Canine Ear Problems

One of the most common and most frustrating dog illness conditions your pet can get are ear problems. Canine ear problems becomes quite a pain to deal with mainly because your dog will not likely enjoy the cleaning process.

Generally there are three main causes of canine ear problems, these are parasites, infections, or obstructions. Other possibilities, though less common, could include tumors or other skin diseases.

Parasitic problems are usually causes of ear mites ( Otodectes cynotis ), but fleas and ticks are also among the group of parasites that commonly infest the ear.

Infections in your dogs ear are often caused by various combinations of microorganisms and/or other bacteria, such as a yeast infection and Staphylococci.

Different breeds of dogs will also have different degrees of problems. Many breeds with larger open ears, German Shepherds for instance, may be more prone to getting an obstruction. Where as dogs with droopy or floppy ears will have less air flow and more potential for breeding bacterial infections.

Common Canine Ear Infection Symptoms

The easiest way to discover if your pet may have a potential ear issue is to look for the following signs:

* Rubbing ears against other surfaces
* Sensitivity to touching of the ear
* Bad smell or odor from the ears
* Excessive head shaking
* Ears that look dirty
* Redness in the ear
* Discharge of puss
* Ear scratching

When a dogs ear is clean, the inside of the ear channel should be light pink in color and have no unpleasant odor.

Not all ear infections are the same. Different combinations could be present and your Vet should be able to quickly diagnose the problem and decide on a proper course of action.

Treating Canine Ear Problems

Your Vet will often take a sample of the ear discharge using a cotton swab and make his determination under a microscope. Once the exact cause of the problem has been determined, your vet will recommend an ear flushing solution and any potential antibiotics. Anti-inflammatory medication may also be provide if there is swelling of the inner ear.

You will likely have to continue your pets ear cleaning at home. This is generally does with soft cotton cloth, a clean piece of old t-shirt, or gauze pads. Try not to use anything that would leave lint or material behind. To clean your pets ears, dampen the cloth with your ear cleaning solution and clean as far as you can reach. Your vet can demonstrate the exact method of doing this.

If ear mites are present in your dogs ear, you will need a special medication that will need to be applied. If mites are present, and you own more then one pet, have the other pets checked too as ear mites are easily passed from one pet to another.

If your vet has determined your pet’s ear infection requires antibiotics, then make sure you follow the directions carefully. Make sure you provide the proper dosage over the proper time period and use all of the antibiotics. Else you risk repeating the process when the infection does not clear fully. General dosages will take 10-14 days of medications.

You may also need to prepare the dog’s ears in order to allow for better air flow. This may include trimming the hairs around the ear or taking the ear up. This will help the ear dry out properly.

Preventing Canine Ear Problems

The best thing you can do to help with canine ear problems is to prevent them in the first place.

Like above, this could include trimming the hair around the ear. Keep your dogs ear clean of dirt and debris. There are plenty of commercially available weekly ear cleansing products available. Make sure your pet’s ears are dry after playing outside, after a bath, or if you live in a humid area.

Do not use products with alcohol as these may burn your pets ear and cause more problems.

Recurring Canine Ear Problems

Proper cleaning and maintenance of your pets ears will go a long way to preventing recurring ear problems. However, please be careful. Pets that have a long term history of recurring ear problems may be at risk of other, more serious problems. Make sure you check with your vet to determine if your pet is at risk. They may recommend additional cleaning tips or dietary supplements in order to help your pet fight of these continued problems.