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Image Gallery Ear infections are one of the most common problems in pets. Photo courtesy of K. Rosen

Otitis externa, external ear infection, is one of the most common problems veterinarians see in their practices today.

Otitis is caused by a wide variety of microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. It is often the result of other primary causes such as hypersensitivity diseases, foreign bodies, hypothyroidism, autoimmune diseases, parasites, and the use of inappropriate treatments and/or irritating cleansers in the ear.

The recommendations listed below are for otitis externa only. Otitis media and otitis interna—infections of the middle and inner ear—are problems for your veterinarian only. Be sure to get an accurate diagnosis before you begin home treatment.

Herbal remedies work nearly as fast as veterinary drugs.

Symptoms and traditional treatment

Symptoms of external ear infections include head shaking, crying, and scratching the affected ears. The ears may feel hot and show evidence of scratching and irritation. Gently swabbing the ear canal with a large chunk of cotton may reveal a gooey brown to black discharge.

In Western medicine, after flushing and cleaning the ear canal (often under general anesthesia), various antibiotic or combined antibiotic/steroid preparations are used. Surgery to open up the ear canal for better circulation may ultimately be indicated for cases of otitis externa that do not respond to normal treatments.

Unfortunately, many of the proprietary preparations contain corticosteroids (cortisone), the theory being that they counteract inflammation and thus diminish the pain and irritation. Although there are some rare occasions when I feel I need to resort to steroids, I almost never use them. Steroids retard the long-term healing process, and their list of potential adverse side effects is enough to make anyone who can read hesitant to ever use them.

Finally, it’s been my experience that many of the antibiotic preparations commonly used for otitis do a fair job on bacterial infections, but the reduction of bacteria is often followed by severe fungal or yeast overgrowth. It’s almost as if the yeasts and fungi feast on the drugs used in Western medicine preparations.

Holistic care

It’s important to first see your veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis. He or she should visually examine your pet’s ear canal and take a swab to identify the primary bugs involved and the severity of the disease.

Herbs are a primary line of defense and my first choice for external ear infections.