Chronic Dog Ear Infections Can End in Surgery
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Veterinarians in Hong Kong are warning that repeated ear infections in dogs should not be dismissed as a minor nuisance. Once inflammation becomes chronic, the ear canal can thicken, narrow and even calcify, making routine ear drops ineffective and leaving surgery as the only option
Key Points
- The CityU Veterinary Medical Centre column said dogs often present with frequent head shaking, ear scratching, bad odour and discharge that improve with drops but keep returning
- A dog's ear canal is long and L-shaped, allowing moisture and wax to collect easily; repeated inflammation can gradually make the canal thicker and narrower
- The report said allergies are often an underlying cause, and breeds commonly affected include poodles, cocker spaniels and bulldogs
- Acute otitis externa can usually be treated with topical medication, but chronic disease may cause irreversible canal changes and, in severe cases, near-complete blockage
- In advanced cases, total ear canal ablation with bulla osteotomy, or TECA-BO, may be the only option; one six-year-old poodle with four to five years of bilateral ear inflammation improved markedly after surgery
Why It Matters
For pet owners in Hong Kong, the warning is that delaying treatment can turn a manageable ear problem into chronic pain, balance problems and invasive surgery. The advice also underscores that home care alone is not enough when recurrent infections may be driven by unresolved allergies or structural ear damage