Ear Infections Inside and Out

Common ear infections in children and dogs are different problems

Even though veterinarians and pediatricians both use the term “ear infection”, they aren’t referring to the exact same condition. Not all doctors are great at explaining exactly what is happening inside your dog, or child's ear.

There are ear infections, and then there are ear infections. My baby had an ear infection recently. I was shocked! There was no black debris in her ears. She didn’t shake her head, or have smelly ears like my dog did with his ear infection. Why would they say she had an infection without any of these symptoms?

I didn’t really think that, but it did get me wondering. The pediatrician made her diagnosis by looking in my baby's ears, just like veterinarians do for dogs and cats. Yet I know that unlike dogs, who most commonly get external ear infections, or otitis externa, children usually get middle ear infections (otitis media). If the infection wasn’t in the actual ear canal, what was the doctor seeing in my child's ear to diagnose the infection?

Dog ear infections can be caused by a number of factors: water getting trapped in the dog's ears from bathing or swimming, allergies, or foreign objects (like foxtails) to name a few. Some dog breeds may be more prone to developing infections due to differences in ear anatomy. Deep ear canals and large floppy earflaps can trap moisture and provide a perfect little breeding ground for bacteria or yeasts.

When the veterinarian looks into a dog or cat ear, they aren’t just looking at the debris. They are looking at the skin inside the canal, at the eardrum, and to see if there are any foreign objects present. Then they may take a swab sample from the dog's ear canal and examine it under the microscope. Treatment will depend on what type infections they find, but will usually involve an ear wash and a topical ear ointment. Oral antibiotics and steroids may be used for severe infections.

For babies and children the ear infection isn’t usually in the ear canal, it’s in the middle ear behind the eardrum. When human children get an external ear infection, it's called ‘swimmer’s ear’. When the pediatrician looks into a child’s ear they may see a bulging or inflamed eardrum. Puss may be visible through the eardrum as well. The child may pull or rub their ears, but mine did not. Frequently babies will run a fever.

Anatomy comes into play for the babies too. Their ears are not yet fully developed, and the Eustachian tubes (sometimes called auditory tubes) are short and lay more horizontal than those of an adult. Any bacteria or fluid that makes it into the Eustachian tubes of an adult normally drain right back out again when they yawn or swallow. In a baby, it’s easy for the fluid to get trapped, especially if the child has recently had a cold or other infection that caused the tubes to swell a little.

Some doctors will give oral antibiotics to a child for an ear infection, some will not. Topical medication wouldn’t be effective since the infection is on the inside of the baby's eardrum where the medication wouldn't reach it.

Babies and dogs can also get inner ear infection which affects balance and hearing. This can be more serious condition, but fortunately, is also much more rare both in dogs and children.

Regardless if it's your child or your dog (or both) that has the infection, you should make sure to follow the instructions from their doctor in order to clear it up. Understanding what is happening inside that infected ear will help you understand and follow through with any treatment prescribed.