With ear infections and other ear disorders being common in dogs, it’s always important to take a look at the possible causes. Taking care of your dog’s ears, and giving them regular attention means understanding how to keep them clean, dry and healthy.
We all want our dogs to be happy and healthy, so taking note of the importance of keeping your dog’s ears clean, well-ventilated and dry is key to good ear health in dogs.
With a dog’s ears coming in various shapes and sizes from drop ears to erect, knowing how often to clean your dog’s ears is just as important. We’ll also touch up on why it’s important to address other health issues to prevent chronic and reoccurring ear infections.
Additionally, if an ear infection is suspected, you’ll need to visit your veterinarian for an evaluation and treatment. Numerous skin problems can also affect the ears stemming from seasonal and non-seasonal environmental issues, cancer, exposure to hot and cold temperatures, trauma, excess moisture in the ears, solar radiation, and food allergies. These are all factors that could affect your dog’s ears, and cause a painful ear infection in your dog.
Preventative Care
By checking your dog’s ears regularly, feeling whether they’re warmer than usual, checking for changes in skin condition and color, as well as a sudden moisture increase, you’ll be easily able to notice any abnormalities in your dog’s ears. With plenty of ear conditions affecting the outer ear (otitis externa), let’s examine what types of ear infections are common in dogs.
Ear Infections Involving Mites, Mites & Yeast
With some of these organisms frequently living on the surface of your dog’s ears, or possibly inside the ear already, these types of ear infections do well in moist and dark environments. Keeping your furry best friend’s ears dry and clean can prevent numerous ear infections. Routine ear care like flushing with a good veterinary –prescribed irrigating solution is an effective way to maintain effective ear care, and to prevent ear infections in dogs.
Ear infections can also be caused by the following:
. Excess moisture in the ear
. Organisms like mites
. Foreign particles from seeds, sand and grass
. Tumors
. Hereditary or immune issues
. Ear trauma
. Bacteria and yeast microorganism
. Allergies
. Hypothyroidism
. Hyperthyroidism
. Hyperadrenocorticism
How Are Ear Conditions Diagnosed?
Inflammation of the outer ear is the most common, and are easily diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian. That said, middle and inner ear infections are often the result of infection spreading from the external ear canal or from the eardrum being penetrated by a foreign object. When the middle ear is inflamed, it can cause a loss of balance and deafness. Signs of middle ear inflammation in dogs (otitis media) are as follows:
. Rubbing the affected ear against something or with paws
. Head shaking
. Rotating the head towards the painful ear
. Signs of discharge with inflammation
. Inflammation of the outer ear
. Extreme pain
There is also the possibility of the following signs because the facial and sympathetic nerves travel through the middle ear.
. Facial nerve paralysis
. Droopy eyelid on the same side as the ear infection
. Pupil constriction
. Eyeball sinking into the orbital cavity
. Third eyelid protrusion on the same side as ear infection
. Head tilt toward the affected side
. Unbalanced gait with difficulty getting up or laying down
. Involuntary rhythmic movement of the eye (nystagmus) from the same side of the ear infection
. Pus filled inflammation
. Foul odor in infected ear
. Blood may be present in ear
Treatment for Ear Infections in Dogs
Your dog may need to be sedated to allow for a complete examination of both the outer and middle ear. This will be necessary if your dog’s ears are impacted with debris, if there is a foreign object in the ear, if the eardrum is ruptured, or if he has a low grade infection due to ear mites. Additionally, painful, bacterial ear infections with inflammation will need oral medication or medication by via injections.
Conventional treatment for outer ear infections in dogs may include the following:
. Topical antibiotics
. Veterinary-ear cleaning solution to clean ears prior to beginning treatment
. Ear canal hair is trimmed or removed to allow for ventilation of the ear
. Excessive earwax also needs to be removed to allow for any topical ointments to be effective
. Antibacterial drugs with corticosteroids to reduce discharge, pain and inflammation in the ear
Dogs that are prone to recurring bacterial ear infections with inflammation from ear mites may need to have long term care by their veterinarian. Your veterinarian will prescribe anti- parasitic drugs with a topical ear product for your furry best friend.
