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If your pet dog frequently scratches their ears, repeatedly loses head hair, and there is an odor from inside the ears, you should first suspect otitis externa. Even if symptoms subside with just medication, otitis externa has a high recurrence rate if the causative organism is not accurately identified. Check the following three things first.
▪ If ear scratching and head hair loss are repeated for two or more days, the possibility of otitis externa is high. ▪ Since the treatment direction differs depending on the type of causative organism (bacteria, yeast, complex infection), ear swab cytology is necessary. ▪ If caregivers arbitrarily wash the ears or use commercial products, symptoms may worsen, so treatment should be received after veterinary diagnosis.
In Busan, if your dog frequently scratches their ears and shakes their head — there is a high possibility of otitis externa
If your dog repeatedly scratches their ears with their front paws, vigorously shakes their head, and rubs the inside of their ears on the floor, you should consider otitis externa as the first cause of their discomfort. According to Health Trend Pet Health Stories, dog otitis externa is counted as one of the most common reasons for visiting animal hospitals, and at the same time it is a condition that exhausts both caregivers and pets due to repeated recurrence.
The reason for frequent recurrence is often a problem with diagnosis rather than treatment. The causative organisms of otitis externa vary, including bacteria, yeast (Malassezia), and ear mites, and the drugs and treatment directions that should be applied differ depending on the type. If you focus only on symptom relief without first confirming the infection source through ear swab cytology and otoscope examination, the same symptoms may repeat even if the condition appears to improve on the surface.
In Busan as well, the key to preventing recurrence is to confirm the causative organism at a comprehensive animal medical center equipped with precision otoscope examination and ear swab cytology before starting treatment. If caregivers first use ear cleansers or ointments available commercially, the accuracy of test results may decrease, and there are cases where symptoms temporarily subside and the time to visit the hospital is delayed, so caution is needed.
Mini Q&A Q. Is it otitis externa if my dog scratches their ear once or twice? Occasional scratching behavior one or two times may be observed with monitoring. However, if the behavior is repeated multiple times a day or accompanied by ear odor and discharge, it is safe to receive veterinary diagnosis. The judgment criteria may differ depending on the individual situation.
Why does dog otitis externa occur and why does it recur — a problem of structure and cause
The structure of the dog's ear itself plays a major role in the repetition of otitis externa. According to Health Trend pet health information, the dog's ear canal has an 'L'-shaped bent structure, making air circulation unfavorable, and it easily maintains a warm and humid environment, creating favorable conditions for bacterial and yeast proliferation.
The causes of otitis externa can be broadly divided into primary causes and secondary infection factors.
| Category | Main Cause | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Cause | Allergy/Atopy | Skin immune response affects ear mucous membranes |
| Ear mite infection | Confirmable by otoscope, contagious | |
| Hypothyroidism/Cushing's disease | Hormonal abnormality increases vulnerability of skin and ear mucous membranes | |
| Secondary Infection Factor | Malassezia (yeast) | Fungus with high frequency as cause of otitis externa |
| Pseudomonas/Staphylococcus | Bacterial infection, risk of resistance development with chronicity | |
| Complex infection | Cases of 2-3 mixed causes are also common |
In particular, Malassezia is mentioned in the same data as a representative causative organism of otitis externa, and it is known that cases of 2-3 combined causes are not rare. If only secondary infection is suppressed without solving the primary cause, the same environment repeats after treatment, inevitably leading to recurrence.
For dogs with chronically recurring otitis externa, rather than treating ear infection separately, an approach of evaluating together for allergic dermatitis underlying disease or hormonal abnormality is recommended. Since the underlying cause differs for each individual, the treatment course and recurrence cycle may also vary.
How should we approach otitis externa diagnosis in order?
The Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Hospital Dermatology Department applies a stepwise approach to otitis externa patients that confirms foreign objects and tumors in the ear canal through video otoscopy, and even includes assessment of eardrum condition in chronically affected patients. This shows that otitis externa diagnosis is more than simply looking into the ear.
Health Trend veterinary information also explains that when a dog visits for otitis externa, the standard approach involves first confirming the interior of the ear canal with an otoscope and identifying the type of infection source (bacteria, fungi, ear mites, etc.) through microscopic examination.
The 24H UN animal medical center in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan has internal medicine specialist medical staff who first confirm the causative organism type based on ear swab cytology and otoscope examination, and if allergy or endocrine underlying disease is suspected, jointly evaluate them through an inter-departmental consultation system.
