For all practical purposes, ear infections fall into four categories: yeast infection, bacterial infection, allergies or a combination of the three.
Optimally, the veterinarian will culture the discharge in the ear or at least do a swab of the ear and examine that swab under the microscope to determine the exact cause. However, there are times when this isn't possible due to financial restraints or other issues.
So, we often use a "shotgun" approach....a medication that will treat both yeast and bacteria along with a corticosteroid to decrease the inflammation in the ear secondary to allergies. In addition, if the doctor determines that allergies are the underlying cause, injections or oral meds may be used to treat that problem.
Ear infections should not be ignored nor should they be treated with over the counter stuff either. This can make things much more complicated and expensive once the dog gets to professional help. Chronic ear infections can cause loss of hearing, disfigurement, and expensive surgery if ignored.
There are a myriad of combination products available for ear infections in dogs and your veterinarian will know the ones that work best in your area.
So, if you see head-shaking, a foul-odor from your dog's ears, or a serious discharge, a visit to the vet is in order.
