Otitis Externa:  Otitis media, and otitis interna ear infection, inflammation of the external ear canal, middle ear infection, inner ear infection.

Affected Animals:  Dogs and cats. Cocker spaniels, labs, dalmations, and other long-eared or floppy-eared breeds may be more predisposed to developing infections.

Information and Overview:   An ear infection, or otitis, is an inflammation of the outer, middle, or inner ear canal. Most frequently, a dog will develop otitis in the outer ear that may worsen and spread into the middle ear. Once in the middle ear canal, the inflammation can move into the inner ear - or, in cases in which the otitis has originated in the middle ear, the infection can instead progress outward to the external ear. Otitis can be caused by a tremendous array of factors, many of which are due to the conformation of the ear. Things that aid in causing infection include skin allergies, fleas, excess liquid in the ear from swimming, autoimmune diseases, skin parasites, and excess wax production. Generally, dogs that develop ear infections have reddened ears that are painful to the touch and ooze a foul-smelling liquid. A punctured eardrum is not an uncommon result of a middle ear infection, and the more severe cases of otitis can lead to partial deafness, lack of balance, nausea and vomiting, and problems with the nerves of the eye. Chronic ear infections may produce a very thick and inflamed tissue of the external ear canal making treatment of the middle ear and ear canals very difficult. Surgical intervention may be necessary in these cases to open the ear canal and facilitate treatment.

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