infections or parasites. Cats tend to develop fewer ear woes because of their fastidious nature and upright, open ear design, says Dawn Logas, DVM, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist in Silver Spring, FL.

"The size and length of their ear canal, the amount of hair in the ears, whether the ears are erect or floppy, and how much wax is produced can all be factors in the health of your pet's ears," explains Emily Rothstein, DVM, a veterinary dermatologist at the Animal Allergy and Dermatology Service in Plantsville, CT.

The weighty floppy ears in breeds such as cocker spaniels and basset hounds close off the ear canals from ventilating air. This low-oxygen environment creates a sauna-like haven for yeast and bacteria to grow.

from Prevention magazine, June 2003