Ear infections in dogs are one of the most common reasons for visits to the veterinarian. However, the condition is often detected too late and not treated consistently. The anatomical structure of the ear canal in dogs and its length make it prone to inflammation. Due to various factors, some dog breeds are even more susceptible to inflammation in the ear area. Outer ear infections, also known as otitis externa, are the most common type. Middle and inner ear infections are less common. However, if not detected early, these can develop into chronic conditions that require intensive treatment.
There are many reasons why dogs get ear infections. A distinction is made between primary causes, predisposing factors, and contributing factors.
The following primary causes can be responsible for the development of an ear infection:
Certain dog breeds are particularly prone to ear infections due to a specific predisposition. Inadequate or incorrect ear care by dog owners can also contribute to the development of ear infections. These factors promote inflammation but cannot cause it on their own.
These predisposing factors include:
If the ear infection is not detected and treated in time, there is a risk of secondary infection, which prevents rapid healing.
Contributing factors to the disease include:
The first visible signs of an ear infection are usually itching and increased head shaking. Affected dogs scratch the affected ear or try to rub it against furniture or objects. A sudden tilting of the head in combination with severe itching can also be a sign of an ear infection. Middle ear infections in particular can be very painful and cause your dog to refuse food in order to avoid the pain when chewing. As the owner, you can recognize an infection of the outer ear by redness and thickening of the skin inside the ear and a discharge, which is usually very strong-smelling.
In cases of prolonged or chronic ear infections, affected dogs may become shy and show aggressive behavior due to the constant pain.
If the symptoms described above occur or you suspect an ear infection, you should always consult your veterinarian. Your detailed preliminary report is of particular interest to them, as it allows them to easily draw conclusions about possible causal factors.
A general veterinary examination is followed by a special skin examination to look for a possible underlying disease. In the case of an allergy, inflammatory changes are often found in the head, armpits, abdomen, and between the toes.
As part of a special ear examination, the ear canals of both ears are examined closely using an otoscope or video otoscope. Swab samples can also be taken and examined under a microscope in the laboratory. The type and amount of discharge can also give your veterinarian clues about certain pathogens.
Further laboratory tests may be necessary to detect one or more pathogens.
Your veterinarian will first clean the affected ear and rinse it if necessary. Based on the diagnosis and laboratory tests, they will then select a suitable preparation for local treatment of the ear. It is important to follow the treatment regimen prescribed by your veterinarian exactly. Discontinuing the medication too early can cause the inflammation to flare up again or even become chronic. Talk to your veterinarian about a suitable treatment.
The chances of recovery always depend on the type and severity of the underlying disease and the duration of the ear infection. If appropriate treatment is started in good time, the chances of a full recovery are good. However, if complications such as hearing loss or meningitis have already occurred, the prognosis is much more cautious.
Complete protection against ear infections is impossible due to the countless factors. However, as a dog owner, you can do a lot to keep your dog's ears healthy and thus at least reduce the risk of infection.
Check your dog's ears regularly for redness or thickening of the skin. If your dog goes swimming often, dry their ears thoroughly afterwards. However, only clean the outside of your dog's ears with a paper tissue. Never insert cotton swabs into your dog's ear canal.
If you are unsure or suspect that something is wrong with your dog's ears, please consult your veterinarian immediately. Untreated or incorrectly treated ear infections can lead to serious complications such as deafness or meningitis.
It happens in the paddock or even in the stall: your horse injures itself and may be bleeding. What should you do? Is it just a small scratch, a bump, or even a huge, gaping wound? Do I need to call the vet, or can I treat it myself, and if so, how? How can I minimize the risk of injury in the future? Kicks, bites, falls, or foreign objects can cause cuts, puncture wounds, abrasions, bruises, contusions, or burns in horses, which may require veterinary treatment depending on their severity. The severity of an injury always depends on its location and the involvement of surrounding structures, such as muscles, tendons, or joints. As with humans, a distinction is made between covered and open injuries in horses. In covered injuries, the horse's skin is undamaged, which is why this type of injury is not always easy to detect. For example, a kick may have caused a bruise that we as owners may only notice when grooming or when the horse is lame. Damage to the skin is referred to as an open injury or wound. This results in bleeding of varying severity, but even here, smaller wounds can be overlooked due to the coat.
