Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

Anyone who has ever experienced a middle or inner ear infection knows the pain and uncomfortable feelings associated with it. Now imagine not beginning able to communicate this pain with others. This is exactly how your dog feels when he has an ear infection. The first and often most difficult step in treating a middle or inner ear infection in a dog is identifying the signs and symptoms that indicate that your dog has one. If left untreated, these infections can lead to much worse issues.

The first signs to look for that suggest your dog may be experiencing ear pain are head shaking, scratching at the ear, discharge from the ear, or inflammation of the face and side of the head. Any of these signs may indicate that the dog has an ear infection. Abnormal earwax build up that has a foul odor often indicates that an infection inside the ear is present.

Middle and inner ear infections in dogs are caused by some form of infection that started on the outer ear and then progressed inward to the inner ear. Anytime that an obvious infection exists on the outside of the ear, be certain to treat it promptly before the infection moves to the inner ear. Infections from ear mites, allergies, improper hygiene, and poor environmental conditions can all lead to middle and infer ear infections in dogs. In most cases, these infections are not caused by bacterial infections as seen in humans.

Any time that there is infection inside of the ear, it is considered a more severe case than an outer ear infection. These infections seem to be more prominent in dogs with floppy ears, such as cocker spaniels. It is important to keep the ears of these breeds groomed. It is also important to periodically examine the inside of the ears of these dogs.

Once you notice signs of an ear infection, contact your vet for an appointment. A veterinarian will examine your dog’s ear with an otoscopic exam and possibly even x-ray. In many cases, the doctor will recommend that the dog be anesthetized so that the ear can be carefully examined and flushed out for treatment.

Treatments for mild infections usually include some form of oral antibiotic along with the treatment of a topical antifungal cream or antibiotic ointment. Eardrops may also be used.

Before treating your dog’s ear with medicine, it will likely be recommended that you gently clean the ear. You will need to treat any ear mites that are present. To prevent re-infection, continue to carry out good hygiene practices of keeping the dog’s ear clean and neatly groomed from longer ear hairs.

Inner or middle ear infections that go untreated for lengthy amounts of time may result in the need for surgical procedures for the dog. Identifying the need for medical attention and making a trip to the vet’s office as soon as possible is the best method for treating a dog with an inner or middle ear infection.

Just as people suffer from hay fever in the spring and fall, pets can get inhalant allergies, called atopy. Atopy is a common disease, affecting 10% to 15% of dogs. The age of onset varies form 6 months to 12 years, with 70% of affected dogs showing clinical signs between 1 and 3 years. Atopy signs are usually seasonal in the beginning, but 80% of dogs eventually experience year-round symptoms. Atopy is associated with irritation in certain body parts of dogs, including the flank, feet, base of the tail, and facial areas around the eyes, mouth, and ears. Female dogs are more likely to be affected than males.

Chronic ear infections are commonly caused by inhalant allergies. This is the most common cause of persistent ear infections in dogs. In certain breeds of dogs, the ears are covered by an ear flap which makes the inside of the ear canal moist and warm, somewhat like an incubator, which is the perfect environment for germs.

Dogs also have a lot of mast cells which can release histamine and other chemicals which are allergic. Thus, it is usual for dogs with allergies to have irritated and itchy ears. It is a long process where the ears are irritated by allergies and respond by producing more ear wax. Due to the inflamed ear canals and additional ear wax and the extra moistness and warmth of the ear canals of dogs, it is now obvious why dogs are so prone to ear infections.

It is important to control these ear infections early and consistently. If this is not done, the inflammation changes the structure of the ear canal and makes it harder to treat the infection. As a result, in many cases more difficult bacteria to kill eventually come to inhabit the ear. Take your dog to your veterinarian and find out if this is the problem and work with your veterinarian to develop a plan to control this problem consistently.

Atopy is sometimes controllable using a combination of essential fatty acid supplementation and an antihistamine like Atarax. This combination only works in about 10 to 15% of dogs but when it does work it is nice because there are far fewer side effects that with the use of corticosteroids.

Ear infections in dogs ears can be very painful and serious, and should be treated immediately by a veterinarian, not ourselves.

How do we know if our dog has an ear infection?

By doing a regular inspection of our dogs ears will be the first step. Be familiar with his ears; know the typical smell, as that may be the first sign of something wrong. If there is an infection or ear mites, the smell may change, a foul odor is very typical of mites or infection. And if you see a dark, waxy type discharge, then this is another symptom of mites or infection. Either way, your dog needs to be checked and treated.

