Ear infections are among the most common and painful conditions in dogs, often becoming chronic in breeds predisposed to ear problems.
Chronic ear infections represent a hidden welfare burden for many dogs. The pain from active ear infections is significant - otitis causes intense itching and pain that disrupts sleep, concentration, and normal behavior. Dogs with chronic infections may scratch their ears to bleeding, shake their heads constantly, and become touch-sensitive around the head. Yet because dogs often mask pain, owners may not recognize the severity of their animal's discomfort. The tragedy of chronic otitis is that many cases are driven by underlying allergic conditions that receive inadequate diagnosis and treatment - owners and sometimes vets address each flare with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories without investigating the underlying allergy that makes the ears susceptible to recurrent infection.