Isaac recently came to Uni Vets Camden as he had sore and itchy ears. We took samples from both his ears, and discovered a large number of budding yeasts seen under the microscope!
In dogs with recurrent ear infection like Isaac, there is often an underlying allergy, such as atopy or food hypersensitivity. Secondary infections with bacteria and/or yeast are very common in dogs with itchy ears. Occasionally, ear mites and foreign bodies such as grass seeds can also cause inflammation of the ears. Dogs with long floppy ears are especially prone to ear infections.
Signs of ear infections to look for in dogs include redness or swelling of the ears, excessive discharge of waxy or liquid material, head-shaking, or scratching at their ears. If your dog is showing any of the above signs, please don’t hesitate to bring him to your vet - as an untreated infection can lead to significant ear tissue damage and potentially rupture the eardrum!
Written by Kristy Hoe Tsang - Final Year Veterinary Student, The University of Sydney.
