Ear Dermatitis In Dogs: Our Vet Explains the Signs, Risks & TreatmentÂÂ
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Ask any general practice veterinarian what type of ailments they see most often in dogs and I will guarantee you that skin and ear problems will make the top three. Healthy skin is vital for a healthy body, being the first line of defense against injury and infection, an essential part of the sensory system, and the body’s largest organ.
Although they make up a relatively small part of the whole, the ears are an important part of the integumentary system (aka skin, hair, nails, and glands), as well as one of the most commonly affected by inflammation and infection.
Ear dermatitis, which is inflammation of the skin of the ear, is more accurately known as otitis, and it is one of the most common—and most frustrating—canine conditions to manage and treat. To understand why, let’s take a closer look at the signs of otitis in dogs, what causes it, and what makes it so challenging to deal with.
What Is Ear Dermatitis (Otitis)?
Dermatitis is inflammation or infection of the skin, and ear dermatitis (otitis externa) refers to the infection or inflammation of the outer ear, which includes the ear flap (pinna), ear cartilage, and the horizontal and vertical canals—everything on the outside of the eardrum (tympanic membrane). Diseases of the middle and inner ear are called otitis media and interna and are not typically categorized as dermatitis. Both ears may be affected, or just one.
