Dog Ear Infection

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Posted by admin | Posted in Dog Care Tips | Posted on 07-06-2004

Tags: dog, dog ear infection home remedy, dog ear infection symptoms, dog ear infection treatment, dog ear infections, dog ear infections home remedies, dogs, ear, health, infection

Dog Ear Infections Diagnosed

dog ear infections are also commonly called otitis externa. It is an infection of the external ear. There are three parts to the ear, the outer, middle and inner ear. Ninety percent of infections occur in the outer ear, the ear you can see.

Dogs are prone to ear infections because of the anatomy of their ears. They have a horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it's hard for anything in there to drain out, like water or debris.

Signs of an ear infection include excessive head shaking, yellow to brown discharge in the ears, or a yeast-like odor. Other signs of ear infections include redness and swelling.

There several causes of ear infections. The most common cause of ear infections are due to allergies. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others, therefore have more ear infections.

Another common cause is swimming. Receive water in their ears, and due to tortuous anatomy, the water in the ears can not be eliminated. Therefore, this provides the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to grow. It is recommended that if you let your dog play in the water, dried your dog's ears thoroughly afterwards.

If your dog has an ear infection is important to clean your dog's ears before applying any medication.

To clean the ears of your dog, begin by placing a few drops of ear cleaner and massage the ear to help loosen the debris that is there inside. Then use a cotton cloth or gauze to wipe off dirt.

After your dog's ears are thoroughly cleaned, then you can apply your medication. Follow the advice of your veterinarian about how much medication to be applied in the ear, usually a few drops.

Treatment your veterinarian will prescribe will vary depending on the cause of ear infection. For fungal infections, which may be prescribed anti-fungal medications. For Bacterial infections will probably prescribe antibiotics. Usually, treatment is applied directly to the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment may be necessary. This usually means having to give your dog pills orally.

In some dogs with severe ear problems, a veterinarian I usually trim the hair around the ear to help let more air into the ear. In extreme cases, your veterinarian may recommend surgery to reconstruct the channel let drain for easy listening.

Some breeds of dogs that are prone to ear infections include breeds with large ears that flap over the ear canal external and breeds of dogs that have a very small channel.

By knowing what to look for, you can detect ear infections early.

About the Author

You can download the free ebook “Discover the Secrets to a Healthy Dog” at http://www.free-dog-info.com. It’s a premiere website offering quality articles and products for dog owners.

Dog Health Treatment & Advice : How to Treat Your Dog’s Ear Infection