Ear Infections
Dogs and Ear Infections
How to recognize an infection:
Ear infections are a common canine health problem, and they can be caused by allergies, yeast, ear mites, bacteria, hair growth deep in the ear canal, and more. Signs that your dog may have with an ear infection include:
- Head shaking or head tilting
- Ear odour
- Vigorous scratching
- Lack of balance
- Unusual back-and-forth eye movements
- Redness of the ear canal
- Swelling of the outer portion of the ear
- Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge
Always take your dog to the veterinarian if you think they have an ear infection. In most cases, cleaning and medicating the ear canal will quickly clear up an infection. However, surgery can be needed for chronic infections or if forceful head shaking results in the rupture of a vessel within the outer part of the ear.
Make Ear Cleaning Part of the Grooming Routine
Taking a look inside of your dog’s ears every now and again is a good idea. A gentle ear cleaning whenever they have a bath can be helpful and assist in keeping future problems at bay. Consult with your vet for a mild cleaning solution that would be ideal for your pet. You want a very gentle solution made specifically for ear cleaning.
How to clean your dog’s ears:
· Have your dog lie down on his side on a comfortable surface, such as his bed, where you can reach him easily.
· Now open his ear flap and gently insert a few drops of the cleaning solution into the ear canal.
- Massage the base of your dog’s ear to let the solution move in. If he shows any signs of pain at this point, stop immediately and consult your vet.
- After a minute or two of massaging let your dog get up to shake it off.
- Use a large cotton ball (never use a Q-tip as they could potentially cause damage) to clean any excess solution or debris out of the ear.
- Repeat on the other ear.
- Last but not least, give a treat for being such a good dog.
Just by knowing what to look out for and by taking a few steps to prevent inflammation you can help your dog spend less time itching and more time enjoying the things they love most.
Dogs and Ear Infections
How to recognize an infection:
Ear infections are a common canine health problem, and they can be caused by allergies, yeast, ear mites, bacteria, hair growth deep in the ear canal, and more. Signs that your dog may have with an ear infection include:
- Head shaking or head tilting
- Ear odour
- Vigorous scratching
- Lack of balance
- Unusual back-and-forth eye movements
- Redness of the ear canal
- Swelling of the outer portion of the ear
- Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge
Always take your dog to the veterinarian if you think they have an ear infection. In most cases, cleaning and medicating the ear canal will quickly clear up an infection. However, surgery can be needed for chronic infections or if forceful head shaking results in the rupture of a vessel within the outer part of the ear.