One of the most common statements uttered by pet owners to veterinary staff is, “I think my dog (or cat) has an ear infection!” What exactly are pet owners noticing at home and what are veterinary professionals looking for during their exams which would indicate infection? To better understand the answer to this question, it may be easiest to include a brief discussion regarding the cardinal signs of infection and their relation to the ear. The presence of any of these signs may indicate infection and the severity of each sign helps your veterinary team determine severity of infection and to ultimately decide treatment course.
- Redness
The first of the 5 cardinal signs of infection is redness. Infected tissues are often pink, red, or maroon in color. A change in color of your pet’s ear flap, the pinna, or of the ear canal itself is often the most easily noted clinical change we see.
- Swelling
Similar to redness, any or all of an ear may become swollen. If the pinna feels thickened or the entrance to the canal is shrunken and difficult to look into, these are likely due to swelling. It may be important to note that swelling directly related to infection is not the same as an aural hematoma, although hematomas commonly accompany infection.
- Heat
This may be the easiest cardinal sign to evaluate. Simply put your hand on your pet’s ear. Does its temperature feel normal? Warmer than normal? If you compare the left and right ears do they feel equivalent in temperature?
- Pain
Pain is possibly the most common clinical sign that owners appreciate at home, in the form of behavior changes. “My dog won’t stop shaking his head!” or “My cat keeps scratching her ear” are incredibly common complaints from owners. These sometimes subtle changes in activity at home can be major indicators of a health concern in your pet. Never underestimate the importance of behavior changes and always try to mention these to your care team. Videos of the changes at home can be especially helpful!
- Loss of Function
The 5th and last cardinal sign of infection is likely the least common when it comes to ear infections. Loss of hearing due to infection in our pets typically requires significant and prolonged infection to be present.
- (Bonus!) Discharge and Debris
While not one of the 5 cardinal signs of infection, discharge or debris in the ear or present on the pinna can be an incredibly common and easily found indicator of infection. In addition to being easily visible, discharge in the ear often has a foul odor.
Ultimately, the most valuable skill you can develop as a pet owner is observation! Pay attention to what your pets’ ears look like when they’re healthy. Familiarize yourself with signs of infection and be able to appreciate those changes when any one or more are present in relation to your pets’ ears or any other body part! And trust our gut. If you think your pet isn’t itself, bring it to us! We are always happy to see a patient and provide the care it needs.
