| Dog ear infections are also commonly called | | | | |
| Otitis Externa. It is an infection of the | | | | To clean your dog's ears, start by placing a |
| outer ear canal. There are three parts to the | | | | few drops of an ear cleanser into the ear and |
| ear; the outer, the middle, and the inner | | | | massage the ear to help loosen any debris |
| ear. Ninety percent of infections occur in | | | | that is in there. Then use a cloth or cotton |
| the outer ear, the part of the ear that you | | | | gauze to wipe the dirt out. |
| can see. | | | | |
| | | | After your dog's ears are thoroughly clean, |
| Dogs are prone to ear infections because of | | | | you can then apply your medication. Follow |
| the anatomy of their ears. They have a | | | | your veterinarian's advice about how much |
| horizontal and a vertical component to them, | | | | medication to apply to the ear, usually a few |
| so it is hard for anything in there to drain | | | | drops. |
| out, like water or debris. | | | | |
| | | | The treatment your veterinarian will |
| Signs of an ear infection include excessive | | | | prescribe will vary depending on the cause of |
| head shaking, yellow to brown oozing in the | | | | the ear infection. For yeast infections, they |
| ears, or a yeast-like smell. Additional signs | | | | might prescribe anti-fungal medication. For |
| of ear infections include redness and | | | | bacterial infections they will probably |
| swelling. | | | | prescribe antibiotics. Normally, treatment is |
| | | | applied directly into the ears, but in severe |
| There are several causes of ear infections. | | | | cases systemic treatment may be needed. This |
| The most common cause of ear infections are | | | | usually means having to give your dog pills |
| due to allergies. Some dogs are more prone to | | | | orally. |
| allergies than others; therefore they get | | | | |
| more ear infections. | | | | In some dogs with severe ear problems, the |
| | | | veterinarian will usually clip the hair |
| Another common cause is swimming. They get | | | | around the ear to help let more air into the |
| water inside their ears, and because of their | | | | ear. In extreme cases your veterinarian may |
| difficult anatomy, the water in the ears | | | | recommend surgery to reconstruct the ear |
| cannot drain out. Therefore, this provides | | | | canal to let it drain easier. |
| the perfect environment for bacteria and | | | | |
| yeast to grow. It is recommended that if you | | | | Some breeds of dogs that are prone to ear |
| let your dog play in the water, you dry your | | | | infections include breeds with large ears |
| dog's ears thoroughly afterwards. | | | | that flap over the ear canal, and breeds of |
| | | | dogs that have a very small canal. |
| If your dog does have an ear infection it is | | | | |
| important to properly clean your dog's ears | | | | By knowing what to look for, you can detect |
| before applying any medication. | | | | ear infections early. |