subject: Top Causes And Treatments Of A Dog Ear Infection [print this page] Do you frequently notice your dog shaking its head and scratching its ears incessantly and petulantly? If this is so, your dog might be enduring a serious case of dog ear infection. Here are some facts and information that may be useful for you and your dog that might be suffering with this.
Causes
Ear infection in dogs is a common illness, especially to the flop-eared kinds since air can't easily flow inside their ears. Numerous reasons can cause this ailment, namely:
- Presence of foreign bodies in the dog's ear
- Bacterial or yeast contamination
- Ear mites
- Tumors
- Food intolerance and allergies
- Hormonal and immunity issues
- Swollen lymph nodes
There are also three kinds of dog ear infections. The Outer Ear Infection is always the easiest to distinguish since this is usually characterized by soreness and a foul smelling wax-like discharge. While the Middle and Inner Ear infection are considered to be more rigorous and needs an intensive veterinarian care because this might not be cured at all if not given enough attention.
Treatments
When your kennel is suffering with an ear infection it is very essential to dispose the appropriate course of treatment to not worsen the condition.
If you want to give a remedy to your pet's condition at home, you can start by cleaning the infected parts by using pure cotton balls to avoid hurting your pet's ear with a sudden abrupt movement that can be aggravated by the use of Q-tips. Regular cleaning of the problem area is required to avoid ear wax upsurge that could possibly compound the problem in the end. Proper hygiene is as important to pets as it is to humans and it can also prevent body infections.
You can also opt to go directly to a vet as soon as you notice that your dog has an infected ear so that the doctor can assess if it is a minor or major infection and you can proceed from there with a more intensive treatment through medicines and operations. The vet will be able to advise you of the most appropriate cure like prescribing antibiotics to aid in clearing out the infection or anti-microbial ear drops, so it would really be best to speak with them.
A foreign object that got stuck in your pet's ear can be flushed out by a vet and ear infections that are caused by tumors can be given solution through surgery and this process will have to take place in the vet's clinic. Such processes should never be done by yourself or at home since it can be really dangerous.
Prevention
The best way to prevent a dog ear infection and a really complicated one is to maintain an appropriate hygienic practice. Dogs that are kept and groomed aptly hardly ever get any diseases at all. Since you are the rational being that takes care of your pet, their health solely relies on you. Regular grooming, keeping the inner ear from getting wet since water that gets trapped in the ear could trigger infection, and most importantly keep your dog mite-free!
