Dog ear infection is quite a common disease among dogs. This is because dogs get easily infected in the ears, especially when there’s debris or any small object caught inside. Dogs with flopped ears are not spared from this problem though. While you think their ears are protected because of their long ears, these dogs are most prone to this disease. That’s because dogs with flopped ears fail to receive adequate air circulation, which would eventually lead to infection with smelly pus and discharges in the ear.
The Causes of Ear Infection in Dogs
Dog ear infection may be caused by a lot of things, more particularly the small foreign objects as described above. However, the most common cause of this disease would be microscopic organisms such as ear mites. Ear mites are parasites that could find their way inside the dog’s ear. They can be very harmful because they thrive on your dog’s blood and nutrients to survive.
Other microorganisms, such as yeast and bacteria may also bring forth this disease. When these elements multiply in the ear area of your dog, pus and smelly discharges are the definite result. If your dog is suffering from ear infection caused by yeast or bacteria, you can almost expect it to be chronic or recurring. This is the type that is the hardest to diagnose and cure as well.
Symptoms of Dog Ear Infection
Dog ear infection is characterized by the following symptoms:
1. Ear scratching and rubbing
This condition is very uncomfortable for pets. Dogs try to ease the pain by scratching and rubbing their heads a lot. Expect your pet suffering from ear infection to rub its ear against furniture and other similar hard objects.
2. Head shaking
Another mannerism developed by dogs with ear infection is head shaking. For some reason, the dogs think that they can whisk away all the pain and discomfort that they feel by moving their heads constantly.
3. Loss of balance
Severe ear infection may cause lack of balance. Keep in mind that the body’s equilibrium is controlled by the ears. Any damage sustained by the middle ear and the inner ear would result in disorientation and would affect the body’s stability.
4. Unusual eye movement
In the worse cases of ear infection in dogs, pets tend to move their eyes in peculiar positions. This instance signifies the penetration of the infection deep within the dog’s ear, probably already reaching a certain part of the brain. This symptom calls for an immediate treatment from the vet.
Treatment of Dog Ear Infection
The treatment for dog ear infection would greatly depend on the actual cause of the disease. The one caused by ear mites, by far, is the easiest type to treat. When you take your dog to the vet, a sample of the ear infection pus will be studied and tested under the microscope. If it was discovered to be caused by mites indeed, the vet would proceed with the procedure that involves the washing away of these parasites. This usually requires the use of chemical baths or topical treatments that can eliminate every single one of them present in your dog’s ears.
For ear infection caused by bacteria and yeast, regular cleaning of the ear is essential. Along with it, several at-home treatments need to be performed. It is usually performed along with antibiotics. The vet would either prescribe an oral or a topical medication for your dog’s infection. The same is true for ear infection caused by allergies.
If the problem is due to a foreign object lodged inside your dog’s ear, that object has to be removed at once. The vet would clear up your dog’s ears from all obstacles and debris, until he gets to the core of the problem. Oral medicals or topical treatments may also be given to speed up the healing process.
Prevention of Dog Ear Infection
It was always said that treatment is better than cure. Do your best to keep this health concern from occurring in your pet. For one, make sure that your pet is properly groomed and bathed regularly. Proper grooming keeps the hair from growing too much on your dog’s ear, thus limiting air circulation. As for dogs with dog flopped ears, you must clean delicately the areas in and around the ear, or at least check it regularly to make sure that there’s absolutely no debris trapped inside.
Regular baths would also keep your dog from mites and other parasites. These elements don’t like clean and sanitized surroundings. If you must, let your dog wear anti-flea collars and similar protection so it will be safe from infections, especially if you like taking it out for an adventure in the woods.
Lastly, make sure that your dog’s immune system is strong. Give your dog the proper food, nutrients, and supplements it needs to be healthy. The right diet along with good exercise is the key to your pet’s happiness and longevity.
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