Even if you suspect, it may be something as simple as allergies, it would be better to be safe than sorry and let your loving dog suffer. They depend on you for their care and they have total trust in you. So when you think of it that way, you want to do everything in your power to make sure they stay healthy and happy.

The breeds with the longer floppy ears are going to be more prone to ear infections to those that have the upright ears. I have a black lab and a Chihuahua, ears of each kind. And I always watch for their behavior when it comes to their ears. When they are healthy, they leave them alone, but if there is pain, or discharge, they will paw at them or try to scratch. Dogs will also shake their head back and forth as if trying to shake something out of their ears.

How can you prevent ear infections?

Between normal checkups check your dogs ears on a regular basis. When you are playing with him or her, just casually look in the ears; it doesn’t need to be a form of trauma for them. Another good time is when you are bathing your dog. Never, ever stick anything in your dog’s ear. It is always a better idea to see your vet when it comes to anything to do with this very fragile part of your pet’s body. Their ears are not like ours, they are very sensitive and have parts that can easily be touched and damaged.

There is one method that a vet will recommend for the owner to do. If you sense a foul smell, or something has changed, you may want to flush your dog’s ear with warm water. There are ear washes for dogs that contain Tea Tree Oil; this is very gentle and very effective in cleaning the ears. It is a natural antiseptic, antibacterial and fungicidal, which will help to keep your dog’s ears clear and infection free.

Make your dogs ears a part of your routine, whether bathing or when sitting quietly with him. Give your dog the care that he or she needs and can’t do for him or herself. They can’t tell when something is wrong; it is our job to make sure they are well and carefree.

Just as a dogs life should be!

Dog ear infections are common in dogs and other pets alike, these infections can be caused by numerous situations and causes but as your pet relies heavily on their hearing it can be extremely annoying for them as well as soar and painful.

The shape of a dog’s inner ear is the cause for many of the different ear infections due to it being able to collect moisture from playing around water or in rain, ear wax, dirt and unclean debris, and unwanted parasites.

To identify and determine whether your dog has an ear infection or ear related condition, you will have to study your dog’s behaviour. Common ear infection activities include, rubbing their heads and ears against objects in your house like sofas and tables in order to stop the irritating ear, tilting of the head, and a red looking, soar, foul smelling ear with possible discharge.

To start you should take your pet to a vet to properly diagnose the infection that has occurred they will then probably issue you with medication or need to have the dog sedated in order to clean out the foreign debris. This process can be a difficult one for a vet and may have complications in finding the correct medication.

Dog ear infections that are diagnosed correctly can more than likely be cured, but taking your dog to the vet is crucial, without this step you will be putting your dog through more pain and it will take longer to become better.

To give your dog the prescribed medication you will need to raise the dog’s ear and apply the medication to the vertical part of the ear so it can seep down into the correct area of the dog’s ear. Then holding the base of the ear flap with your finger and thumb massage the ear canal and you will hear a squishing sound to note that the medication is in the correct area, then clean the outside and around the ear with alcohol to stop further dirt from getting into the ear to complete the process.

 

Ear infections not only cause dogs pain and irritation, they can cause permanent damage and hearing loss if left untreated. Ear infections are very common in dogs, and are probably among the most frequent conditions treated by your veterinarian. Because dog ear infections do not go away without treatment and neglecting to treat one can lead the condition to worsen, it is important that dog owners be aware of the signs of an ear infection and seek veterinary care if symptoms are evident.

A dog suffering from an ear infection will usually show certain types of outward behavior in reaction to the ear pain and irritation. If your dog exhibits any of these signs, it is a good indication that you should have him or her evaluated by your veterinarian:

-scratching the ear(s)
-presence of ear discharge
-shaking or tilting head
-swelling and/or redness in the ear area
-foul odor from the ear
-pain or sensitivity in ear area

Some symptoms may be caused or worsened by the dog’s reaction to the ear infection. For instance, an infection may cause the dog to repeatedly scratch the ear, which can prompt the development of a secondary infection. An untreated infection in the outer ear, which would generally be the most easily treated, can advance into the middle ear, which is more serious. Excessive head shaking can also lead to other health issues such as broken blood vessels. If you suspect an ear infection in your dog, it is recommended to seek medical attention sooner than later to constrain the severity of the infection and prevent other potential problems.

