Learn more about what the MySimplePetLab Ear Infection Test screens for, bacteria and yeast, and ear mites in dogs.
There are two types of skin cells commonly seen under the microscope (1000x magnification) on an ear swab sample cytology: corneocytes and keratinocytes. Corneocytes are “dead skin flakes” on the surface layer of skin which flake off as they’re repla
An overabundance of yeast (Malassezia) can cause clinical signs like ear odor, ear discharge, scratching at ears, or head shaking. Ear discharge from a yeast infection can be brown, black, or sometimes yellow or white. Yeast are dark spheres (larger
An overabundance of bacteria can cause clinical signs like ear odor, ear discharge, scratching at ears, or head shaking. Ear discharge from a bacterial infection can be brown, black, yellow, or white. There are two main forms (shapes) of bacteria com
White blood cells (WBC) are immune cells that react to the presence of inflammation (redness) or infection by microbes (bacteria and/or yeast). Produced in the bone marrow, they squeeze out of blood vessels to “crawl” toward crisis areas of the body.
Red blood cells (RBC) are not normally seen under the microscope (1000x magnification) in an ear cytology of a healthy dog ear unless the swab sample collection technique was too forceful (thus getting some minor bleeding). Instead, and most commonly
Ear mites are the first thing to look for on ear swab samples. Assume treatment is needed if any ear mites or their eggs are detected in your dog’s ear samples. Ear mites don’t always cause signs of ear scratching or head shaking, but when they do th
Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are tiny, arachnid (spider-like) parasites that live in the ear canals of dogs, cats, ferrets, and some other mammals.
Low numbers of bacteria and yeast usually live harmlessly on the surface of healthy dog ear skin; so, it’s common and quite normal to find small (occasional) numbers under the microscope. Overpopulation causes clinical signs and requires treatment.