Medications for dog ear infections should only be administered as prescribed by your vet.Antibiotics used to treat bacterial ear infections in dogs include:
The following symptoms may indicate that your dog needs to have his ears checked by a veterinarian:
Table 1
Infection Type | First‐Line Drug Options |
---|---|
Chronic bacterial URI in cats | Doxycycline or amoxicillin POBase the choice on C&Sb if available |
Canine infectious respiratory disease complex (bacterial component) | Doxycyclinea or amoxicillin–clavulanate PO |
After examining your pet, your vet may likely thoroughly clean the ear canal with a medicated cleaning solution. They may also prescribe an ear cleanser and a topical ointment for you to continue treatment at home. In more serious cases, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Average veterinary price list
Grooming8 | $30 – $500 annually |
---|---|
Routine vet checkup10 | $45 – $55 |
Cat or Dog allergy test11 | $195 – $300 (skin test), $80-$200 (blood test) |
Heartworm test11 | $45 – $50 |
Ear Infection12 | $40 – $149.30 |
If you suspect your dog may have an ear infection, you'll want to visit your veterinarian as soon as possible and have it treated quickly, to both alleviate immediate pain and discomfort and prevent infection from spreading to the inner or middle ear.
The most common type of ear infection for a dog is otitis externa (or outer ear infection).Antibiotics used to treat bacterial ear infections in dogs include:
What can happen if my dog's ear infection is left untreated? A qualified vet will need to treat your dog right away if he is showing signs of ear infection. An untreated ear infection or lapses in treatment can develop into severe infection and lead to serious issues.
If you suspect an ear infection, call your veterinarian immediately. Don't wait until your dog is in pain or struggling with ears that won't stop itching. Don't mess around in the pet store, let your vet treat her correctly the first time.
Home remedies for ear infections often just don't work.
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If your dog is showing any of the common signs of ear infections, it's important to visit your veterinarian as soon as possible. Quick treatment is necessary not only for your dog's comfort (these conditions can be painful!), but also to prevent the spread of infection to the middle and inner ear.
Head Tilt and Shaking When your dog's ear pressure builds up from the infection present there, they may try to tilt their head to one side to relieve that pressure. They may also shake their head frequently in an attempt to loosen the pressure in the ear that is causing their pain.
Antibiotics (such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, enrofloxacin, clindamycin, or cefpodoxime) will be used for a bacterial infection for 6-8 weeks minimum. If the infection is fungal in nature, an anti-fungal medication (most often itraconazole) will be prescribed.
Cautions. Penicillin is generally considered safe for use in dogs, cats, horses, livestock, and many exotic pets. It can cause a disruption of the normal bacterial population within the gut of some species, especially rodents.
Vets perform ear cropping when a dog is just a few weeks old, usually between 6 and 12 weeks. The only exception to this rule is for Boston Terriers, who undergo cropping when fully grown. Ear cropping takes about half an hour to complete and is a fairly straightforward surgery.
Antibiotics. Antibiotics can help clear the infection if it's caused by bacteria. If you or your child are prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection, you must take the entire dose of antibiotics.