Grooming dogs: ear care
Dogs’ ears are prone to infections, as you may have already noticed if you have a dog with problem ears. If your dog keeps getting infections, here is some information that can help you deal with chronic ear infections.
Canine ear infections are commonly called otitis externa; this means an infection in the outer ear. (Otis Interna means inner ear infection). External ear infections account for 90% of infections in dogs; making ear infection the most common infection for the dog to be treated for. Ear mites can often accompany ear infections.
Dogs with allergies may get more ear infections than other dogs. It can be caused by a build-up of earwax. It can also be caused by long hair that blocks the passage of air and creates a build-up of not only wax but also dirt and debris.
Regular ear cleaning will also get your pet used to caring for their ears, making it easier to administer the treatment.
You can prevent these infections by cleaning your dogs ears well and as part of your regular grooming routine. Cleaning your dog’s ears is easy and all you need is a soft cloth and some ear cleaner. Lift the ears and massage some cleanser into the ear, this should loosen the dirt.
Regular ear cleaning is a powerful preventative measure; especially if you have a dog that is at high risk of ear infections. Ear infections are more common in dogs that swim a lot, for example. Water in the ears can be a problem for dogs that are not inherently designed for water.
You can spot an ear infection in your dog by looking for the following signs:
– smelly ears
– release from liability
– excessive shaking of the head
– swelling
-redness of the ears
If your dog seems uncomfortable or scratches his ears too much, it’s probably causing a lot of distress. If your pet scratches too hard, it can even break blood vessels and cause swelling and bleeding.
You can try cleaning your dog’s ears with white vinegar to remove dirt from the ear and encourage the growth of good bacteria. Use the vinegar in the same way as the ear cleaner – pour it and gently wipe the inside of the ear with a cloth or cotton. This can help ease the infection or even clear it up if the problem wasn’t too serious to begin with. If the infection is serious, it’s time to call the vet. It can be cleaned easily. Most often, the dog will need antibiotics to help clear up the problem.
If your dog has recurring ear infections, the vet may suggest trimming the hair around the ear, or the vet may trim the hair around the ear. This often helps. If the problem is more serious, the vet may suggest surgery to allow easier drainage of the ear canal.
Some breeds are more prone to chronic ear infections than others. Any breed of dog with large or especially small ears will get ear infections more easily than some other breeds. Once you know what to look for, you should be able to catch ear infections before they become a serious problem
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