The diagnostic steps are summarized as follows:
▪ Step 1 — Otoscope examination: Visual confirmation of ear canal interior condition, discharge characteristics, eardrum condition ▪ Step 2 — Ear swab cytology: Microscopic confirmation of infection source type (bacteria, yeast, ear mites, etc.) ▪ Step 3 — Underlying disease evaluation: Concurrent allergy testing or hormone testing if allergy or endocrine abnormality is suspected ▪ Step 4 — Treatment plan establishment: Drug prescription and management direction determined according to causative organism type and presence of underlying disease ▪ Step 5 — Follow-up management: Treatment response confirmation and periodic recheck for recurrence prevention
The 24H UN animal medical center operates 365 days, 24 hours with emergency response and internal medicine/surgery consultation systems, so even if ear symptoms worsen at night or on weekends, you can visit for diagnosis.
My dog's ear scratching, is it a signal to go to the hospital right away?
Not all ear scratching is an immediate emergency. However, if any of the following items apply, it is safe to visit as soon as possible.
Signals where immediate visit is recommended ▪ Ear scratching and head hair loss have been repeated for 2 weeks or more ▪ Foul odor or brown/yellow discharge is observed from the ear ▪ The ear opening or ear flap is noticeably swollen or has redness ▪ The head is tilted to one side with loss of balance, or symptoms of rapid eye movement (nystagmus) are accompanied ▪ Hearing appears to be reduced as if the response has become dull ▪ When touching the ear, the dog shows severe pain or aggressive reaction
Cases where observation is possible ▪ Ear scratching occurs 1-2 times per day in a temporary manner, with no discharge or odor
If otitis externa is left untreated and progresses to otitis media/interna, related clinical data explains that serious complications such as facial paralysis, hearing loss, and circling behavior may occur. As the problem in the external ear penetrates deeper, treatment duration and difficulty increase.
Additionally, according to clinical data, dog breeds with drooping ears (Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, Poodle, Maltese, etc.) have even more unfavorable ear canal ventilation and tend to be more vulnerable to otitis externa, and dogs with allergic dermatitis often have accompanying ear problems. For these breeds and pets with underlying conditions, more active consideration of regular ear examinations is needed (individual differences exist).
For those looking for an animal hospital in Nam-gu, Busan, those searching for an animal hospital in Suyeong-gu or otitis externa animal hospital in Haeundae can all visit the 24H UN animal medical center. Located in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, it is conveniently accessible from nearby areas.
The more ear scratching repeats, the longer the treatment period becomes
The 24H UN animal medical center in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan has been open 365 days, 24 hours since its opening in 2016, and for dogs visiting with ear symptoms, internal medicine specialist medical staff provide systematic diagnosis and establish treatment plans together with caregivers through sufficient communication.
According to veterinary guide data (petcare-ai.com), bacterial and yeast infections often require repeated examinations over 2-4 weeks, chronic ears require management lasting several months or more, and some individuals require lifelong management systems. The more accurately you identify the cause and complete treatment in the early stages, the more you can reduce recurrence cycles and lower management burden in the future.
Otitis externa can progress to chronic otitis externa if treatment is arbitrarily discontinued or neglected even if symptoms are mild. Since pets cannot express discomfort in words, it is important for caregivers to first recognize the signal of repeated ear scratching. If ear symptoms persist, please contact the 24H UN animal medical center now to schedule a diagnosis.
Otitis externa, what caregivers must know
Q1. During otitis externa treatment, symptoms have disappeared, but should I continue using medicine?
Even if symptoms appear to improve, the principle is to maintain the treatment period instructed by the veterinarian to completion. Even if visible symptoms disappear, the causative organism in the ear canal often is not completely eliminated, and if you arbitrarily stop medication midway, remaining bacteria may proliferate again, causing recurrence or developing resistance. Treatment progress must always be determined through veterinarian confirmation.
Q2. Is it okay to clean my dog's ears directly at home?
Using a veterinarian-prescribed ear cleanser with the correct method is possible, but inserting cotton swabs deep into the ear canal can irritate the ear canal mucous membrane or push secretions deeper, worsening the condition, so caution is needed. Cleaning method and frequency should always be confirmed with your veterinarian first before following.
Q3. If my dog's otitis externa keeps recurring, could there be another disease?
If otitis externa recurs chronically, there is a possibility that underlying diseases such as allergy/atopy, hypothyroidism, or Cushing's disease are acting as causes. According to Health Trend data, allergy testing or hormone testing together is recommended in recurrent otitis externa patients. If the underlying disease is not resolved, it may be difficult to prevent recurrence with just otitis externa treatment alone.
Results may vary depending on individual and individual circumstances