Symptoms Of Ear Infection In Dogs

An ear infection in your dog’s ears are not uncommon. Your dog will shake its head, flapping its ears, paw or scratch it’s ears and will be sensitive to them being touched in a more severe case. So if you see any of this type of behavior your ears should prick up because the chances are he or she has an ear infection.

A dog with an ear infection may also whine, rub its ears along the ground or floor, against the furniture and often can less energy than usual. Symptoms of the ear itself are swelling, discharge, redness and a even an unpleasant smell. These then are the symptoms of ear infection in dogs so let’s look at the causes.

Causes

The most common causes of ear infection are ear mites, allergies and yeast infection. Allergies often occur in wet conditions. As most dogs have a flap that covers the ear canal it is important that the ears are dried thoroughly should they get very wet. This also applies in the hot weather when humid conditions make dampness in the ear a problem to sensitive dogs. Please bear in mind that real allergies are to do with the immune system so if you feed a good healthy diet you will be less likely to encounter that problem.

If your dog, for whatever reason is in the getting wet business it is likely to be more susceptible to ear infection. To help prevent this you should make every effort to keep the ears clean and dry. This helps to avoid the build up of wax and clipping the hair in the inner ear is a good idea too.

There is a lack of air with long eared breeds which prevents the inside of the ear to get dry naturally. Moist wax is a breeding ground for mites and infections. Therefore it is important to clip hair in the ears periodically so that a hygienic environment is created because too much hair in the ears traps the dust and dirt and helps in causing infections.

Ear mites are the other common reason for ear infections in dogs. Ear mites are very contagious meaning they can easily be passed from one pet to another. Dog ear mites live their entire life inside your dog’s ears and can cause severe inflammation. If your dog is displaying any of the symptoms of ear infection be sure to gently feel for any inflammation of thickening.

In all cases you should be able to see the ear canal clearly. Any small discharge and wax is natural so do not be too alarmed but any abnormal accumulation of muck or a bad smell indicates an infection. A yellow discharge is indicative of a yeast infection while a black one indicates dog ear mites.

Ear Mite Remedies

You can kill ear mites by smothering them in a natural oil like olive or almond oil. Mixing that with a little vitamin E and/or garlic and applying it to the inside of the ear is held by many to be one of the better remedies for ear mites in dogs. If there is an excessive build up of rubbish in the ear than cleaning it with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water does the trick. Just apply a little at a time and clean with a cotton swab. Continue until all debris is removed. You will need to continue the treatment for a week or ten days until any discharges cease.

If you prefer a done for you remedy which is much easier of course, Ear Dr. may be just the thing for you. It contains a blend of natural, herbal ingredients in a medicinal olive oil base. The ingredients are all specially selected to support the health of the skin and structures inside the ear.

Always watch for symptoms of ear infection in dogs with regular grooming . I always like to tell my clients that prevention is better that cure and careful grooming will go a long way in detecting early signs of infections. Knowing your dog’s normal behavior and spotting abnormalities will make his or her life more comfortable.

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