Head shaking, scratching at one ear, a sour smell, or brown discharge are some of the most common reasons dogs come in for a sick visit. Ear infections are uncomfortable, and when they are not fully cleared, they tend to come back again and again.
At Montclair Veterinary Associates, we look at a sample from your dog’s ear under the microscope right here in our clinic. That tells us whether we are dealing with yeast, bacteria, mites, or a mix, so treatment matches the cause from the first visit.
Dogs with floppy ears, like Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds, and dogs that swim often are more prone to ear infections. So are dogs with allergies. If your dog’s ears flare up every few months, an underlying dog allergy is often the reason the infection keeps coming back.
Avoid putting over-the-counter drops or cleaners into an ear that looks red and painful until a vet has checked it. If the eardrum is damaged, some products can make things worse.
Treating an ear infection without knowing what is causing it is a guess. Our approach is built around finding the cause first.
Stopping treatment as soon as your dog seems better is one of the main reasons ear infections return. Finishing the full course and coming back for the recheck matters.
Once the current infection is cleared, the goal is to keep it from coming back. For many dogs, that means:
If ear infections keep returning despite good home care, we may recommend allergy testing to find what is driving the inflammation.
Dr. Cory Waxman has treated pets across Northern New Jersey since 2011, and ear infections are one of the problems we see most often. Because cytology is done in our own lab, we can look at your dog’s ear sample during the visit instead of waiting on an outside lab.
Call us at (973) 321-7229 or use our contact form to book a visit.
Ear cytology means taking a gentle swab from your dog’s ear and looking at it under the microscope. It shows whether yeast, bacteria, or mites are causing the infection, so we can pick the right medication. We do it in our own in-house lab.
Repeat infections usually have an underlying cause, such as allergies, floppy ears that trap moisture, or frequent swimming. They also come back when treatment is stopped early. If your dog’s infections keep returning, we look for that underlying cause, which can include allergy testing.
Avoid putting over-the-counter drops or cleaners into an ear that looks red and painful until a vet has checked it. If the eardrum is damaged, some products can make things worse. Once the infection is cleared, regular cleaning at home on a schedule we set can help prevent the next one.
Usually not, but it should be seen soon. Call us promptly if your dog has a lot of pain or swelling, a head tilt, or trouble with balance. Ear infections are easier to clear when they are treated early.
Many ear infections improve within a week or two of the right treatment. Deeper or long-standing infections can take longer. A recheck visit tells us whether the infection is fully gone, not just quieter.