The underlying cause of an ear infection in a dog determines the type of treatment needed. Though there are several issues can be the root cause of ear infections, including ear mites, matted hair in the ear canal, or the accumulation of wax, ear infections are generally categorized in one of two ways – bacterial or fungal. Bacterial ear infections are caused by an excess of bacteria, which thrive particularly well in environments of high moisture and low airflow. This is one reason that a physical obstruction can lead to the development of an infection. Fungal infections include yeast infections, a very common cause of ear infections prompted by an overgrowth of yeast. Without treatment, fungal infections can be spread to other parts of the dog’s body. An examination by your veterinarian will determine what type of treatment is needed for your pet.

Some dogs experience chronic ear infections that are frustrating and costly to their owners. Chronic ear infections can be caused by underlying allergies or other health conditions. Dog breeds with dangling ears such as Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels are particularly prone to ear infections.

Usually, ear infections in dogs can be easily cured with the right kind of treatment. Many veterinarians recommend properly cleaning your dog’s ears on a regular basis, or having regular professional cleanings, to help identify the symptoms of an ear infection as early as possible.

If you consider yourself to be a loving and responsible pet owner, then you’re always looking out for your dog’s health. Nothing could be more painful for your dog then to have an unnoticed or untreated medical ailment. Ear infections in particular, are a common health condition that can easily be overlooked, even by the some of the most mindful and caring owners. It’s important that you are aware of the signs and symptoms, so that you can avoid common mistakes and get your dog treatment when they need it the most.

Ear infections can and do occur with any dog breed, however, Cocker Spaniels and Poodles are affected the most frequently. So these dog owners should be extra aware. The most common sign to keep an eye out for is a preoccupation with itching and scratching of ears. Dogs will often rub up against furniture or carpet and scratch their ears with their paws. As far as symptoms, you should be on the lookout for irritated, red inner ears and an odorous blackish yellowish discharge. If left untreated for a long period of time, symptoms may move from the outer ear to the inner ear, causing your dog to have poor overall hearing. At this point, if left untreated you dog may even experience permanent deafness, so speedy treatment is essential.

If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, then you should take your dog to your local veterinarian as soon as possible. In most cases, he or she will diagnose your dog’s ear infection utilizing an otoscope, which will magnify and lighten the inside of the ear. A small sample will also be taken and sent to the lab to determine what type of infection your dog has. Proper action will be taken after your vet determines that your dog does in fact have an ear infection. Sometimes more than one infection may be found in your dog’s ear, so several medications could be needed for proper treatment. In addition to proper medication, you will also need to make sure that your dog gets plenty of rest in a comfortable dog bed.

As long as your dog’s ear infection is treated quickly and properly, then he or she will most likely recover without much trouble. As a responsible pet owner, you need to make sure that you always fully aware of the signs and symptoms so that your dog can get to the vet early and avoid any unnecessary pain and suffering as a result of this common and incredibly uncomfortable medical condition.

Chronic Ear Infections and Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism in dogs occurs when your dog’s thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid hormone is essential for regulating your dog’s metabolism, so when your dog doesn’t produce enough of it your dog usually starts to exhibit some noticeable symptoms:

Your dog may become lethargic

Your dog will probably gain weight without a change in appetite

Your dog may develop bacterial infections on his skin

His skin may become dry

There may be hair loss, especially on your dog’s trunk and tail

There may be a darkening and thickening of the skin where your dog has lost hair

Your dog may not be able to tolerate the cole and may look for warm places

His heart rate may slow

He may become aggressive

He may become depressed

He may develop chronic ear infections

Some of these symptoms, such as hair loss, bacterial infections and chronic ear infections, are similar to those found when a dog has allergic reactions If your dog suffers from chronic ear infections it can sometimes be difficult for an owner to determine the cause.

Why Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism can be inherited but it can also be triggered by pollutants, allergies and other environmental factors. It usually begins in dogs around the age of 2 to 4 years of age, though it can occur in dogs as late as 10 years old. Some breeds, such as Golden Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers are more likely to be hypothyroid than other breeds. Hypothyroidism is rare in toy and small breeds.

Clean ears regularly

If your dog has frequent ear infections you should make sure that you are cleaning his ears with a good ear cleaner regularly. A good ear cleaner will help keep the ears at the proper pH level to discourage bacterial and yeast growth. Cleaning the ear will also remove debris that can trigger infections.

You should also make sure that you keep the hair inside your dog’s ear trimmed or plucked. This allows air to circulate inside the ear which helps to keep the ear drier. Infections can develop when the ear is moist, so a drier ear is a less hospitable environment for things to grow.

