Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

The best way to treat a canine ear infection is by catching it early.  Knowing the early symptoms can help you recognize the problem and seek treatment before it develops into something serious.  Owners of dog breeds especially prone to infections should be particularly diligent in their inspections.

Infections are divided into outer, middle and inner ear infections.  Outer ear infections are usually easy to visually spot.  These are also the easiest to treat.  A weekly inspection of the dog’s ears will be the only thing required to find such problems.

Middle and inner ear infections are both more difficult to spot and more serious.  Often the dog will scratch the ear or rub the ear on the ground to seek relief.  Sometimes you will notice a discharge coming from the ear.  Any time you dog is acting strange and irritated, a good suspect is an ear infection.  These types require a trip to the vet to acquire medication.  Things such as bacteria, parasites and even allergies can be the cause.

Many types of infections can be prevented by simple hygiene.  In the beginning, your dog will not be cooperative, but most dogs learn to eventually tolerate the cleanings quite well.  You can obtain a gentle cleaning solution from a vet or a pet store.  Apply it to a clean cloth and gently apply it to the inside of the ear.  Dirt and wax will loosen and can be removed.

Cleaning your dog’s ears does not need to be performed too often.  Once a month will usually suffice.  If you have certain breeds of dogs, especially those with floppy ears, you may need to clean more often since lack of air flow to the inside of the ear can facilitate infections.  Proper grooming can help with this by preventing ingrown hairs from the ears.

If you can’t make it to the vet and you suspect your dog has an ear infection, a temporary home solution can help.  Both vitamin E and Cod Liver oil can reduce the pain a nd severity of infections.  Simply place a few drops in your dog’s ear each day.  Also, white vinegar can be used to clean the ears.

Don’t ignore the signs of ear infections.  Left untreated they can turn into something serious and cause your dog unnecessary pain.

Dog yeast infection is very common for dogs, especially the older ones. Also, the organism called Malasezia is found normally on the dog skin, this is not developed into an yeast infection without certain conditions. Dog ear yeast infection develops in pets with long anf furry ears. Hoever, you should not mistaken it with ears infection. That is why a visit at your veterinarian will tell exactly what your dog has.

The main areas of where canine yeast infection appears are the ears and the skin, notably the belly, neck and feet. Usually is very easy to notice if your pet gets yeast due to its foul smell from the ears and sometimes leaking. If the infection is present on the skin, than usually the hair is lost and you can notice some patches on the skin.

Yeast infection in dogs can be prevent it very easily if you maintain a good hygiene of your pet. Yeast fungus is developing in wet, moist areas, so keeping your pet dry all the time and clean helps your pet not to get the infection.

Food is a major cause of developing canine yeast infection as it influence its immune system and also the level of yeast in its body, the same like humans. Vaccine is also known for getting yeast infection in dogs.

To be sure that your dog have really yeast infection, a trip to your vet should clarify this. Sometimes, a test on microscope from your dog skin can tell if it has the Malasezzia, but is not always clear.

Steroids are a major cause for getting candidiasis  in dogs, so you should avoid them as much as possible. Also, having treatments with antibiotics is bad for the immune system of your pet. Try to give them only when it is really necessary. Also, nowadays it is more difficult to know when we actually eat antibiotics, as many animals are given antibiotics in their food and we end up eating meat with antibiotics. The same thing with the food for your dog. If your puppy gets chronic yeast infection, you may take a look at his diet and origin of its food.

Canine ear infections are a common problem for dog owners. The infection can occur in the external ear canal and spread to the middle ear. Dogs with hairy or pendulous ears commonly suffer infections.

Causes

The most common cause for canine ear infections is bacteria. Your dog may also get an infection if you don’t dry his ears properly after he takes a bath or goes swimming. Other common causes include ear wax buildup, hair buildup, and foreign objects. An infestation of ear mites can also cause an ear infection. Symptoms

Canine ear infections are uncomfortable, so your dog will frequently scratch or rub his ears. He will also shake his head a lot or tilt it to the side. You may notice that his ears produce a discharge accompanied by an odor. It is not uncommon for your dog’s ears to become inflamed and turn red.

Treatment

If left untreated, canine ear infections can cause serious damage to your dog. You will be happy to know that these infections are usually very easy to treat. If it is caused by a foreign object, then your dog will likely be sedated while the vet removes it. Medication will also be prescribed to get rid of the infection. You will also need to clean your dog’s ears on a daily basis for a few weeks. It’s also necessary to make sure no water gets into your dog’s ears until the infection clears up.

Prevention

There are a few things you can do to prevent canine ear infections. This is especially important if your dog has pendulous or hairy ears. You should make sure to dry your dog’s ears thoroughly after he takes a bath or goes swimming. It’s also a good idea to clean his ears at least once a week.

