ear infection Archives - Your Vet Wants You to Know

Ear Cleaning

Ear cleaning can be incredibly important for dogs with ear infections and allergies. Pet owners may struggle with ear cleaning if the dog is fearful or painful. In this episode, Dr. Amy Pike, veterinary behavior specialist, discusses cooperative care techniques for low stress ear cleanings for your dog with ear infections. This episode is a great resource if your dog has ever had an ear infection and you are looking for a method that decreases pain and anxiety for everyone involved.

Itchy Pet Awareness Month – Stella and the Allergic Cat

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month. When it comes to itchy cats and dogs, the pets are not the only ones suffering. Caregiver burden is directly related to treatment complexity and treating allergies can be very complex. Dr. Meagan Painter, veterinary dermatologist, founder of The Allergic Dog and The Allergic Cat, and pet owner of her own allergic cat, talks about Stella and how managing her cat’s allergies has been a learning process for them both.

Video Otoscopy

Sometimes, despite a veterinarian’s best efforts to clear an ear infection with medicated drops and cleaners, the infection will stubbornly persist. When a veterinarian is worried about conditions such as a long-term ear infection, a mass in the ear canal, material like matted hair, a foxtail, or trapped ear wax, or a deep infection in the middle ear on the other side of the ear drum, a video otoscopy and deep ear cleaning may be recommended. Join veterinary dermatologists and ear specialists Dr. Austin Richman and Dr. Brittany Lancellotti as they discuss the video otoscopy procedure, why they recommend it, the benefits and risks, and questions to discuss with your veterinarian for your dog or cat.

female veterinarian looking into a dog ear canal

Aural Hematomas

An aural hematoma is a painful swelling of a pet’s ear from buildup of fluid when the ear flap is damaged. It is not uncommon for ear infections to cause a pet to shake its head back and forth, leading to a swollen ear flap, also known as an aural hematoma. Golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, and dogs with allergies are at a higher risk for developing one or even multiple aural hematomas. Since these can be treated with several different methods, Dr. Brittany Lancellotti, veterinary dermatologist, discusses the risks and benefits to treatment options based on recent studies.

Ear Infections Part 2

Itchy, smelly ears can be incredibly uncomfortable for dogs and cats with ear infections. Diego had such horrible ear infections, he was living in constant pain. This episode’s guest, veterinary dermatologist Dr. Meagan Painter, joins Dr. Brittany Lancellotti to discuss common tests, such as ear exams, cytology, and culture and what these tests tell your veterinarian. They describe common treatments, such as oral and topical medications, and how these treatments allowed Diego to live his best life, no longer in pain.

Ear Infections Part 1

If you have ever woken up in the middle of the night to your pet shaking its head and scratching its ears, you know how uncomfortable a pet can be when they have an ear infection. Ear infections have many causes. The key to treating the infection and stopping it from returning is understanding the primary, secondary, perpetuating and predisposing causes of ear infections. Join dermatologists Dr. Meagan Painter and Dr. Brittany Lancellotti to help you understand why your dog or cat is getting ear infections and how to stop them in their tracks so you can keep your animal happy and healthy.