Periodic eye inflammation has been known for over 2000 years and is the most common eye disease in horses. It describes a recurring inflammation of the middle layer of the eye (uvea) in horses. In veterinary medicine, the term "equine recurrent uveitis" (ERU) is now used. The disease occurs repeatedly, initially at longer intervals and later at shorter intervals, and can lead to significant visual impairment. Since the affected horses often went blind from this disease and it was suspected that it was related to the phases of the moon, it was also commonly referred to as moon blindness.
Skin diseases are one of the most common reasons for visits to the vet, alongside gastrointestinal disorders. Pyoderma refers to purulent infections of the skin caused by various bacteria. In healthy animals, the skin provides good protection against infections through various defense mechanisms. There is a balance between the normal microflora of bacteria, yeasts, and parasites on the one hand, and the formation and breakdown of skin cells and their waste products on the other. The microflora feeds on the waste products of the skin and at the same time prevents the colonization of infectious germs.
This little-known neurological disease of the spinal cord and spine mainly affects older, large dogs weighing 20 kg or more. The disease develops very slowly but is very painful for the dog and causes progressive paralysis in the hindquarters.
In centuries past, looking into a horse's mouth played an important role, albeit primarily to determine the animal's age. Today, the focus is more on dental care and dental disease in horses. Dental hygiene is a very important aspect of keeping horses healthy. Regular veterinary checks of the mouth and teeth should be carried out at least once a year. The annual check-up and routine dental treatment can be carried out by any equine practice. In the event of specific dental problems or complications, it is advisable to consult a practice that specializes in equine dentistry. Typical dental problems in horses include tartar and the formation of hooks and edges on the molars due to uneven wear. These issues can be quickly resolved during routine treatment, preventing further damage. But how can we, as horse owners, tell if our horse has dental problems?
Hoof cancer is a chronic disease of the hoof corium. Unlike hoof abscesses, hoof cancer does not cause individual cells to die, but rather leads to uninhibited growth of individual parts of the hoof corium, accompanied by a foul-smelling discharge and a lack of keratinization of this tissue. The term "hoof cancer" was coined due to the appearance of this excessively grown, cauliflower-like tissue, although it is not a form of cancer.
If your horse is rubbing itself more than usual, you should take a closer look, as itching can be a key symptom of many skin diseases or allergies in horses. However, some metabolic disorders can also cause itching in horses. This condition is very stressful for your animal and should therefore be examined and treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
It is a dramatic sight for us as owners when our own horse suddenly cannot bend its hind leg and can barely walk. In many cases, the kneecap dislocation resolves itself and the horse runs normally again. If the dislocation does not resolve, a veterinarian must remedy the situation by skillfully manipulating the horse and leading it backwards or sideways so that it can walk normally again. A brief digression into the anatomy of the knee joint provides a simple explanation for this phenomenon.
It is often a dramatic sight for owners and riders: from one day to the next, your horse suddenly shows severe lameness. The affected limb is increasingly rested or no longer placed properly on the ground. Occasionally, but not always, the affected hoof feels warmer than the other hooves. It is obvious that your horse is in severe pain and you suspect the worst. However, it is often just a hoof abscess. The colloquial term "hoof abscess" is misleading, as it is not an abscess or tissue growth, but a purulent inflammation in the form of an abscess. In such a case, please call a veterinarian immediately who can examine your animal, confirm any suspicions and treat it immediately.
Are outdoor cats or indoor cats healthier and happier? What are the respective advantages and disadvantages, and what suits my cat and my lifestyle best? Here you will find useful information to help you make your decision.
Rotz, often referred to as skin rot or skin worm, is one of the longest known diseases affecting horses. It is a bacterial, epidemic infectious disease characterized by purulent skin and mucous membrane ulcers and a mostly chronic course. While the disease is still widespread in Asia, Africa, and South America, it has been considered eradicated in Germany since 1956, although it was detected in a horse for the first time again in 2015. Due to the danger it poses to humans, the disease is still notifiable.
You probably often see your velvet-pawed friend licking themselves thoroughly, vigorously working on one spot or another of their fur. Cats groom themselves. Nevertheless, it is useful to help them with their fur care, not least to find and remove any parasites. The coat change will also be more pleasant for your cat if loose hairs are brushed out regularly. Especially with certain breeds such as Angora or Persian cats, you should stick to a daily routine to keep your pet well-groomed and healthy.
