subject: Identifying And Treating Dog Ear Problems [print this page] Have you noticed that youre dog cannot seem to stop scratching his ear or both ears? This may be a sign that your dogs ears need to be clean. Or it may also be a sign of a more serious condition that needs to be treated as soon as possible. This article will discuss some of the potential ear problems that your dog might be suffering from and how you can treat them.
One of the most common ear problems that dogs often deal with is wax buildup which can cause irritation if left untreated too long. This is common in dogs that have floppy ears than hand down instead of standing straight up. This waxy buildup is usually caused by excess moisture in the ear, or other debris that remains in the ear. Excess water and other substances remain trapped in the ear because the ears cover the ear opening so it is less likely that the water and debris can drained or released from the ear. Consequently, water does not dry up as easily because there is less air flow to the inner ear.
Two other types of ear issues that your dog could experience are the yeast infection, and ear mites. The yeast infection results from the excess buildup of water and debris in the inner ear and over time those substances will continue to fester and create the substance know as yeast, which will be very irritating to your dog. One way of diagnosing this condition is by the appearance of the waxy buildup, and by the smell that is released from the infected buildup. The color of the buildup will typically be a brown to dark brown color and will have distinct foul odor. Ear mites are a little harder to diagnose since they are so tiny. If redness exists, but you do not see any discoloration, you can have your dogs ears check by a veterinarian. They will have the proper tools that will allow them to see the ear mites to determine if that is the definite issue.
The common ear condition of waxy buildup is treatable with over the counter ear cleansing solutions and usually can be cleared up fairly quickly if treated consistently. To clean your dogs ears, place the tip of the nozzle on the ear cleansing solution into the ear canal and squeeze enough solution in to make a squish sound when you are massaging the dogs ear. Once you have the solution in the ear, place a cotton ball in the canal to prevent the solution from coming out. Massage the ear in a circular motion for about 30 seconds, keeping the cotton ball in the can to prevent the solution from getting out. You should be able to hear the solution swishing around in the dogs ear. Use more solution if you do not hear this. After about 30 seconds or so, release the cotton ball and allow your dog to shake his head. This will throw any access debris and solution from his inner ear. Be careful where you stand! This could be messy if he has a lot of buildup. Wipe any excess dirt and solution from inside the ear and repeat if necessary.
Other issues like the yeast infection are typically not treatable with over the counter solutions, but rather with prescription solutions that are more powerful. Conditions can also be treated with antibiotics if the infection is bad enough.
If youre dog is having problems with his ears and you can see that he is definitely bothered by it, it may be because he his an ear issue that needs treatment either by yourself or a veterinarian. Remember, you can help by cleaning your dogs ears on a weekly basis and continuing to monitor their condition. If it is something more severe, always consult a veterinarian for treatment. Youre dog will be much happier and so will you.