It could be allergies

If you suspect that your dog may have chronic ear infections because of allergies then you should make sure that he isn’t bedeviled by fleas or other parasites. Some dogs are allergic to fleas — even the bite from one flea can send them into a gnawing, scratching frenzy. An allergy to flea bites can result in flea bite dermatitis which leaves the skin red and raw and subject to infections.

Your dog could also be allergic to something in his food so you can take the sensible action of reading the ingredients and changing to a food that contains something different. Many dogs are allergic to corn and wheat so you could change to a food that contains rice or oatmeal, for instance. Food allergies are a frequent cause of chronic ear infections.

Let your vet decide

If your dog does have chronic ear infections and you suspect either hypothyroidism or aller gies, your best course of action is to take your dog to your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis. Although serious, the condition can be easily treated. Your vet can determine if your dog is hypothyroid (or if he has autoimmune thyroiditis, the other name for hypothyroidism) with some blood work. If your dog is hypothyroid the condition can be treated with an inexpensive daily thyroid pill. You can see improvement in your dog’s condition in just two to three weeks. When a hypothyroid dog is on regular medication the dog should live a normal life with no side effects. And, all chronic ear infections and other symptoms should disappear.

In the meantime you can treat your dog’s dry and irritated skin with a good oatmeal shampoo and conditioner that will ease the itchiness and add moisture back to the skin and coat and your dog’s ear infections with an all around product like Ear Aid , that will cleanse and moisturize, heal and protect.

So, if your dog has chronic ear infections consider whether he has any of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism. If the ear infections are due to hypothyroidism you can treat the problem and help your dog very easily just by getting the right diagnosis from your vet.

A bad smell means that something is wrong in the ears, and that something usually hurts. Treating the cause of the smell will not only have you snuggling up to your dog again, but will have him feeling more comfortable. That’s a win-win situation for both of you.  http://www.happytailsspa.com/

Ear infections are common in dogs. There are three types of ear infections in dogs: inner ear, middle ear, and outer ear infections. Ear infections can occur as a result of a bacterial infection, fungi, food allergies, after getting water in the ear during a bath, and improper hygiene. The symptoms of an ear infection are easy to spot: redness around and inside the ear, inflammation and foul-smelling wax discharge. The dog that has an ear infection will constantly shake his head and scratch his ear. The more difficult types of ear infection to treat are the inner and middle-ear infections. In these cases, you usually need to take your dog to the veterinarian to be prescribed antibiotics or ear drops.

The outer ear infection can be treated at home by cleansing and drying the ear with a solution that can be bought at your local pet store. You can even use natural products like tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil which are great for treating the outer ear infection commonly known as a “hot spot”. Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties and will speed up the healing process by slowly drying out the infected area. Eucalyptus oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and analgesic qualities. Both of these oils also tend to have strong fragrances so it may take a while for your dog to get used to them. Apply one of these oils 2 to 3 times a day for 3-4 days using a cotton ball (do not use Q-tips or cotton swabs as this may cause even more harm) and you should start seeing an improvement. If there is no improvement, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

Dogs with long floppy ears (e.g. Cocker Spaniel and Basset Hound) tend to get ear infections more easily because of their ears either touching the ground or getting in contact with food and water/moisture. They can have small hairs growing in their ears that need to be removed since they attract moisture and prevent air circulation even more. If not groomed properly by a professional groomer, it could lead to an infection. Also, the air circulation can be restricted in the ears of such dogs which can cause a fungal infection. Such dogs should be groomed regularly and their ears should be cleaned and inspected on a weekly basis. Take the time to check your dog’s ears and prevent any problems in the future which can cause discomfort to your dog.

Dogs can have ear problems for several reasons, but one of the most common reasons is due to bacterial and yeast infections.  That’s when you’ll see the following results:

dog shaking his head

scratching at his ears

Inflammation

a bad smell coming from his ears

ears that are hot and painful when touched

Do your ears hang low?

As the owner of a long-haired, floppy-eared breed of dog, I always have to be concerned about my dogs’ ears. (English Setters already have to be on guard against deafness — like we don’t have enough problems with ears!) Any dog with floppy ears is more likely to have ear infections because the long ears cut off some of the circulating air that would otherwise keep the ears dried out. The hair keeps moisture trapped in the ear. Prick-eared dogs, with their ears exposed to the air, have fewer ear infections.

You’re growing what in your ears?

Yeast and bacteria love to grow in the ears of flop-eared breeds. They also like to grow in the ears of dogs that have very hairy ear canals, like long-haired dogs. Poodles are said to be particularly prone to ear infections because they have a great deal of hair in their ear canals.

