If you think your pet has smelly, dirty or red ears it is time for a check up with us. Ear infections in dogs and cats are very common around Caroline Springs and Albanvale at this time of the year and it’s important for a vet to actually look at the ear canal to make sure your pet is not in any pain.
The ear contains its own ‘mini environment’ and this can be easily disrupted by heat, moisture and self trauma (for example from itching due to allergies). Bacteria and yeast love the change in environment and begin to increase in numbers, resulting in a very unhappy ear canal and an uncomfortable pet.
The signs of ear infections in pets are:
- Shaking of the head
- Rubbing ears along the floor or furniture
- Itching behind ears with paws
- A head tilt
- Flicking of the ears (especially cats)
- Discharge – may be smelly and can be black, white or yellow
- Hot and red ears
We will use an otoscope (a fancy tool with a light) to examine your pet’s ears and make sure there is not a foreign body such as a grass seed (as are often found in grassy areas around Taylors Hill) contributing to the problem.
Our experienced staff at Caroline Springs Vet Hospital will take a sample and stain it with special chemicals to identify the type of bacteria or yeast under a microscope. This enables us to prescribe the correct medication for your pet and gives the ear the opportunity to heal as quickly as possible.
The good news is, here at Caroline Springs Vet Hospital we have lots of very effective medications available as well as some treatments that can help prevent recurrent ear infections – just ask us for more information.
If you think your pet might have itchy or smelly ears contact Caroline Springs Vet Hospital ASAP. The longer you leave an ear infection, the more painful the ear becomes and the harder (and more expensive) it becomes to treat.
