Ear infections of inflammation of the external canals is called Otitis externa. Bacteria, yeast, ear mites, and allergies can all cause otitis externa. Addressing this problem involves four steps:
- Having your veterinarian make a diagnosis through examination and microscopic evaluation
- Cleaning the ear canal thoroughly to remove excessive ear wax and other debris that can protect bacteria, yeast and other organisms
- Applying medication into the ear canal.
- Allowing your veterinarian to re-examine the ear until the infection is cleared
Ear Cleansing and Medicating Instructions
1. Apply cleanser to ear liberally (see above) or by soaking a cotton ball and squeezing the liquid into the ear canal.
2. Massage into ear canal by gently massaging the base of the ear.
3. With a cotton ball over your fingertip, wipe the accessible portion of the ear clean. Let your dog or cat shake out any excess. Clean the same portion of the ear with a dry cotton ball once again. Repeat if necessary.
4. Let the canals dry for 15 minutes before applying the ear medication
5. Apply the medication deeply into the ear canal using a syringe without the needle or a slim tip medication applicator as seen above
Using a syringe w/ a pre-filled amount prescribed by your veterinarian allows for easy, consistent and accurate dosing. Using the typical 6-8 drops (depending on size) can be hard to quantify.
Do not insert cotton swabs or Q-Tips deep into the ear canal.
Use cotton swabs only to clean the parts of the ear you can actually see. Make sure to follow up with your veterinarian after an initial treatment period to ensure the infection or inflammatory issue has fully resolved.
