Adobe Pet Hospital, Livermore, CA - Where Pets Are Family!

Chronic Ear Infections/Video-otoscopy

Normal Ear

Normal Canine Eardrum.

Chronic ear infections are one of the most commonly seen problems in dogs. They can also be seen in cats but occur less frequently.

The Adobe Pet Hospital is one of very few veterinary hospitals equipped with the most advanced tools and training to diagnose and treat this serious problem. We have both Karl Storz® and MedRx® video-otoscopy equipment and instruments. Trained through the Advanced Laser Surgery and Video-otoscopy courses at U.C. Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, we have the ability to perform SuperPulse laser surgical procedures as well as irrigation and cleaning inside the ear canal and middle ear cavity (bulla).

Chronic ear infections are painful for your pet and can lead to permanent hearing loss. The Video-Otoscope allows the doctors at the Adobe Pet Hospital to better visualize the entire ear canal, ear drum and middle ear through the natural ear opening. Previously, these areas were only accessible with invasive surgery into the base of the skull. Getting to the middle ear is critical. One study found that 80% of dogs with chronic ear infections had infection in the middle ear (or bulla). If this is not identified and treated, the ear infection remains hidden and frequently re-infects the outer ear canal leading to continued pain and potential hearing loss.

“70-80 % of dogs with chronically infected ears have experienced a ruptured ear drum and have infection in the bulla”
Small Animal Ear Diseases, Louis Gotthelf, DVM
Ear Infection

Infected Canine Eardrum.

Signs of ear infection;

  • Pain around the head or ears
  • Behavior changes including depression and irritability
  • Head shaking
  • Odor and/or discharge from ear opening or red, inflamed ear flaps
  • Scratching or rubbing the ears with a paw or on the floor or furniture
  • Head tilt, loss of balance or unusual eye movements (eyes flashing side to side)

Causes of chronic, recurrent ear infections

One of the most important steps in dealing with this condition is to identify and treat the underlying cause. These can include:

  • Allergies – both inhalant allergies (atopy) and food allergies
  • Hypothyroidism, Cushing’s Disease and other endocrine disorders
  • Foreign material trapped deep in the ear canal or middle ear
  • Growths, polyps and tumors in the ear canal
  • Resistant bacterial or yeast infections (often caused by the overuse of ineffective medications)
  • Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Aids (FIV) infections in cats
  • Autoimmune diseases including Lupus
  • Ear mites (usually seen in young kittens)
Irrigation and Debris

Remove ear infection with video-otoscopy.

Treatment

Treating serious, chronic ear infections and preventing their return requires a thorough and systematic approach and usually includes;

  • Chronic ear infections are one of the most commonly seen problems in dogs.
  • Adobe Pet Hospital is equipped with the most advanced tools and training to diagnose and treat this serious problem.
  • We utilize Karl Storz® and MedRx® video-otoscopy equipment and instruments.
  • The Video-Otoscope allows the doctors at the Adobe Pet Hospital to better visualize the entire ear canal, ear drum and middle ear through the natural ear opening.

Here is what one client had to say about our approach;

“Our dog Barkley suffered terribly for seven years with an ear infection until I took him to the Adobe Pet Hospital. I had taken Barkley to several different vets and nothing they did worked. The doctors at Adobe Pet Hospital cured Barkley’s infection within a month using video-otoscopy. In addition to identifying and properly treating his very resistant infection, they were able to remove the growths blocking his ear canal with their laser. I am very grateful.”

American Animal Hospital Association

For more information on ear infections please visit the
American Animal Hospital Association

  • Your pet's health is as important to us as it is to you.
  • We are equipped with the most advanced tools and training from U.C. Davis', School of Veterinary Medicine.
  • Certified from UC Davis Advanced Laser Surgery and video-otoscopy program.
  • We utilize both MedRX® and Storz® video-otoscopy equipment.
  • Video-otoscopy allows viewing of the ear canal at 100x magnification.
  • Video-0toscopy allows access to the entire ear canal, eardrum, and middle ear without invasive surgery.
  • Every exam room is equiped with otoscopic view allowing both the owner and the doctor to visualize the entire ear canal.