Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

Have you noticed that you’re dog cannot seem to stop scratching his ear or both ears?  This may be a sign that your dogs ears need to be clean.  Or it may also be a sign of a more serious condition that needs to be treated as soon as possible.  This article will discuss some of the potential ear problems that your dog might be suffering from and how you can treat them.

One of the most common ear problems that dogs often deal with is wax buildup which can cause irritation if left untreated too long.  This is common in dogs that have floppy ears than hand down instead of standing straight up.  This waxy buildup is usually caused by excess moisture in the ear, or other debris that remains in the ear.  Excess water and other substances remain trapped in the ear because the ears cover the ear opening so it is less likely that the water and debris can drained or released from the ear.  Consequently, water does not dry up as easily because there is less air flow to the inner ear.

Two other types of ear issues that your dog could experience are the yeast infection, and ear mites.  The yeast infection results from the excess buildup of water and debris in the inner ear and over time those substances will continue to fester and create the substance know as yeast, which will be very irritating to your dog.  One way of diagnosing this condition is by the appearance of the waxy buildup, and by the smell that is released from the infected buildup.  The color of the buildup will typically be a brown to dark brown color and will have distinct foul odor.  Ear mites are a little harder to diagnose since they are so tiny.  If redness exists, but you do not see any discoloration, you can have your dog’s ears check by a veterinarian.  They will have the proper tools that will allow them to see the ear mites to determine if that is the definite issue.

The common ear condition of waxy buildup is treatable with over the counter ear cleansing solutions and usually can be cleared up fairly quickly if treated consistently.  To clean your dog’s ears, place the tip of the nozzle on the ear cleansing solution into the ear canal and squeeze enough solution in to make a squish sound when you are massaging the dog’s ear.  Once you have the solution in the ear, place a cotton ball in the canal to prevent the solution from coming out.  Massage the ear in a circular motion for about 30 seconds, keeping the cotton ball in the can to prevent the solution from getting out. You should be able to hear the solution swishing around in the dog’s ear.  Use more solution if you do not hear this. After about 30 seconds or so, release the cotton ball and allow your dog to shake his head.  This will throw any access debris and solution from his inner ear.  Be careful where you stand!  This could be messy if he has a lot of buildup.  Wipe any excess dirt and solution from inside the ear and repeat if necessary.

Other issues like the yeast infection are typically not treatable with over the counter solutions, but rather with prescription solutions that are more powerful.  Conditions can also be treated with antibiotics if the infection is bad enough.

If you’re dog is having problems with his ears and you can see that he is definitely bothered by it, it may be because he his an ear issue that needs treatment either by yourself or a veterinarian.  Remember, you can help by cleaning your dog’s ears on a weekly basis and continuing to monitor their condition.  If it is something more severe, always consult a veterinarian for treatment.  You’re dog will be much happier and so will you.

Inevitably, in the life of every pet owner, there are unexpected behavioral problems here and there that need dealing with. It pays to be understanding and patient with your cat, as many times the issue is fully fixable and just a matter of understanding pet behavior. Here are some of the most common problems owners report having with their cats, and suggestions on how to handle them.

Soiling outside the litter box.

This is something that many cats will do when the litter box is not kept clean. Like us, they want to relieve themselves in a clean environment. If you have a multiple cat household like I do, buy more than one litter box, use scoopable cat litter and strain it frequently to keep it clean as possible. I have one robotic cat box that automatically cleans a few minutes after one of the cats leaves it. It does a great job but it must be kept clean or it will malfunction. The bottom line is, keep the litter box clean.

Wherever the cat has soiled outside the box, make sure the area is cleaned thoroughly with appropriate cleaner. You can buy cat repellant sprays at the pet store, those work pretty well. If you don’t have any, spray the fully cleaned area with potent perfume, cats usually hate perfume and will avoid the area totally to avoid the smell.

Throwing up on the carpet.

If you think your cat is sick, ask the doctor by phone if the symptoms are worth bringing in kitty for a checkup. Cats barf, it happens. They get hairballs from cleaning themselves, or they eat too fast and hurl it back up afterwards. If I see blood in the vomit, that is when I know to call the vet and bring kitty in, especially if he isn’t eating. Don’t delay if that happens. But for everyday barfing up hairballs or overeating, those I prevent as much as I can through their diet. I buy dry food that is for “Sensitive systems” or “Hairball management”. Ask a vet other tips on supplementing kitty’s nutrition so he won’t feel the need to hurl so much. Surely there are more ways to prevent this, but watching my cats’ diets has cut down on their needing to vomit, considerably.

You bring home a new cat, and the new cat doesn’t like it.

Cats are territorial, and it takes some adjustment for everyone when a new pet is added in. Cats naturally react with hissing, maybe growling and swatting one another when really mad. I introduced a new cat into my household a year ago and he instantly got along with one of my cats but hates the other one. But, they have learned to tolerate eachother, and I bet when I’m not looking they may actually be buddies deep down. How I acclimated them to eachother is, at first I used a cat pheramone spray called Feliway in the room, which is a natural calming medium for some cats. It calmed my more hyper cat down somewhat. Also, a spray bottle filled with water works great if they swat at or get nasty with eachother. One good squirt of water, and cats will scatter. Basically, you are re-training them to live with eachother. By rewarding good behavior and quickly, calmly responding to unwanted behavior, they learn to mellow out and co-exist. After 30 plus years of cat ownership, I know all cats can get along eventually. I grew up with cats and we always listened to hissing and mayhem when introducing new ones. If they get really nasty, put one in the bathroom, and let them sniff eachother under the door. Gradually put the two cats together more and more until they are more tolerant of one another. Even now in my household, there is a hiss here or there, or a swat, but nothing catastrophic. Make sure to pet both cats when you bring a new cat in, so the they both see that you “approve” of them. Be patient and don’t lose your temper, as anger will make everything worse, not better. Don’t stir fear into the picture, stay calm and let them go through their meowfest until they calm down. They will, trust me.

