The
skin of your horse’s ears is vulnerable to many of the same problems as skin
elsewhere on his body, but dealing with it effectively may require different
methods.
Signs
and symptoms of ear problems include:
Rubbing the ears/head (sometimes to the point of hair
loss).
Head shaking/tossing.
Ear droop or head tilt.
Resistance to having the ears handled, resistance to
bridling.
Excess wax (nonspecific reaction to irritation in the ear canal) or discharge
from the ears.
Ear Mites
Although
not encountered as frequently in horses as in small animals, especially cats,
horses can become infected with ear mites. Ear mites result in a characteristic
collection of discharge in the ears that most resembles coffee grounds. It’s a
mixture of old blood, serum and the mites themselves. The mites are tiny and
usually situated deep in the ear canal, so this diagnosis is best made by a vet
using an otoscope.
Treatment
and Prevention: Since horses with ear-mite infections are often tender about the
ears, get your vet involved at least initially. Your vet can do a gentle but
thorough cleansing of the ears after the exam and can treat any secondary
infection. The easiest treatment option for the mites themselves is to orally
deworm the horse at weekly intervals for three treatments with ivermectin. There
are also topical treatments, but they need to be applied daily either for 10
days or up to 21 days.
Merial’s
Tresaderm is a 10-day, twice-a-day treatment, a blend of topical thiabendazole
to kill the mites, dexamethasone for inflammation and the antibiotic Neomycin.
$17 to $30/15 ml, a four- to five-day supply for a horse. This is a prescription
item, so contact your veterinarian.
Take care when clipping the ears not to nick any of the skin, which could lead to problems.
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Ear
drops containing insecticides, which only kill the adults so require a
three-week course of twice-daily drops, are available over the counter. They
include Pfizer’s Mita-Clear, a pyrethrin-based product, about $4/12 cc, about a
three-day supply (www.pfizerah.com, 800-366-5288) and Farnam’s Adams Pene -Mite,
also pyrethrin based, about $6.50/12 ml, three-day supply (www.farnampet.com,
800-234-2269).
A
product containing topical ivermectin (0.01%) has been approved as a one-step
ear mite treatment for cats, where it is 92 to 94% effective. This would be the
equivalent of mixing 1 cc of cattle injectable ivermectin with 9 cc of sterile
water. Discuss this option with your veterinarian.
Ticks
The
ears are a favorite site for tick infestations and should be checked regularly
for ticks throughout the tick season. Attached ticks cause considerable
irritation and may cause secondary infections. They may even cause neurological
symptoms of muscle twitching, tremors and cramping, and prolapse of the third
eyelid.
Treatment and Prevention: Ticks should be removed by grasping them with a
pair of tweezers at their head, as close to the skin surface as possible. This
obviously is not a one-person job and requires at least a twitch for restraint,
if not sedation. If multiple ticks
are attached, your vet is the best person to do this job and will give the ears
a thorough inspection, including a look for infection at the same time.
The
most effective tick repellent is permethrin. Products such as W. F.
Young/Absorbine’s Bug Block, about $10.95 for a 32-oz. spray bottle or their
Ultra Spot, about $13.50 for a four-week supply, are good choices
(www.absorbine.com, 800-628-9653). We also like Manna Pro’s Equine Fly and
Mosquito Concentrate (www.absorbine.com, 800-628-9653), about $14.45 for 32 oz.
(concentrate, makes up to 320 oz. of high-potency spray).
A
thick layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, on the inner surface of the
ear will discourage ticks from biting. If there are no open areas, you can mix
it 9 parts Vaseline with 1 part 2.5% permethrin concentrate, such as the Manna
Pro, for double protection.
Ear Gnats/Biting Flies
Several
different flies will feed off the horse’s ears, causing tremendous irritation
and distraction, sometimes leaving behind a mess of irritation, scabbing and
secondary infection.
Treatment
and Prevention: Fly-bite-damaged ears should be gently cleaned with warm soap
and water to remove dried blood and crusts that favor secondary infections.
Antibiotic cream can be applied until the skin heals over. Fly masks with ears,
such as our favorites, the Cashel Crusader (www.cashelcompany.com, 800-333-2202)
or Horse Sense (www.pet-sense.com, 480-483-2217) mask, work wonders in
protecting the ears.
You can’t beat a fly mask for ear protection. This is the long-nose Crusader.
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Otherwise,
the same topical fly-repellent liquid wiped on the external ear and a layer of
Vaseline inside will work. For extra gnat-repellent effect, add a few drops of
Bayer’s Campho-Phenique, 3 to 4 to every 10 cc of Vaseline mixture. This product
is available at most drug stores, about $8/1.5 ounces.
Ear Infections
Ear
infections are rare. However, a complication of an ear infection
ascending/rising into the ear canal from a gutteral pouch problem or secondary
to severe mite tick or fly damage can occur.
Treatment
and Prevention: Prevention includes avoiding bites to begin with, using the
methods previously described. Treatment begins with addressing the source of the
problem. The ear itself needs to be gently cleansed, then treated with an
antibiotic ointment or drops for several days. Your vet should do the initial
cleaning and will recommend the antibiotic.
AURAL PLAQUES
Aural
plaques are flat to slightly raised white patches inside the ears. They’re
caused by the same virus that causes warts, probably deposited in the ear area
by biting insects. Horses with aural plaques usually do not show any symptoms of
ear pain or irritation, but some may be more sensitive than average to having
their ears manipulated and touched.
Treatment
and Prevention: There are no treatments for aural plaques. Protecting your
horse’s ears from insects will minimize the chance of this
infection.
Sunburn
We
usually focus on the nose and face as at greatest risk of sunburn, but the ears
may also be involved.
Treatment
and Prevention: A plain zinc-oxide ointment or diaper-rash cream, like Desitin,
is both soothing to damaged skin and an excellent sun blocker. Zinc-oxide
ointments and creams are available at most drugs stores for $4 to $5 for 2
oz.
Tumors
Tumors
rarely involve the ears but sarcoids or squamous cell carcinoma (especially in
light-skinned horses) may occur in this location.
Treatment
and Prevention: Your vet should examine growths present anywhere on your horse’s
body and may recommend doing a biopsy if there is any question about the type of
tumor it is. Unprotected sun exposure is a risk factor for squamous cell
carcinoma, a cancer.
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