Ear disease is among the most common reasons for veterinary visits in dogs, causing significant pain that is often chronic and undertreated before owners recognize the problem.
Chronic ear disease causes persistent, significant pain that many dog owners under-recognize because dogs continue eating and moving despite discomfort. The stoic presentation of ear pain in dogs — shaking heads and scratching ears rather than vocalizing — can lead owners to view it as a minor issue. Untreated chronic otitis progresses to middle ear disease that is more painful and more difficult to treat. The welfare priority is early detection and treatment, management of predisposing allergies, and appropriate preventive care to interrupt the cycle of recurrent infection that causes progressive welfare deterioration.