Kitty likes to sharpen his claws on your couch and other things he shouldn’t touch.

Buy a scratching post, and a cardboard cat scratcher (found in pet stores). Put dried catnip on the scratching post to attract the kitty and he’ll be climbing all over it in no time. The cardboard cat scratcher comes already infused with catnip, and absolutely no cat will refuse that thing when they smell it. Put your fingers on the post as they are looking at it, and pretend to scratch. I know, it sounds dumb, but it works. Cats mimic their mothers when they show them to hunt, so they can mimic you, the human parent, as you “scratch” at the post. Praise them profusely when they do what you do and start to scratch. If you can afford it, get a kitty condo or cat tree. There are some great ones on online auctions, brand new. I bought a huge one for half of what it would cost at the pet store chains, online. It was easy to put together, and my cats live on it. If you get one, again, put catnip on it to show them how interesting it is. My cats live on theirs. It keeps them off the couch, and gives them something to watch birds from (I put mine next to a large window).

Your cat likes to jump up on tops of things he shouldn’t, such as shelves or the tv.

If the space is small, get a semi-tacky thick roll of painters’ tape (it’s sticky but not overly so) or double sided sticky tape. Put strips of it on top of the items you know he will jump on. When he jumps up on it, believe me, he will not want to do it again. My one cat loved jumping on top of my stereo speakers, but when I did this, he stopped doing it forever after one encounter with the tape. The idea is to make the environment unpleasant to the kitty, and that should do the trick quickly. For larger spaces like a chair seat, buy a Purr Pad at the pet store, which gives a mild shock when kitty jumps on the area. It comes in different sizes and doesn’t hurt the kitty, just shows him that the place he jumped on isn’t for him. Or, tape some balloons on the surface of a place the kitty wants to frequent. One claw touching those balloons and he won’t be wanting to go there again.

These are some tips my family and I have used for years to train our cats. Some cats are more mischevious than others, but that is part of their charm. Cats are a joy to watch, just watch a kitten play, it is fun to see such unbridled energy and excitement. Just show them what behaviors you expect of them, since they won’t know until you guide their way. Do it with love, and patience. And they will reward you with unconditional love for life.

Say you have an itch that just won’t stop. What you will most likely do (after almost scratching your skin off!) is go directly to the nearest pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for the most potent cortisone or antihistamine that their store has. Then you lather or drink that drug up like there is no tomorrow.

Having an excruciating back ache or a smashing headache is a nuisance but if you have a skin rash you feel very, very itchy and it’s like you’re in living hell and your nails aren’t doing justice to what you feel.

Now imagine the same unbearable skin rash, only this time, you cannot go to your favorite pharmacy and you cannot just tell a doctor to treat you up because you cannot speak. Sounds like a horrible scenario? Well, this is how your four-legged bundle of joy actually feels when he or she has a dog skin rash!

Causes

Dog skin rashes are very difficult to treat because you never know what causes them. So, really the best thing you can do for your beloved dog is to prevent the skin rashes from occurring. Here are ways you can prevent this from occuring:

1. The number one cause of dog skin rashes are external dog parasites such as ticks, fleas, lice and mites. To avoid these external parasites, do not let your dog play with strangers’ pets unless you are sure they are not infected. Always keep your furry friend’s house parasite free by cleaning it well and in case that parasites do attack, treat your dog with a tick and flea shampoo or cream.

2. Internal parasites can also cause dog skin rashes so to avoid intestinal parasites, make sure that both the water and food that your loyal dog takes in are clean.

3. Comb or brush the coat of your dog regularly especially if your pup has thick and long hair. Tangled hair can cause the skin to become irritated which can lead to scratching.

4. Find a shampoo that does not dry out your dog’s skin if you like to bathe your doggie regularly.

5. Make sure you buy good quality dog chow to boost your dog’s immune system. Commercial grade dog food is usually just filled with extenders that have no additional nutritional value unlike good dog food.

Solution

But a dog cannot avoid skin rashes forever. Even if you are the most attentive, cleanest and most caring dog parent, he or she will still get skin rashes at one point in his or her doggie life. So what do you do in times when your furry friend is scratching and gnawing at his or her skin like crazy?

1. First of all, give your dog a bath. Find an anti-tick, anti-fleas medicinal shampoo.

2. Have a look at your dog’s food. If you’ve just changed your dog’s food brand, and he or she seems to have acquired the habit of scratching, then you may need to buy your old brand back because the new one is making your poor pooch itch. Better yet, consider some of the natural diets. Type in “BARF diet” on the Internet and you’ll find a lot of great resources. Also remember that certain dog breeds are naturally pre-disposed to specific allergies (I.e. Shih Tzus tend to be allergic to chicken). If, in any doubt, talk to a holistic minded veterinarian or nutritionist who can show you the proper meal plan.

3. Some dogs are itching because they are restless. Giving your dog enough exercise might just do the trick.

4. You may also consider purchasing products that specialize in treating dog skin rashes. There are a variety out there but one of the most effective ones I’ve ever seen contains the Mayan traditional herb Tepezcohuite. (In fact, I was so impressed with its natural abilities that I created an all-natural dog balm called K9 KlearUp around this compound – www.k9klearup.com. It’s guaranteed to help clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems).

So there you have it, some simple solutions to help get rid of a severe dog skin problem: skin rashes. Your dog should be wagging his tail again in no time!

EBR Animal Control rescues stray dogs, offers them for adoption
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