How To Manage My Dog’s Ear Infection

Like human, ear infections are quite common in dogs. This disease can happen very frequently and can be reoccurring in many dogs. It is estimated that over 20 percent of dogs have some form of ear disease or infection in their one or both ears. If your pet is scratching his/her ear frequently, shaking their head, or smelly coloured discharge coming from their ears, make sure your dog may suffer from an ear infection. Ear infections are common health issues in dogs and can reoccur in the outer, middle or inner ears very frequently. Infections in the ears are quite common in dogs with floppy ears like Golden retrievers, Basset Hounds, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, etc because the texture and shape of their ears block airflow. Serious complications can occur if ear infections spread to the inner or middle ears and left untreated. This may result in different problems in dogs like vestibular dysfunction, hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, ocular issues, etc. In the worst cases, ear surgery is recommended by the veterinarians to remove the ear canal and close up the ear permanently.

Symptoms Of Ear Infections In Dogs
Despite of discharge in the ear canal and buildup of wax, there are some dogs that show no symptoms of ear infection. Usually, a significant discomfort is caused by the ear infections and the dogs affected with ear issues may show various signs such as head shaking, dark discharge, odour, scratching at the affected ear, pain, redness and swelling of the ear canal, itchiness, crusting or scabs in the ears, etc. First of all find out the causes of ear infections in dogs and then try different ways to treat these infections. If you know the causes, it will become easy for you to take preventative steps and keep your pup healthy.

Causes Of Ear Infections In Dogs
Not like humans, the canine ear canal is vertical and L-shape that can tend to hold fluid in it and thus, makes dogs more prone to different types of ear infections. Typically, in dogs ear infections are caused by bacteria, yeast, or a combination of both. When bacteria or yeast enter in the outer ear canal of dogs, usually they cause inflammation and start infections in the ear. In addition, there are several factors responsible for ear infections in dogs like excess moisture, food allergies, endocrine disorders, such as thyroid disease, autoimmune disorders, ear mites, wax buildup, foreign bodies, hereditary conditions, etc.

How To Treat Ear Infections In Dogs
If your dog has minor ear infection, you can treat it at home with some of the best home remedies but if your little pooch has severe infection in the ear, take him/her to the vet immediately for the best treatment. Your vet will also tell you how to prevent ear infections and how to manage this frustrating condition. In severe cases, your veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet’s ears and then properly clean them using a medicated cleaner. Your vet may also prescribe oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications to use at home. Once an appropriate treatment begins, it resolves most uncomplicated ear infections within 1–2 weeks, but in severe infections, it may take months to resolve the problem. When the other treatments have failed in the case of severe chronic infections, your veterinarian may recommend surgery such as a Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA). It is important for pet owners to follow their veterinarian’s instructions closely and to take their dogs to vet hospitals for any recommended recheck appointments as negligence in your dog’s treatment may lead to the recurrence of the infection. Being a pet owner, it is also important for you to finish the full course of your dog’s medications.

Home Remedies To Treat Infections
There are lots of different home remedies that are simple and can effectively treat and prevent your dog’s ear infections without any side effects like in prescribed medications. These home remedies are as follow:
– Mix water with apple cider vinegar and spray it in the infected area. The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of the vinegar will alleviate the the pain and discomfort your dog is experiencing.
– Apply a warm compress to the ears several times a day.
– Trim hair in the area of ear canal as hair can block air flow into the ears and make ears dry and vulnerable to infection.
– For at least 10 days, apply a mixture of five or six drops of mullein oil and garlic oil as this natural treatment will kill viruses, ease pain and reduce swelling.
– Give your dog vitamin C on regular basis as this will not only ensure good aural health but also prevent further infections in the ears.

How To Prevent Ear Infections in Dogs
There is no doubt that prevention is always better than cure. With some precautionary measurements, you can prevent ear infections in dogs. These are as follow:
– Excess moisture is one of the common causes of ear infections in dogs, so after swimming and bathing, dry your dog’s ears thoroughly.
– Clean your dog’s ears at home with some of the best cleaning solutions as this can help prevent ear infections. By using a good cleaning solution, clean your pet’s ear canal with absorbent gauze. For external ear flaps, use cotton swabs for cleaning.
– To prevent chronic or recurrent ear infections in your dog, simply identify and manage any underlying causes such as allergies, etc.