Ear infection, no matter how mild, requires a veterinarian’s attention. While some infections can possibly heal on its own, the vet should always be consulted so that the right treatment therapy is provided to your pets. The cure of dog ear infection should start the moment it is diagnosed. Otherwise, the condition may worsen. Ear infection is one health concern that all dog owners should be well-informed about because of its high number of noted cases.

There are different types of dog ear infection– the outer, middle, and inner ear infections. The primary symptoms of this disease are foul-smelling wax discharges, swelling, redness, pain, and inflammation. Oftentimes, the cases of inner and middle ear infections are a lot harder to treat than that of outer ear infections.

If your dog is suffering from this health concern, you will find it shaking or cocking its head frequently and at an unusual angle. It may also rub its ear incessantly because of irritation. In worse cases, dogs would develop balance problems and hearing impairment due to the disease.

There are different reasons why ear infection in dogs develops. Sometimes, it is due to bacterial and yeasts finding its way in the dog’s ears. Mites may cause this disease as well. So if your dog has some parasites, be sure that you do what it takes to eliminate them from your pet’s body. Allergies, underlying diseases, and foreign objects may trigger the problem as well.

If your dog is suffering from ear infection, anti-bacterial medications and ear drops are usually the foremost cures. However, it is strongly advised that you don’t just buy over-the-counter medications as they may not necessarily help your pets. Instead, talk to the vet, ask for a prescription, and follow his advice.

For milder cases of ear infection, there are home remedies that you can use to help alleviate the discomfort that your dog goes through. Sometimes, it is necessary to provide your dog with both the medicines prescribed by the vet and the remedies found around the house to achieve fast relief from ear infections.

But more than treatment, dog owners should be more concerned on how to prevent ear infections. Regular grooming and proper hygiene can help a lot. For as long as you know how to take care of your pets properly, infections and all types of diseases shouldn’t be a concern for you.

If left untreated, ear infection could pave the way to a host of complex health concerns for your dog. Aside from deafness, your dog can develop tumors and diseases that are hard to treat. The bottom line is that simple ear infection can develop into diseases with complications are next to impossible to reverse. And these diseases shouldn’t have occurred in your beloved pets, if you were only there to give them the necessary medical attention.

So the next time you see your pets irritable, scratching its ears often, and has abnormally high ear wax excretion, better be ready for an appointment with the vet. Keeping your dog’s health problems at minimum could help both of you greatly in the long run.

In this article, “How To Avoid A Dog Ear Infection Or Other Canine Ear Problems”, we investigate the some causes of ear infections and other related ear problems as well as providing some pratical advice on how to keep your dog’s ear in good working order.

Regular examination of your dogs ears should be another integral part of your grooming routine. Your examination should not only be checking for dirt, excessive wax, offensive odors, but also for tears and swellings. There are three main parts to a dogs ears: the outer flap (the pinna), the ear canal, and the middle or inner ear.

The pinna can either be pendulous (floppy) or erect. It can be covered in long hair in breeds such as spaniels and setters or with short hair in breeds such as shepherds and terriers. The ear canal is L-shaped. It starts of at a vertical angle and then makes a horizontal turn. Because of this shape we can only make a cursory examination. A veterinarian can make a complete examination using a device called an otoscope. Using the otoscope the veterinarian can also check the inner ear.

A dog which shakes its head, scratches or rubs it head against the floor or furniture is indicative of a dog with a possible ear problem. Offensive odors could also be indicative of an ear infection. These as well as tears and swellings on the outer ear should be checked and treated by a veterinarian.

Cleaning of the ear canal can be accomplished by using various solutions. There are cleansing solutions, ear-wax loosening and removal solutions and ear drying solutions available through your veterinarian and pet stores. Before putting anything in your dogs ears, consult with your veterinarian.

If the ear flap is dirty, it can be cleaned with a soft moist cloth or gauze wrapped around a finger tip. Q-tips can be used inside the small outer crevices. Gentleness is essential so as not to cause trauma to the outer ear or cause wax or dirt to be forced down the ear canal. Dogs with excessive hair such as spaniels should have the hair on the underside of the flap removed by trimming it, thus causing adequate ventilation and drainage. A build-up of dirty waxy hair can seal off the ear canal creating an environment suitable for bacterial growth such as yeast infections, or a breeding ground for parasites such as ear mites.

Another good time to check your dogs ears is when you come home from exercising in open fields or in the forest (hunting or tracking). Check for bugs such as ticks and for tears. A good brushing and bathing can remove dirt, bugs and allergens, which can also affect the ears.

Because of the shape of the dogs ears damage to the ear drum is rare but caution should be exercised when cleaning the ears. Again, never put anything in your dogs ears unless advised by your veterinarian and use extreme gentleness when cleaning the ears. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you have any concerns. An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure.