Pet Ear Infections: Causes, Treatment & What Every Pet Owner Should Know

This week on Dr. Molly Says, I’m BACK!! And we’re talking about one of the most common things I see in veterinary practice… ear infections.From the head shaking and funky smells to the mystery ear gunk, I’m breaking down what’s actually happening inside your pet’s ears, why these infections keep coming back, and why treating the infection itself isn’t always enough.We get into yeast vs. bacterial infections, how allergies can play a HUGE role, and why I always want to know what’s causing the problem in the first place. Because if your dog keeps getting ear infections over and over again, there might be more going on than meets the eye.We also get into:* Yeast vs. bacteria and why figuring out the difference matters* What your vet is looking for during an ear exam* When ear infections can affect hearing, balance, and more* How often you should actually be cleaning your pet’s earsPLUS: a little ear anatomy, some truly gross microscope discoveries, and a reminder that our pets can’t exactly tell us when their ears hurt… so it’s up to us to pay attention.The Dr. Molly Says podcast is BACK, and we’re here every week! Have questions or a topic you want me to cover? Send them my way.LOVE YOU GUYS 💛Timestamps:00:00 Welcome Back to Dr. Molly Says!00:39 Opening The Local Vets & Returning to the Podcast04:09 Why Dog & Cat Ear Infections Are So Common04:35 Understanding Dog & Cat Ear Anatomy08:37 What Is Otitis Externa?10:17 Signs Your Pet Might Have an Ear Infection11:32 Yeast vs. Bacterial Ear Infections14:06 Foreign Objects, Ear Canal Growths & Eardrum Damage16:27 Why Your Dog Keeps Getting Ear Infections19:13 Why Ear Infections Are Painful22:49 Choosing the Right Treatment for an Ear Infection25:49 Why Your Pet Needs an Ear Infection Recheck26:49 Allergies & Other Underlying Causes of Ear Infections28:06 Ear Problems in Cats & Ear Polyps28:51 Ear Mites: What Pet Owners Should Know30:35 Ear Hematomas: Why Head Shaking Can Cause Swelling34:35 Deep Ear Infections & Problems With Balance and Hearing36:22 How Often Should You Clean Your Dog’s or Cat’s Ears?38:06 Ear Cleaning Products You Should Avoid38:40 Should You Pluck Your Dog’s Ear Hair?39:44 Can Ear Infections Go Away on Their Own?40:29 SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!!!---------------------------------------------------------------Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple:https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028---------------------------------------------------------------Follow Dr. Molly:Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysaysTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysaysFollow the podcast:Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod---------------------------------------------------------------