Ear Infection Treatment in Fishers, IN, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Fishers is a vet in Fishers, IN, that treats ear infections in dogs and cats. An ear infection is swelling and infection of the ear canal, usually from bacteria, yeast or ear mites. Most can be treated at home with medicine after one visit.

Ears that stay infected can damage the ear drum, so don't wait if your pet is shaking their head a lot.

Call (463) 208-4426, book online, or walk in for a same-day visit.

How can I tell if my pet has an ear infection?

• Shaking the head or tilting it to one side

• Scratching or rubbing the ear on the floor

• A bad smell from the ear

• Brown, yellow or black discharge

• A red, swollen or warm ear flap

• Crying when the ear is touched

• In cats: dark, coffee-ground debris, which often means ear mites

A puffy, soft ear flap can be an ear hematoma, a blood blister caused by hard shaking. That needs a vet too.

What causes ear infections in dogs?

Most dog ear infections have something underneath. Allergies are the most common driver: itchy skin inside the ear lets bacteria and yeast grow. Moisture after swimming, floppy ears, hairy canals, and things stuck in the ear like grass seeds also play a part. Across Petfolk, ear problems made up 9 to 10% of sick visits in every month of the year (Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026). If ear infections keep coming back, the vet at Petfolk Fishers will look for the root cause, often an allergy.

What happens at the ear visit?

1. A look inside: the vet uses an otoscope, a lighted scope, to check the canal and the ear drum.

2. Ear cytology: a swab of debris is checked under a microscope to see if it's bacteria, yeast, or mites. That decides the medicine.

3. Cleaning: if the ear isn't too sore, the team cleans it so medicine can reach the skin.

4. Medicine: usually ear drops for 1 to 2 weeks, and sometimes pills for pain or swelling.

5. Recheck: the vet may want to look again to make sure it's fully clear.

You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Gentle with sore ears

Sore ears make even calm pets jumpy. Fear Free and gentle handling are standard at every Petfolk clinic, and the team at Petfolk Fishers goes slowly, uses treats, and stops if your pet needs a break. A Fishers pet parent who brought in a dog with an ear hematoma wrote:

Coming up with a plan was transparent and easy. Everything was thoroughly discussed, questions were answered, and a plan was established in a budget fit for my family.

Brooke S., Google review

Giving ear drops at home

1. Have treats ready and a helper if needed.

2. Lift the ear flap and point the dropper down the canal.

3. Put in the dose the vet prescribed.

4. Massage the base of the ear for 20 to 30 seconds. You'll hear a squish.

5. Let your pet shake, then wipe the outer ear with cotton. Never push swabs down the canal.

Finish every dose, even if the ear looks better.

How much does ear treatment cost?

At Petfolk Fishers, a sick or urgent exam starts at $135, and testing and medicine are added only after you agree. Drops and pills can go home from the on-site pharmacy.

Ear signs that need help fast

A sudden head tilt with loss of balance, eyes darting side to side, or a face that droops can point to an inner-ear or nerve problem. Book an urgent visit at Petfolk Fishers. If your pet can't stand, keeps vomiting or collapses, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital such as VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center at 7712 Crosspoint Commons in Fishers.

Ear visits near Lantern Road

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Fishers is at 8711 E 106th St, Suite 160, Fishers, IN 46037. Walk-ins are welcome, and the clinic is open weekends.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Fishers, or see all veterinary services in Fishers.