Otitis Media

Otitis media refers to inflammation within the middle ear — the small, air-filled chamber that sits behind the eardrum. This space is normally sealed off from the outside world, but inflammation here can arise when infection or other processes extend inward from the external ear canal, or less commonly when material travels up through the tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. Because the middle ear sits close to important structures including nerves and the inner ear, changes here can produce effects that extend beyond what an owner might associate with a typical ear problem. Many owners first notice signs that overlap with outer ear inflammation — head shaking, ear discomfort, or discharge — but some dogs and cats show additional patterns such as a head tilt, reluctance to open the mouth fully, or changes in balance. In other cases, otitis media is identified during investigation of a persistent or recurring outer ear problem that has not responded as expected. The condition is not always obvious from the outside, and the signs an owner observes often depend on whether the eardrum remains intact and how much the inflammation affects neighbouring structures. This page explores the signals that can appear when the middle ear is involved, the mechanisms that allow inflammation to develop in this normally protected space, the ways otitis media is investigated and confirmed, and the range of approaches used to address it. The goal is to help owners understand what may be happening and what shape the conversation with their veterinary team might take.