Eyes/Ears/Skin

Your dog’s ears are an extension of your pet’s skin. The dog’s ear canal is divided into 3 sections: 1) the L-shaped external ear canal extends from the outside to the ear drum, 2) behind the ear drum lays themiddle ear (tympanic cavity), and lastly, 3) the inner ear. In contrast to people, the majority of ear problems in dogs occur in the external ear canal. Inflammation of the external ear canal, commonly caused by allergies, may result in bacterial and/or yeast infections. Left untreated, these infections may extend into the middle and inner ear cavities, causing loss of hearing and balance. 

Your pet’s ear is shaped like the letter L. The portion you can see from the outside (vertical canal) is only half of the ear canal. The vertical canal angles into the horizontal canal, which ends at the ear drum (tympanic membrane). Otitis externa refers to inflammation of the external ear canal caused by: ear mites, allergies, foreign bodies, and infections to name a few. Pets with otitis externa may shake their head, show pain when pet near their ear, head shaking/rubbing, redness within ear canal, and odor. Some dogs with otitis externa show no symptoms and the infection is found incidentally on examination by the groomer or veterinarian. Physical examination is necessary to examine the ear canal and determine the extent of the inflammation. Your veterinarian will obtain a sample of the discharge from the ear to evaluate for the presence of bacteria, yeast, and mites. Most cases of otitis externa are treated with an ear cleaner, to remove inflammatory debris, and a topical medication to resolve the infection. Recheck examinations are important to ensure that the infection has completely resolved. Unresolved infections may break through the ear drum and progress to a middle ear infection. 

Anatomically, the ear canal is divided into three sections: external, middle, and inner portions. Otitis media refers to inflammation of the middle portion of the ear. Unlike in people, otitis media in dogs and cats commonly occurs as an extension of an external ear infection. Unresolved external ear infections break through the ear drum, pushing the infection into the depths of the middle ear. Pets with otitis media develop excessive waxy and or pus-filled discharge, odor, hearing loss, and pain around their ears; they may shake their head or rub their ears. Diagnosis of otitis media begins with a close inspection of the ear canal using an illuminated otoscope. Large amounts of discharge, infection or the presence of a foreign body may preclude diagnosis until the debris can be removed. Otitis media is a painful condition; deep sedation and/or general anesthesia may be required for visualization of the deeper portions of the ear to make a definitive diagnosis. Treatment of otitis media must address the infection (topical and oral antibiotics and/or antifungal medications), inflammation (cleaning the ears of debris and anti-inflammatory medications), and underlying causes (e.g.: hypothyroidism, allergies, and foreign bodies). Pets with severe or non-responsive otitis media may require imaging (e.g.: x-rays or CT scan) to determine the full extent of the disease. Resolution of severe infections often necessitates surgery to mechanically remove the infection or tumor. Frequent recheck examinations ensure that the infection resolves completely. Your veterinarian will discuss strategies with you to prevent recurrence. 

Your dog’s eyes allow perception of colors, forms, and depth. Their eyes are specially adapted to see well in the dark due to the presence of a tapetum. You can see the yellow-green reflective layer of the tapetum when you shine a light in your dog’s eye in the dark. A dog’s eye is a complex organ that offers a window into the rest of the body. When looking inside the eye with specialized equipment, your veterinarian sees blood vessels, nerves, and lymphoid tissue that cannot be seen in other areas of the body from the outside. Inspection of the inner layers of your dog’s eye reveals whether the cause of the red eye indicates a local problem, (such as conjunctivitis or glaucoma) or a systemic problem (such as retinal bleeding caused by an elevated systemic blood pressure). 

Corneal ulceration refers to a breakdown in the surface of the cornea (clear membrane that encapsulates the front of the eye). Trauma to the eye is the most common cause of ulceration to the cornea. Other causes include: viral infections (e.g.: Herpesvirus in cats), bacterial infections, abnormal eyelash growth, allergies, and medications. Pets with a corneal ulcer tear excessively, squint, and blink their eyelids often. Diagnosis of a corneal ulcer requires a special stain to highlight the ulcer and determine the extent of its border. Corneal ulcers are treated with antibiotic drops; some pets may also need drops to decrease the inflammation within the eye. Severe ulcerations require surgery to repair the defect and prevent corneal rupture. Corneal ulcerations must be monitored closely with frequent recheck examinations to ensure resolution. Part of any therapy for corneal ulceration must also address the primary cause of the ulcer to prevent recurrence. 

The eyelids protect the eyes from trauma and prevent drying. The term entropion describes eyelids that roll in towards the eye. This painful condition causes the lashes and haired skin of the lid to rub against the surface of the eye (cornea) causing inflammation and ulceration. Entropion can be congenital (born with) or acquired. Breeds commonly affected (e.g.: Shar Peis, Saint Bernards) by congenital entropion typically have large skin folds on their face or have short faces. Acquired entropion may occur with obesity, ocular inflammation (e.g.: allergies), and swelling due to trauma. Dogs suffering from entropion may have ocular discharge (watery, pus), squinting, itchiness, and pain. Left untreated, entropion causes chronic pain and may lead to permanent damage to the cornea and blindness. Young dogs with congenital entropion may be treated medically with lubrication drops to see if they grow out of the condition. Severe cases of entropion in young dogs may require surgery to temporarily pull the lids away from the cornea. Final correction of the entropion is not done until your pet is fully grown. Treatment of acquired entropion focuses on addressing the underlying cause, such as weight loss and allergy relief.