Introducing Izzi…

Izzi is a very sweet 3 year old cocker spaniel.  From the outside she looks like a normal canine companion.  In March of 2011, she had surgery to have her ear canal removed.  She had a very persistent infection that caused irreversible damage to her ear. The tissue in the ear canal actually started to turn into bone and was very painful.    She still has the outside of her ear so she looks normal, but the inside of the ear is no longer there.

The canine ear is made of three main parts, the external ear, middle ear, and inner ear.  Ear infections can affect any part of the ear.  Different signs can occur when different areas are affected.   When the ear is chronically infected, like with Izzi, the canal can become thickened and calcify.  The ear canal is “L” shaped making it difficult for fluid to drain or for air flow in and out of the canal.  When the canal becomes inflamed or thickened it is even more difficult.  Ear infections can affect any dog but they can be very common in specific breeds, like cocker spaniels.

The surgery to remove the canal is called an “ear canal ablation and bulla osteotomy”.  This procedure removes the entire diseased ear canal.   The middle ear, or bulla, is opened up in order to remove infected tissue in the middle ear.   The surgical area is sutured closed to heal.  After the surgical area has healed, there is not an opening to the ear.  The ear “flap” is still there just covering skin instead of an opening.  This type of surgery is successful in resolving pain and discomfort from the ear in 90-95% of cases.

Owners of specific breeds, like cocker spaniels, or dogs with allergies, should be extra prepared for ear problems.  If an infection is present it should be treated promptly to prevent inflammation or thickening of the canal.  When your pet is at our office for an exam, it is routine for our doctors to check your pet’s ears for any sign of infection.  

We love having Izzi visit us at Hoffman Estates Animal Hospital! She may have lost her ear canal but she didn’t lose her sweet personality.

-Tammy Burkon, CVT