Ear ChecksOur hospital offers thorough Ear Exams as one of our
many extensive Dermatology Services. Conditions of the ears can
be extremely uncomfortable and even painful. Symptoms like head
shaking, scratching and pawing at the ears, rubbing the ears on
the floor or furniture, whining, and abnormal odors are common.
Conditions of the ear occur frequently in dogs and cats and
result from a variety of causes. Determining these causes is
vital to the long term resolution of the symptoms. As with any
other health issue, gathering a detailed history and performing
a full examination of the patient are critical. Careful
examination of the ear with an otoscope, visualizing the full
length of the ear canal and the ear drum, provides information
important to the diagnosis. Pain is common in ear disease and
some patients will require sedation or anesthesia to be properly
evaluated. Additional diagnostic tests are often warranted.
Gathering samples to check for mites, inflammation, bacteria and
yeast is a common first