Sometimes certain medical conditions make your pet more susceptible to ear infections and may be responsible for repeated infections. Identifying, or ruling out, these underlying problems is extremely important in treating dogs with recurrent or chronic ear disease. Failing to treat the underlying cause is the root of many treatment failures we see.
- Allergies – both inhalant allergies (atopy) and food allergies
- Hypothyroidism, Cushing’s Disease and other endocrine disorders
- Foreign material trapped deep in the ear canal or middle ear
- Growths, polyps and tumors in the ear canal
- Resistant bacterial or yeast infections (often caused by the overuse of ineffective medications)
- Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Aids (FIV) infections in cats
- Autoimmune diseases including Lupus
- Ear mites (usually seen in young kittens)