Chronic ear infections in your pet are due to the underlying cause of the ear infection not being treated. Ear infections are commonly caused by environmental, food or flea allergies. Other less common causes of ear infections are endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism, polyps, a foreign body, or tumor in the ear canal (these are normally only seen if there is one ear that has a persistent ear infection) or mites of the ears.  
Some dogs have bacterial resistance to the prescribed medication. Your veterinarian can perform an ear cytology or ear culture to narrow down the best medication for your pet.  
It’s important to understand that to end the cycle of chronic ear infections, the primary (underlying) reason needs to be addressed.  The symptoms of dogs with allergies are biting or licking the paws, scratching or rubbing the ears, biting near their butt and/or chronic anal gland issues. Dermatologists recommend that dogs with allergies receive monthly flea prevention and bathing your dog once weekly with a gentle shampoo to wash off the environmental allergens. To ensure you do not get water in your pet’s ears with chronic ear infections, you can bathe from the neck down. Historically, the only solution for dogs with chronic allergies was steroids. Today there are safer and more effective allergy medications that your veterinarian can prescribe. You can also ask your veterinarian about trying a food diet trail and which is the best food for your pet with allergies.  
 For more information about No Place Like Home email us at dramelia@noplacelikehome.vet or call/text 818-400-1986. 
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