Dog ear infection complications: ruptured tympanic membrane

Dog ear infections can be very severe if neglected or treated incorrectlly.  For this reason you should always take your dog to the vet to have his ear checked thoroughly.  In some severe dog ear infections the eardrum (tympanic membrane) can rupture, resulting in spread of the infection into the middle ear.  This sounds painful and messy: it is.

Here are some great photos of the difference between a normal and a ruptured ear drum from a case study by the University of Pennsylvania Vet School

Dog Ear Vet

Read more about canine otitis externa

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Walnut went for an ear flush guided by a video otoscope under general anesthesia 2 weeks later.  The picture below on the left is of her tympanic membrane, which was ruptured in both ears.  Compare it to a normal canine ear drum seen on the right.  Both ears were flushed, along with the tympanic bullae, and bilateral middle ear cultures were taken for culture and sensitivity testing.                                               Walnut’s left tympanic membrane, ruptured due to severe otitis                                                           Normal canine tympanic membrane                                    externa leading to otitis media                             Future Treatment Plan: Continue oral antibiotics for an additional 8 weeks (change if necessary based on culture and sensitivity from the middle ear) combined with topical treatment of both ears .  If sensitivity reveals no effective oral antibiotic, treat via topical therapy alone for one month past resolution of external canal inflammation and negative cytology.  Click on the button below to see results of Culture and Sensitivitiy from the middle ear.                                                                                                Walnut was treated with oral marbofloxacin 5mg/kg SID (based on culture & sensitivity testing)  for 8 weeks post video otoscopic ear flush.  Her topical regimen included:                     Epiotic (acidifying/drying cleanser) – clean both ears every other day.                     Silver Sulfadiazine (1%) – apply 1cc to both ears twice daily.  Walnut’s otitis required 4 total months of therapy for complete resolution.  At the end of treatment, Walnut’s tympanic membranes had regenerated. Intradermal Allergy Testing (IDAT) was planned to definitively diagnose Atopy as the underlying cause of Walnut’s dermatological problems. The test will be performed in October (end of pollen season) to maximize positive allergen reactions. Â