The ears of our dogs they are very sensitive to environmental aggressions, that's why you should know that the otitis can cause our pet from a cavity to a very important anorexia, due to the pain and discomfort.
All the external ear infections They can cause a perforated eardrum due to drainage and inflammation of the external auditory canal. Medical treatment varies depending on whether the tympanic membrane is perforated or not, other than a full diagnosis should be made.
In this article, we will discover the symptoms and treatment of a perforated eardrum, so keep reading.
What is the eardrum? Are there different types of otitis in dogs?
The dog's ear is divided into three parts: outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. The eardrum is the tympanic membrane separating the hearing aid and outer ear of the middle ear and the inner ear, its function being the transmission of sound.
The ear is a inflammation-sensitive organ and infection, causing powerful infections, which is why otitis is can classify externally and internally. The external otitis It is the most common, but it can develop into otitis media or internal otitis if the infection penetrates through the eardrum.
If a tympanic account or a vestibular organ, two parts of the inner ear are affected, there is a risk of presenting nervous symptoms, in addition, an infection can spread to the meninges that cover the central nervous system, inflaming them and causing meningitis.
These are some of the causes that can cause eardrum perforation:
- Sudden changes in atmospheric pressure.
- Severe trauma
- Recurrent infections of the External auditive conduct, being the most common cause.
- The removal of foreign bodies such as tips, hairs, seeds, etc.
- The symptoms that we will find in our dogs are Hearing loss, lateralization of the head, abnormal ear discharge, bad smell and neurological signs such as facial paralysis or vestibular syndrome.
Our vet must perform a comprehensive examination of both ears and sedation in almost all cases due to the great pain of the dog.
Treatment of perforated eardrum in dogs
The initial approach to the disease is based on otitis solution and as the eardrum gradually regenerates. The vet should flushing the ear canal with a saline solution warm under pressure and sedation.
A prescription should be culture and cytology for cytological examination and culture to select an appropriate topical, systemic, and antibiotic treatment. exist ototoxic antibiotics that our veterinarian will take into account when treating it.
They will also be used topical and systemic anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation of the external auditory canal. In addition, the root cause should be eliminated in the case of strange bodies. The healing process will take a few weeks and it will heal.
Surgery is only indicated in certain cases, such as ear infections resistant to antibiotics. The lateral ear canal is resected, which causes the horizontal ear canall is more accessible to medicines and the eardrum is better oxygenated, which favors its regeneration.
Prevention of earache and tympanic perforations in dogs
the best way to prevent this disease is to check your dog's ears regularly. Remember to consider the following points:
- Regular cleaning of both ears with a ear cleaner frequently used
- After bathing, make sure there are no water in the ear canal.
- Ear exam that the veterinarian will have to perform with the otoscope during the controls.
- Control of primary diseases (atopy, endocrinopathyEtc.).
This article is merely informative, in Mundoperros we have no right to prescribe veterinary treatments nor do any type of diagnosis, so we invite you to take your pet to the vet in case of problems or annoyances.
Above all, you must be watch out for symptoms of which we have spoken, since it is better to prevent than later to regret.