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Saturday, April 18, 2020 Causes and treatment of ear infections in pets By Andrine Belliveau DVM In the spring and summer, one of the most common questions veterinarians are asked is “Why did my pet get an ear infection again?” Unfortunately, recurrent ear infections are one of the most common health issues in dogs. The ear is made up of 3 parts – the outer, middle, and inner ear. Usually an ear infection refers to an infection of the outer canal. Occasionally, a severe outer ear infection can rupture the eardrum and cause a middle ear infection. All ears have low levels of yeast and bacteria in them normally – they are organisms that help “clean up” any debris that makes its way into the ear. When the bacterial or yeast population suddenly increases, an infection is the result. We can see recurrent ear infections for a number of reasons. Dogs that like to swim tend to collect a lot of water in their ears. If this is not cleaned/dried out regularly, it provides a perfect environment for organisms to grow. Dogs with hair in their ears (e.g. poodles) tend to collect too much debris. The hair does not allow debris to escape easily, providing too much food for the organisms in the ear and resulting in an infection. An easy prevention for this type of infection is to have your dog’s ears “plucked” when they are groomed to remove the excess hair. The most common cause of recurrent ear infections is allergies. Studies have shown that approximately 25% of dog with allergies show only recurrent ear infections as a sign. Dogs and cats can have food allergies, or environmental allergies such as dust mites and pollen. If allergies are suspected as an underlying cause to your pet’s ear infection, we may talk to you about allergy testing, diet trials (to see if we have an allergy to a particular ingredient), or medication to manage the allergies long term. In cats, a very common cause of ear infections is the ear mite. Although many dog owners suspect mites, this is actually a relatively uncommon cause of infection in dogs. The key to treatment for ear mites to treat all affected pets in the house at once – otherwise it will continue to cycle through the household. An ear infection can be diagnosed with a physical examination at the vet. We often will perform cytology with ear swabs to see if the cause is mostly bacterial, mostly yeast, or both, so we are able to select the right type of medication to treat the infection. Although ear infections cannot always be prevented, the frequency of infections in problem pets (dogs that swim, or pets with allergies) can often be decreased by cleaning the ears frequently. There are a number of ear cleaners for specific issues – such as yeast overgrowth. To treat an infection, pets will be sent home with once or twice daily topical medications or receive an in-hospital “pack” treatment for a dog that is difficult to medicate at home. Posted by The Windham Eagle at 9:52 AM No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Labels: 2020 , Andrine Belliveau , causes , ear care , Lake Region Animal Hospital , Pet care , Raymond , The Windham Eagle , treatments , Windham Participation in local issues can make a difference for your community and your own success By Lorraine Glowczak What do State Representatives, a President of the local Chamber of Commerce, a Town Councilor and a Recreation Director have in common? They all volunteered and were active in community issues they deemed important. Additionally, it was those very experiences that propelled them forward to the successful life they are currently living. Zack Conley was just 22 years old when he was elected as the President by the board members of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. “It was just a little over a year ago when I became a Financial Representative at Modern Woodman and I was advised to become a part of the chamber as a way to succeed in my business. I joined the chamber, met many successful movers and shakers and not only has my business taken off, but so has my networking with others and meeting so many amazing people who have contributed to my success,” explained Conley in an interview in October, 2018. N ow here he is, two years later and still going strong. His business continues to blossom, and he remains the youngest chamber President in Maine today. It is a well-known fact that active participation in local issues and volunteering your time enriches the life of others, while at the same time deepens your own experiences. Volunteering counteracts anxiety and depression, creates a certain level of happiness, provides a sense of purpose, and builds self-confidence. Also, getting involved helps one succeed personally with their goals and careers. In fact, there are a multitude of examples right here among us in the Raymond and Windham communities. We reached out to some other local “movers and shakers” to share their stories with us including Raymond’s new Parks and Recreation Director, Joseph (Joe) Crocker. Crocker began his career quite by accident. Fifteen years ago, he volunteered as a basketball travel coach for the Saco Recreation Department. “I enjoyed that experience so much that I came back and worked as a Camp Counselor during the summer months while in college working on my bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science,” he said. “The experience opened the door for me and it seemed things snowballed from there.” Crocker eventually obtained his master’s degree in business administration for Parks and Recreation Management. He continued to volunteer in various compacities while working in a variety of positions in his chosen field. His latest volunteering efforts included being a part of assisting a newly established committee for the Windham Parks and Recreation’s work on a possible new recreation building. “Public service and being involved can lead to so many opportunities…. opportunities you would never imagine. Fifteen years ago, I never once thought I would be where I am today.” Public service is what prompted Jarrod Maxfield to become involved in the community and his story is an example of the unexpected aspects of volunteering. Currently a Chair and Councilman for the Town of Windham, Maxfield began his career in politics as a result of streetlights. “In 2012 or 2013, there was a concern about the number of streetlights that would be turned off due to cost and energy efficiency,” Maxfield began. “This was a controversial issue and I had my own concerns about it, so I decided to join and volunteer with the town appointed Energy Conservation Committee. I wanted to be involved in something that I believed was important.” It was never Maxfield’s intention to enter politics at that point; he simply wanted to advocate and support an effort he believed crucial. Much like Crocker’s experience, things just snowballed from there, and he decided to run for an empty seat on the Town Council and won. “I never once thought that when I sat on the Energy Conservation Committee recommending to the Council to install cost effective and energy efficient LED streetlights that I would be the one who would actually vote and approve that very recommendation as a newly elected member of the Council.” The Town of Windham’s streets are now lined with LED streetlamps, saving the town money and making a positive impact on the environmental footprint. If one is actively pursuing politics as a career option, read on about State Representatives Jess Fay, Patrick Corey and Mark Bryant sharing their stories on how civic participation and volunteerism played a role in their current positions. Rep. Bryant of Windham, who came from a civically active and politically diverse family of three sisters, six brothers and two parents, saw firsthand how active participation in community efforts make a difference in the lives of others and self. “My father was the Head Selectmen of the Town of Canton and was the town’s Fire Chief while my moth...