Understanding Pet Ear Infections
For many pet parents frequent and recurring ear infections are a considerable source of stress. At Pet Health, we find that thoroughly educating pet parents regarding ear infections (otitis externa) helps them better control the factors which worsen or predispose their pets to infection, making the condition more easily managed and prevented.
Predisposing Factors
Certain factors make it more difficult for your pet to recover from an ear infection, thus perpetuating the illness. These perpetuating factors include:
- Yeast and/or bacterial infections
- Inflammation of the middle ear, in addition to the outer ear
- Permanent changes to the structure of the ear canal, such as scarring, swelling, and calcification
Primary Causes
Ear infections occur when the ear canal becomes painfully inflamed. The primary causes of the inflammation associated with ear infections include:
- Parasites: mites and/or ticks
- Foreign bodies
- Plant material
- Allergies, inflammation caused either by environmental or food allergies
Allergies tend to be the most common cause of ear infections. To address a dog’s ear infection, the exact cause must be determined and treated.
Perpetuating Factors
Certain factors make it more difficult for your pet to recover from an ear infection, thus perpetuating the illness. These perpetuating factors include:
- Yeast and/or bacterial infections
- Inflammation of the middle ear, in addition to the outer ear
- Permanent changes to the structure of the ear canal, such as scarring, swelling, and calcification
Ear Infection Diagnosis and Treatment
A Pet Health professional will help you determine the root cause of your pet’s trouble with ear infections. Using a swab test to determine the potential presence of a bacterial or fungal infection, we will determine a proper treatment. Once the initial infection has been cleared, we will work with you to prevent future complications with lifestyle adjustments to mitigate predisposing factors and treatments to manage primary causes.
– Missie A.
Pet Health Hospital is a life saver. My poor cat was attacked by another cat and developed a terrible abscess on her little head. Dr. Pizzillo was the attending veterinarian who treated my BabyGir!!. She was able to get the situation under control before it became more serious. Dr. Pizzillo is compassionate and caring. She has a very calming way about her and put my worries at ease. The entire staff is very professional and welcoming. I am going to recommend Pet Health Hospital to anyone needing an excellent veterinarian. Thank you to all of you!!!!
– Jennifer C.
Pet Health has been a wonderful health care service for our baby – Gracie. She has a very serious health issue arise – and Dr. Lewis texted on a regular basis to check on her, to see how things were progressing and to see if we needed any help. I am very grateful for their genuine love and concern for our dog. thank you!
– Mee F.
Love this vet! Clean and high tech! The entire staff was friendly and so loving to my dog! First time here and I have already recommended this place to all my friends! The vet even followed up with us as she said she would on the urine test.
– Adrian W.
Great place. We’ve been to many vets throughout our dogs 7 years life span. This is the best place we’ve been to so far. Dr. Renee Lewis has a great presence and our dog was surprisingly extremely calm around her (he like every other dog, don’t like vets..).
This clinic is not very pushy wanting to do ‘extra’ work to create a larger bill.
Dr. Lewis also showed that she really cared and took her time to get to know our dog, and explaining everything after the surgery.
I’m done with Veterinaries that only cares about profit and rush through the consultation because they’re overbooked!
The staff here are also very friendly and helpful. They made us feel welcome!
I highly recommend this place!
– Sarah W.
Pet Health Animal Hospital is simply amazing. We found Dr. B and his team shortly after adopting our first dog. Being new to the area, we were concerned with finding the right vet that cared about our dog as much as we did. Lucky enough, we walked right into the perfect vet. From overnight stays to surgeries, Dr B and his team make us feel so comfortable, put any concern at ease, and are masters of communication. There is never a question left unanswered, or an update left undelivered. The whole team knows our dogs when we walk in, and our dogs are always excited and sprinting to get into the vet to see them. I tell people all the time that my favorite part of living in Las Vegas is Pet Health Animal Hospital!
– Andrew G.
The doctors and assistants do an amazing job here. I wasn’t sure what to do with my Sasha so I brought her in fearing the worst. Dr. Jessica Pizzillo was simply the best. She was able to remove the growth the same day and at a fraction of the cost of other estimates I had received, all while putting my Sasha through the least amount of trauma possible.
The front desk staff was also very kind and understanding when it comes to stressful situations like this. Stephanie and the rest of the staff made me feel comfortable and were very professional.
– Scott H.
Absolutely incredible vet! The level of service and attention is the best I’ve ever experienced anywhere.