subject: How To Tell If Your Dog Has An Ear Problem [print this page] One of the most frustrating problems that your dog can have is problems with his ears. Not only can they be irritating and annoying for your dog, but they can also be very troublesome for you as well because you have to constantly treat his ears in order to try and get them healed. Here are some tell tale signs that your dog is having problems with his ears.
One of the most obvious signs that your dog has an ear problem is constant scratching at the side of his head. If a dog has an itchy ear drum or outer ear surface, he'll certainly want to try and eliminate the issue and this is why you'll find him scratching at his ear. The problem may be inside his ear and hard to get at, which may be why you'll see him constantly scratching and shaking his head.
Another sign that your dog has an ear problem will be the action of tilting his constant head tilting, or you may also notice that he droops his ear down lower than the other. This is more recognizable if the dog has naturally floppy ears. This is his attempt at relaxing the ear to prevent further irritation.
So how do you examine your dog's ear to see if your suspicions are true? The first thing you can do is the smell test. Simply smell your dog's ear and if you smell a foul odor, then you definitely have a problem on your hands and you should consult a veterinarian. There could be a number of causes for the smell, one of the common causes is a yeast infection. This can be caused by excess moisture in the ear, and other sources. Another test you can perform is a visual test. Take a look at the outer surface of the ear as well as the inner ear canal. Do you see any foreign substances such as brown waxy material, or other discolored liquid material. This is certainly a sign of an ear problem that needs immediate attention and should be left in the hands of your dog's veterinarian.
Common dog ear problems can be avoided with proper, regular cleaning of the ears with an ear cleansing solution and other dog supplies, but cannot always be prevented. If the problem occurs even after your regular cleaning activities, then you may need to consider stronger, more effective treatment options for your dog's ear problem. Your veterinarian will be able to prescribe those treatments for you, and after a couple weeks of treatment, you'll have your dog's ear problem cleared up.
