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Treatment

If ear infection is severe and debilitating, your dog may be kept in hospital for treatment, and also will need to be assessed for possible neurologic symptoms. Stable patients can be treated at home, often via medication (e.g., antimicrobials to fight bacterial infection).

Most bacterial infections will resolve with early aggressive antibiotic therapy, and will not recur. However, if there are frequent relapses, surgical drainage may be necessary.

Living and Management

Your pet will need to be evaluated for resolution of symptoms for approximately two weeks after treatment.

Prevention

Routine ear cleaning may reduce chances of infection. Be warned, however, that too frequent and overly vigorous inner ear washes may be damaging to the inner ear. Your veterinarian will determine and advise you on proper care procedure for your dog.