Ear Infections: Common Signs & Symptoms

A  frustrating occurrence in greyhounds is their ability to be  contradictory.  A leaf could brush against their leg, and they’ll  perform the greyhound scream of death with such enthusiasm your soul  leaves your body…but when something is truly bothering them,  particularly if something is painful, they will be completely silent and  mask a lot of the early signs of discomfort.

This can make it hard for greyhound owners to spot illnesses or injuries in their early stages.

Ear  infections are very common, and incredibly painful, in dogs.  They are,  thankfully, very easily managed and treated even if the early signs are  missed.  But if left untreated, ear infections can result in more  serious complications and require long and in-depth treatment plans.

While  they are most likely to occur in greyhounds with floppy ears, they can  occur in any hound for many different reasons.  Most commonly ear  infections are bacterial or fungal in origin, but can be caused by  owners overcleaning their hounds’ ears, excessive wax build up,  allergies and intolerances, or parasites.
Foreign  bodies, such as grass seeds, during the summer months can also be the  root of the problem and these pose a huge risk should they make their  way into the inner ear.  There are other more sinister causes, such as  growths, but these are much more uncommon.

Ear  infections very rarely, if ever, clear up on their own.  Veterinary  intervention is not only required to treat the infections but is also  essential in identifying the underlying cause.  If you try to treat your  hound at home, without consulting a vet, you could make it much worse  as certain medications and ear cleaning solutions can cause the ear drum  to rupture and the ear canal to ulcerate, if used in the wrong  situation.

Additionally, like any infection if an ear infection goes untreated it can lead to systemic illnesses.

While  this sounds dramatic, we have seen it happen, if only the once.  A  greyhound with a long-term infection of both ears was being treated with  the wrong medication leading to the rupturing of both ear drums and  ulceration of the ear canals.  Never once did the hound complain or make  a fuss, leading to the owner to think the infection had cleared up…it  hadn’t.  The hound then required months of treatment, but thankfully he  didn’t require surgical intervention.  

If  you suspect your dog may have an ear infection, or has signs of one  developing, you should take them to the vet.  Do not try to clean them  or manage them at home without first consulting a vet.  

Signs  of an infection developing, or an environment where an infection could  develop include dirty ears, lots of wax build up and smelly ears.  The  vet may suggest a cleaning routine at this stage if no infection has  taken hold and to prevent one from doing so.

Should your hound develop any of the following, an infection has already developed:

- Head shaking (a lot!)
- Itchy and painful ears
- Excessive scratching or rubbing of the ear (by the foot or rubbing their face on the ground)
- Holding the effected ear more tightly back/down
- Holding their head to one side (tilting)
- Avoiding affection or crying when the ear is touched
- Strong odour
- Discharge coming from inside the ear i.e. pus or blood
- Swelling of the ear flap
- Crustiness or scabbing of the ear (inside and out, or around the head surrounding the ear)

More concerningly is if your dog presents with any of the above symptoms but also:
- Struggling to balance or walk
- Falling or circling
- Vomiting
- Deafness

This  means the infection as moved into the middle or inner ear which is much  more serious and can require much more in-depth treatment.

The  typical treatment for ear infections is medicated ear drops, given  throughout the day, as well as ear cleaning.  Depending on the severity,  they may also be given anti-inflammatory pain relief and oral  antibiotics.

Most ear infections  clear up quickly and easily, with no complications, but further  investigation and treatment may be needed depending on the underlying  cause of the infection, particularly if the ear infections are  recurring.

The best way to  prevent your hound from getting an ear infection is to regularly inspect  their ears and keep them clean!  If your hound has reoccurring  infections, it may be due to allergies or intolerances which could call  for a change of diet.