Pet Ear Infection Treatment
An ear infection that keeps returning usually has a cause underneath it, most often allergies. Petfolk Johns Creek, at Medley in Johns Creek Town Center, treats the ear and looks for the reason it got inflamed.
The vet checks the canal, looks at a swab under the microscope, and builds a plan you can keep up at home. Visits start at our Johns Creek clinic.
Call (470) 964-6691 or book online. Open 8am–6pm, seven days a week.
When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet has a sudden head tilt, loss of balance, walking in circles, a drooping face, rapid eye flicking, or a seizure. Petfolk's own dermatology guidance sends these neurologic signs to an emergency facility, because the problem may reach past the ear canal. Severe facial swelling or bleeding from the ear also needs emergency care.
Petfolk Johns Creek is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. We don't provide overnight care, so anything that can't wait until morning belongs at a 24-hour emergency hospital.
Signs of an Ear Problem
Head shaking or scratching at one ear
A yeasty or sour smell
Brown, black, or yellow discharge
Redness or swelling in the canal or ear flap
Pulling away or crying when you touch near the ear
Cats are quieter about it. A cat may stop letting you rub one side of her face, or hold one ear a little lower.
Why Ear Infections Keep Coming Back
Clearing the yeast or bacteria without addressing the cause buys a few weeks, not a fix. Common causes include:
Allergies: food or environmental allergies inflame the canal, and inflamed skin grows yeast and bacteria easily.
Moisture: swims and baths leave water in the canal.
Ear shape: floppy, hairy, or narrow canals trap heat and debris.
Mites or a foreign body: a grass awn or mites can keep an ear inflamed no matter how many drops you use.
Stopping treatment early: the ear looks fine on day five, the drops go in the drawer, and the infection returns.
When a pet is on a second or third infection in a year, the vet looks beyond the ear. Merck's pet owner guide explains the common causes of outer ear infections in dogs.
River Days and Wet Ears
Plenty of Johns Creek dogs wade or swim in the Chattahoochee at the Medlock Bridge and Jones Bridge units of the national recreation area. If your dog swims, dry the ear flaps and the opening of the canal afterward, and ask the vet whether a drying ear cleaner makes sense. Water left sitting in a warm canal is a common setup for infection in swimmers.
When At-Home Cleaning Is Enough
A light tan, waxy film with no smell, ears that look the same on both sides, and a pet who doesn't flinch usually just need routine cleaning with a vet-approved cleaner. Squeeze the solution in, massage the base of the ear, let your pet shake, and wipe what comes up. Never push anything into the canal.
Stop cleaning and book an exam if you see dark discharge, redness, swelling, a strong smell, or pain. If the eardrum is damaged, some cleaners and medications shouldn't go in at all, and that's not something you can see at home.
What Happens at an Ear Exam
The vet asks about history, other itchy spots, and past infections.
A full exam covers the skin and paws, not just the ears.
The vet looks inside with an otoscope and checks the eardrum when the pet allows it.
A swab goes under the microscope. Ear cytology shows whether it's yeast, bacteria, or both, since they need different medicine.
You leave with a plan, including how to clean and medicate at home, and a visit summary in the Petfolk app.
Sore ears hurt, and a friendly dog can get snappy when you touch the flap. Our Gentle Handling team watches for signs of fear and pain and adjusts the pace. If a pet is too painful to examine comfortably, the vet will talk with you about options.
“The vets spend so much time in the examination. I never feel like I don't have their complete attention and compassion.”
— Kat W., Petfolk client
What Ear Treatment Costs Depend On
The exam
Ear cytology, the swab checked under the microscope
Medication, and whether the eardrum's condition limits which ones are safe
An in-clinic cleaning or flush, if needed
Sedation, sometimes needed for a cat or a very painful ear
Rechecks and any allergy workup for repeat infections
A swab up front often costs less than a second round of the wrong medicine. You'll get an estimate before treatment. PetfolkCare members get exams covered up to $99 per visit and 10% off lab work.
Treat the Ear and the Reason Behind It
Book an exam at Petfolk Johns Creek and leave knowing what's growing in the ear, why, and how to keep it from coming back. Call (470) 964-6691 or book online.