Not immune to infections

If your dog has allergies, such as dog food allergies, he is also more likely to express that allergy by having ear infections. According to one source, some 25 percent of dogs with food allergies have ear infections as their only symptom. Those ear infections are likely to be yeast infections. If your dog has allergies then his immune system will likely be affected, making him unable to fight off yeast when it takes up residence in h is ears.

Yeast and bacteria are typically present in your dog’s ears all the time. When they grow out of control it means that your dog’s immune system was not able to fight them off. Your veterinarian will be able to provide you with medication for your dog’s ear infection — most likely drops to be used and a good ear cleaner .

The primary difference between a bacterial infection and a yeast infection (to laymen) is that a yeast infection can spread to other parts of your dog’s body. A yeast infection can also develop a secondary bacterial infection. If your dog scratches at his ears relentlessly he could make them raw and they could become infected with a bacterial infection of their own. This infection would have to be treated separately from the yeast infection.

You will also need to do something to build up your dog’s immune system like giving him a supplement with vitamins and herbs designed specifically to strengthen the immune system. Your vet should also make sure that your dog is not suffering from any kind of allergies that could have triggered the ear infection, especially if your dog has recurring ear infections.

‘Ear’s some tips

There are some things you can do to try to prevent ear infections from yeast and bacteria:

Clean your dog’s ears regularly with a good ear cleaner .

Keep the hair inside the ear and around the opening of the ear trimmed to allow air to circulate.

Feed a good quality food without corn, wheat or other carbohydrates that have been linked to food allergies. Look for foods high in meat protein.

If your dog swims you should use cotton balls to gently dry out the inside of your dog’s ears afterward. Clean your dog’s ears following a swimming session.

For most dogs ear infections are preventable with regular ear cleaning . If your dog does develop an ear infection it’s best to see your veterinarian. Left untreated, or not treated properly, ear infections can become very hard to clear up and may even require surgery. Keep those ears clean! http://www.happytailsspa.com/Ear-Aid

Ear infections are common problems in dogs. They usually affect the auricle.

The 4 main causes of infection are allergies, bacteria, yeast and mites. Symptoms include head shaking, scratching, head tilting, personality and behavioral changes, appetite loss, odor, discharge, pain, bleeding and swelling. The treatment of dog ear infections depends on the underlying cause.

Allergy infections

Allergies, to food or inhaled substances, are the primary cause of persistent dog ear infections. In response to the allergy, the ear produces excessive wax which makes an ideal environment for bacteria and yeast to thrive.

Allergies can be difficult to control. They are diagnosed through skin testing, blood testing or allergy testing. These tests determine the allergens that cause infection in your dog. Once the allergen is known, your dog can be treated with allergy shots and by minimizing its contact with the allergen. Although costly and complicated, these tests and injections are more effective to finding the right treatment.

If the dog owner does not want these tests or injections, corticosteroids are prescribed for itchiness and inflammation. Allergy symptoms can be controlled with antihistamine and fatty acid supplements.

Bacteria and yeast infections

Ear infections in dogs can be caused by various types of bacteria and yeast. The healthy ear normally has a strong defense against these micro-organisms. In the event that the ear canal weakens or the ear environment changes due to allergies, injury, moisture and other causes, the defense mechanism is compromised and bacteria and yeast infections can occur.

This type of infection is diagnosed by examining swabs of the ear under a microscope for bacteria, yeast or any other infection. Normally, there is discharge and bad odor. The ear must always be cleaned before applying medications. Bacteria infections are treated with oral and/or topical antibiotics while yeast infections are treated with oral and/or anti fungal drugs.

Ear mite infections

Another common cause of ear infections in dogs is the mite. This parasite lives in the auditory canal and on the head of dogs. The infected dog suffers from intense itchiness and inflammation. Excessive scratching causes damage to the auricle and bleeding. As the auricle becomes injured, secondary infection from bacteria or yeast may occur and further exacerbates existing problems.

The vet can see mites by looking into the ear with an otoscope. The ear must be cleaned thoroughly before applying medication. Treatment is on a daily basis, for a week, and repeated when necessary, depending on the product used.

If you notice any of the symptoms of dog ear infections, consult your vet for proper medical diagnosis and treatment immediately. If left untreated, the infection on the auricle can spread to the middle and inner ear. Once the ear drum is affected, your dog may experience loss of hearing which is irreversible. There may be other complications that may arise.