How to Cure Itching Ears in Horses

Horses with itching ears will often shake their heads, rub their ears on walls or fences and hold a particular ear drooped to one side. They can be extremely "head shy"--meaning they don't want their ears or poll touched--and can become difficult to handle and dangerous to ride. Horses can inadvertently cause self-inflicted damage due to their need to scratch their ears. The causes of itching ears can include bacterial infection, ear mite infestation and "sweet itch" (an allergic reaction to the bite of the Culicoides fly midge). Affected horses will need a thorough veterinary examination to secure a correct diagnosis and establish an effective treatment plan.

Things You'll Need

  • • Prescribed veterinary medications
  • • Twitch (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Treatment

    • 1

      Schedule a veterinary examination, allowing your vet to sedate your horse if necessary for a thorough ear examination with an otoscope (a lighted instrument that provides the vet with a complete view of the inside of the ear). Your vet may choose to apply a twitch to your horse instead of sedating him; the twitch device catches a large piece of shoulder or neck skin or upper lip and twists it to distract your horse from the action surrounding his ears.

    • 2

      Have your veterinarian to take swabs of inner ear debris and examine them under a microscope to form a definitive diagnosis.

    • 3

      Apply prescribed medicines to the inside of your horse's ears for the entire veterinary protocol. Bacterial infections will require topical otic antibiotics, ear mite infestations need anti-parasitics and "sweet itch" requires constant application of a safe, prescribed insect repellent.

    • 4

      Administer any topical corticosteroids or NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) your vet prescribes to reduce swelling and redness.