Humanimal

Impacted Earwax

By Joy Pape, FNP-C, CDCES and Nicole Cerniello, DVM

SOME PEOPLE THINK EARWAX IS ‘THE DIRT,’ but actually, earwax is a naturally occurring waxy substance which protects from infection and provides a barrier to water, foreign bodies and insects.

Have you ever heard the sayings “potatoes growing in one’s ear” or “if you don’t keep your ears clean, you may sprout a spud?” It’s said as a joke because potatoes don’t grow in ears. Potatoes grow in the dirt. Some people think earwax is ‘the dirt’ but actually, earwax (medical term: cerumen seh-ruh’-muhn), is a naturally occurring waxy substance. It protects the ears of humans and other mammals from infection and provides a barrier to water, foreign bodies and insects. Earwax is usually expelled from the ear canal with natural jaw movement. But, this ‘self-cleaning’ process can fail and the earwax can become caught and impacted.

Impaction can block the outer canal or press against the eardrum (tympanic membrane) that separates the outer ear from the inner ear. This can cause a feeling of ear fullness, hearing loss, itching, pain, dizziness or ringing of the ears. Since cerumen is naturally bacteria-fighting, protective, softening and soothing, it does not need to be removed unless you are having problems and an ear specialist recommends treatment.

HUMANS

Impacted cerumen happens more often in people who:

  • Wear hearing aids, earplugs or earbuds
  • Have eczema or other skin conditions
  • Put cotton swabs (Q-tips) or other items in the ears
  • Have a lot of ear hair
  • Are over the age of 55
  • Have misshapen ear canals that prevent natural cerumen removalIf you think you have impacted earwax, see a health care professional who can diagnose and recommend treatment which may include irrigation, solutions to dissolve earwax, or in-office earwax removal.


To prevent impaction, don’t put anything inside your ears and clean your ears properly. Clean the outside of your ear with a washcloth and dry as much as possible.

As a nurse practitioner here’s what I teach my patients. Don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. Doing so just pushes the wax in rather than allowing it do what it needs to do—self-clean!

PETS
Earwax in cats and dogs is very similar to humans. Earwax impaction in cats and dogs is fairly uncommon but can occur. Typical signs are shaking of the head and loss of balance, disorientation, head tilt, irregular jerking eye movements (called nystagmus), nausea and vomiting. Some pets will not stand or walk. Many will lean or fall in the direction of their head tilt. These signs are very similar to an outer ear infection which is far more common. Have your pet examined by your veterinarian if any of these symptoms occur so they can differentiate between impaction and infection.

Many owners are concerned that they are not doing enough for their pet’s ears. The reality is, most cats and dogs ears do not need any special treatment–less is more! There are some instances where this does not always apply and your cat or dog may benefit from regular cleanings. If this is the case, your veterinarian will show you how and when to clean their ears. If your pet does have impacted earwax, they may need to be placed under anesthesia to have it removed. A referral to a veterinary dermatologist may be warranted if a small otoscope is needed to reach the earwax and evaluate the depth. As always, if you have any concerns have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian.  

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