Often times, these cases take a long time to resolve, and you’ll need to visit your veterinarian to make sure that the recommended treatment program is working.
How Can Pet Parents Help Prevent Ear Infections in Their Dogs?
With dog ears having a different structure to human ears, it’s important to ask your veterinarian or vet tech to show you how to clean your dog’s ears properly. Initially, you may begin by cleaning once daily to twice weekly for preventative maintenance measures. Keep in mind that it’s not beneficial to clean your dog’s ears too often, since that also may affect the frequency of ear infections. Here are some easy ear cleaning tips for your dog:
. Ear canals should be kept dry and well ventilated. Ask your veterinarian if you should trim the canal hair.
. Dogs that are often in the water swimming or taking part in dog sports need to have extra special ear care. Drying agents can be used to help prevent water from entering the ear canal to help decrease bacterial and fungal infections in wet ear canals.
. Dogs that have open ear canals or that suffer from skin issues should also have preventative treatment to avoid ear infections.
Dogs that have plenty of ear infections due to food or environmental allergies do well when transitioned to whole food based diets with simple, high-quality, natural ingredients. Some dogs may be allergic to certain proteins and carbohydrates which may result in skin issues, hot spots and ear infections. A food elimination trial works best when done together with your veterinarian.
Drop – Eared Dogs
Because we’re focusing on prevention as being very important in preventing ear infections in dogs, you should check with your veterinarian as to how to clean your dog’s ears properly. Dogs with pinnae pointed ears-drop ears that slant downwards have closed ear canals.
Additionally, drop -eared dogs are prone to having more recurring ear infections because these type of ears have a warm and dark environment. The ear flap closes down over the ear trapping moisture and mites. This is a microenvironment that will promote microorganism growth.
Dogs that have their pinna pointed upwards (erect ears) are less prone to ear infections because the ear dries out much faster. Air will enter the ear canal, and lessen the chances of a moist environment. In short, dogs with ears that point upwards will not be affected as much by mites, yeast, and bacteria. Also, open ears may allow for allergens and dust to enter the ear canal, so they still need to be cleaned and checked. They also allow for moisture to enter the ear, which may result in aural issues.
How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears?
We spend so much time with our dogs that ear cleaning and body examinations for lumps and bumps should be a no-brainer. It’s actually pretty simple once you’ve done this a few times. If the ear feels warm and sensitive to the touch, refrain from cleaning, and consult with your veterinarian.
Starting off with ear cleaning during puppyhood is best, so that your puppy gets used to having his ears touched and cleaned. Consult with your veterinarian as to the best age to start with ear cleaning solutions for dogs.
If you’re feeling slightly apprehensive, ask your vet tech to show you how. Here are some tips on how to clean your dog’s ears:
. Never use anything that would push debris into the ear canal
. Use cotton balls with a veterinary approved ear cleaning solution prescribed by your veterinarian
. Squirt a sufficient amount of cleaner into your dog’s ear to fill the ear canal
. Once the ear cleaner is in the ear, massage the ear gently from the base of the ear
. Gently hold the base of the ear and pull the pinna upwards away from the head
. Put the cotton balls in to the canal, and gently massage the base of the ear to work debris and moisture into the cotton ball and out of the ear.
. If you’re adding medication, wait a few minutes.
Keeping your dog’s ears clean helps to not only avoid painful ear infections, but to avoid the possibility of hearing loss and balance issues. Understanding that the sooner you have your dog treated for an ear infection, the better the prospect of a good outcome.
Ear infections are painful for pets, and by cleaning and taking care of your dog’s ears regularly, you’ll help to avoid them. Working together with your veterinarian for advice on the best dog ear products to use, also helps avoid the use of cheap low grade ear solutions for dogs.