Dog ear infections should not be ignored. If left untreated, they can cause permanent damage to a dog’s hearing. A dog’s ear can be divided into three sections: the inner, middle, and outer parts.

Most infections occur in the outer part of the ear, and set in when moisture becomes trapped in the ear canal. This tunnel-like feature starts out horizontally before dipping vertically, creating a place for water to pool. Thus, the internal structure of a dog’s ear allows infections to become a common occurrence.

It is relatively simple to prevent and/or treat ear infections in your canine friend. Remember always to be on your guard, which means checking your dog frequently for ear infections. Look for signs of redness or swelling. If you see an excess of substances or detect a foul odor, you know your pet probably has an ear infection that should be treated immediately.

Visit your veterinarian for a consultation. They will most likely prescribe a liquid medication to be administered into the ear daily. Make sure the ear canal is clean before doing this, or the medication will not work effectively.

To clean the ear, you will need an ear wash solution. Squeeze a few drops of the ear wash in the ear, flip the ear flap back down and then massage the base of the ear. The dog will want to shake its head so be prepared. The solution will loosen the discharge.

Remove the gunk after it has loosened up. Use cotton swabs, Q-tips, or a cloth to carefully remove the build-up. Your pet may be afraid during this step and react accordingly. A good precaution is to have another person available to hold the patient down. Be careful.

The next step is to insert the medication. Pay close attention to the dosage recommended by the veterinarian and only administer that amount. Your veterinarian will have determined what type of medication is necessary based on what type of infection your dog is suffering.

This could be either a yeast or bacterial infection. For a bacterial infection, an antibiotic would be prescribed. A yeast infection requires an antifungal treatment. Either type is usually a liquid that is to be placed in the ear unless the infection is severe or involves the middle or inner ear. In that case, you may need to administer a oral medication as well as the ear treatment. If your dog does get an infection, the best thing to do is not panic. Seek the care they need immediately. A certain degree of responsibility on your part is required to ensure a safe recovery for your pet. Follow the directions provided by your veterinarian and your pet will be healthy again in no time.

If you want to find out more about dogs, make sure to check out How To Train Your Dog To Fetch. This and other unique content ” articles are available with free reprint rights.

Tagged with: • • • •

Filed under: Dogs

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!