The Anatomy of the Canine Ear
Dogs, just like humans have ears that function to hear sounds in the environment. The difference is that while the outside of a human ear is straight, a dogs ear can be floppy or straight. This area is referred to as the Pinna. Its main function is to funnel sound into the ear canal. A dogs ear canal is "L" shaped while a humans is straight. A dogs ear canal is made up of the descending canal or vertical canal and the horizontal canal which ends at the eardrum or tympanic membrane. A canine eardrum is clear and separates the external, middle and inner ear.
Common Causes of Dog Ear Infections
The most common is an infection of the outside of the ear including the horizontal and vertical canals. This infection is referred to as Otitis Externa and is caused by three main reasons; ear mites, bacteria and yeast.
Ear mite infections are caused by the mite Otodectes cynotis. Ear mite infections are seen more in puppies than adult dogs, but any dog can get ear mites. A dog gets ear mites from other infected dogs. Ear mites can live in the ear and on the head and neck.
The bacterium most commonly involved in ear infections is Staphylococcus and the yeast most commonly seen is Malassezia. Bacterial and yeast infections are more common in dogs than ear mite infections. Even though there are only a few causes of ear infections, many things predispose a dog to getting an ear infection. Some of the most common predisposing factors are:
Malformed Ear Canal - When a dogs ear canal is too long or too small, this provides ample opportunity for moisture and debris to become trapped leading to an infection.
Excessive Ear Canal Hair - When there is too much hair in the ear canal, it tends to trap debris and retain water which leads to ear infections.
Swimming and Humid Areas - If a dog loves to swim, he/she can have water trapped in the horizontal and vertical canals which leads to infection. In addition, if a dog resides in a humid climate, the ear can retain moisture from the air, thus resulting in an infection.
Floppy or Folded Over Ears - Pinnae that cover the vertical canal can trap debris and retain water which results in ear infection.
Food allergies - An allergic response to a particular food ingredient can change the environment of the ear canal leading to moisture build-up and an ear infection. Dogs with food allergies may have other skin problems, too.
Seasonal or Inhalant allergies (atopy) - An allergic response to grass, trees, mold, dust, etc. can change the environment of the ear canal leading to moisture build-up and an ear infection. Dogs with seasonal allergies will usually have other skin problems, too.
Systemic Disease - Hypothyroidism or other diseases that affect the endocrine system hamper the immune systems ability to fight infection. When both of these afflictions occur, an ear infection is inevitable.
A growth or foreign object in the ear - A growth or foreign object in the ear can trap water and debris in the ear canal leading to an infection.
Over Ear leaning - If a dog's ears are cleaned too often, excess water and cleanser can be left behind. These two things can trap debris and eventually lead to an ear infection.
Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian who loves to write and share about her experience and knowledge about job. She started an online classroom at Clivir.com where she provide more information about Dog Flea Allergy Dermatitis Treatment and Dog Urinary Tract Infections Symptoms.
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