The second most common problem for dogs, as reported to insurance companies for reimbursement, is otitis – infected ears. I commonly see dogs with chronically infected ears in my practice. If I can get owners to follow a few simple instructions, the problem can usually be solved for good.
First and foremost, have your veterinarian perform cytology to see what is growing in the ear. This
procedure is very simple and painless. A small amount of debris from the infected ear(s) is obtained using a cotton swab. The debris is smeared on a microscope slide, stained, and observed under the microscope. The infection can be identified as a yeast or bacterial infection. Bacteria can be identified according to type, as cocci or rods. Determining the organisms is important, as this will dictate the treatment.
Bacterial infections are commonly found secondary to getting water in the ear after bathing or swimming and should respond quickly to treatment. They should not be recurring if the correct therapy has been implemented. If the infection is occurring secondary to a polyp or mass down in the ear canal, the mass will need to be removed in order to solve the problem permanently. Your veterinarian should use an otoscope to examine the external ear canals, all the way down to the ear drum, making sure there has been no rupture of the tympanic membrane (ear drum).
If yeast is detected on cytology, it is most commonly associated with an allergy. The most common yeasty otitis externa is a food allergy. Over 95% of external ear infections in my practice will respond to treatment if the diet is modified to eliminate the offending allergen.
allergy that manifests as
Determining the source of the allergen can be very difficult. Traditional veterinarians and dermatologists will usually resort to prescription hypoallergenic diets. Even the board-certified dermatologists will admit that these diets only work about half the time. Part of the reason behind that could be the contamination of these diets that was proven in multiple studies and presented at the August 2015 AAFCO meeting.
I have had the best results by putting the pets on a single protein that they have never eaten, along with draining vegetables like turnips and radishes, fruits like pears and apples, and one carbohydrate. Some pets will not be able to tolerate any carbohydrates, which will be a bigger challenge. My first choice carbohydrate is usually quinoa, but sometimes I will use barley, as it is cooling and draining. The hypoallergenic diet must be maintained for at least six weeks. I will usually add a mineral supplement to the diet although short-term mineral deficiencies will not cause problems. Once it is determined which proteins the pet can tolerate, it may be possible to find a high-quality commercial diet that will solve the problem.
For clients who want a commercial product from the outset, I usually recommend a frozen or dehydrated raw product, as they are generally very high in protein, available in many different proteins, and have no grains that could contribute to allergies. Commercial rabbit or duck diets are usually a good choice. Your pet does not have to suffer from chronic ear infections. You do not have to suffer from the odor and work of cleaning your dog’s ears. Cure the problem once and for all with diet and correct treatments. For more information, check out my book, From Needles To Natural, the chapters on ear disease and allergies.
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| Before |
procedure is very simple and painless. A small amount of debris from the infected ear(s) is obtained using a cotton swab. The debris is smeared on a microscope slide, stained, and observed under the microscope. The infection can be identified as a yeast or bacterial infection. Bacteria can be identified according to type, as cocci or rods. Determining the organisms is important, as this will dictate the treatment.
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| After First Treatment |
If yeast is detected on cytology, it is most commonly associated with an allergy. The most common yeasty otitis externa is a food allergy. Over 95% of external ear infections in my practice will respond to treatment if the diet is modified to eliminate the offending allergen.
allergy that manifests as
Determining the source of the allergen can be very difficult. Traditional veterinarians and dermatologists will usually resort to prescription hypoallergenic diets. Even the board-certified dermatologists will admit that these diets only work about half the time. Part of the reason behind that could be the contamination of these diets that was proven in multiple studies and presented at the August 2015 AAFCO meeting.
For clients who want a commercial product from the outset, I usually recommend a frozen or dehydrated raw product, as they are generally very high in protein, available in many different proteins, and have no grains that could contribute to allergies. Commercial rabbit or duck diets are usually a good choice. Your pet does not have to suffer from chronic ear infections. You do not have to suffer from the odor and work of cleaning your dog’s ears. Cure the problem once and for all with diet and correct treatments. For more information, check out my book, From Needles To Natural, the chapters on ear disease and allergies.
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