If you notice your dog continuing to scratch his ear, shake his head, or see a smelly, dark discharge coming from his ears, it could be ear infection. This is a common complaint in dogs and can occur in the outer, middle or inner ear. It usually begins with inflammation of the external ear canal, caused by bacteria or fungi. Ear infections in dogs can also be caused by food allergies, parasites, foreign bodies, trauma, excessive moisture, or hereditary factors. If you are concerned that your furry friend is suffering from otitis, take him to the vet for proper treatment. So, learn how to prevent your pet's ear infections and how to clean it properly.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Treating the Ear Infection
Step 1. Look for the symptoms of the infection
Pay attention to any unusual changes in your four-legged friend's behavior and check for physical symptoms such as:
- Ear scratches;
- Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge
- Odor coming from the ear;
- Redness;
- Swelling;
- Skin covered with scabs near the auricle
- Hair loss around the ear
- The animal rubs the ear area on the floor or furniture;
- Shakes or tilts the head
- He loses his balance;
- He makes unusual movements with his eyes;
- Walk in circles;
- You notice that he loses his hearing.
Step 2. Know when it is appropriate to take the animal to the vet
If he has any of the symptoms of otitis, you should take him to the doctor as soon as possible. Ear infections are very painful; some dogs let you know that they are sick and can become more aggressive, while others show no pain at all.
Either way, it's important to get your playmate for treatment right away, as ear infections can cause serious damage if left untreated
Step 3. Treat the infection
This ear problem is often caused by yeast / fungi, bacteria, or even both at the same time. The veterinarian generally applies a topical antibiotic or gives you one to be administered orally, in order to treat the bacterial infection. If, on the other hand, the infection is fungal, he will probably tell you to wash the ear with an antifungal product, he may prescribe topical antifungal drugs or even to be taken orally.
Step 4. Don't think about removing any foreign objects that have lodged in your faithful friend's ear
If you know or even suspect that an object has become stuck in your pet's ear, then this could be the cause of the infection. In that case, the infection will not disappear until the object is removed. Never try to remove it yourself, however, rather take your dog to the vet who will arrange it for you.
Since his ear canal is "L" shaped, any foreign body may have entered deep into the ear and not be visible. In this case, specific tools and physical or chemical methods are often required to safely remove the object. This is why it is important to let the doctor take care of it
Part 2 of 3: Treating the Underlying Causes and Preventing Ear Infections
Step 1. Determine if your pet has any allergies
Allergies are often the primary cause of ear inflammation, making the animal susceptible to ear infections. While it can be difficult to determine an allergic cause, it is helpful to pay attention to certain factors, such as new foods or treats in your diet before the infection flared up. If these foods, for example, contain a particular protein, you should avoid giving them to your four-legged friend.
Animal proteins and dairy products in foods are more likely to cause allergies in pets than cereals, despite the widespread idea that carbohydrate-free diets are better for dogs with food allergies
Step 2. Try giving your pet a diet test
In particular, try giving him some new or unusual protein he has never eaten before. You should feed the dog exclusively with this new diet for at least 8 weeks, although the ideal would be a minimum of 12 weeks. During this time, do not give him sweets, table scraps or other food sources..
With this method you can understand if his problem comes from dietary proteins and you can thus focus on the elements responsible. The best diets based on innovative proteins are special and must be prescribed by the doctor, because there is a risk of cross-contamination with other sources of proteins; however, be aware that these are very expensive foods
Step 3. Test her new diet
At the end of the process, if the dog shows no signs of ear inflammation or skin allergies (most commonly itchy paws and sometimes other areas of the body), then you can take a test by entering only one type of treat or food that ate previously. If you notice any signs of irritation near the ears, paws or skin when reintroducing the old food, you can understand that it contains the harmful proteins that you should eliminate.
If ear infection tends to always occur at the same time of the year and every year, the cause could be a seasonal environmental allergy
Step 4. Limit the animal's activity
During the period of infection, you must make sure that your pet's ears are not excessively exposed to moisture. Therefore, prevent them from playing in the water, swimming, bathing or being subjected to grooming until the infection is cured. Due to humidity, otitis may worsen and heal more slowly.
Step 5. Take the animal to the veterinarian for periodic checks
Make regular appointments with your doctor until the ear infection goes away completely. Some ear infections are mild and easily treatable in 1-2 weeks with topical medications and proper cleansing. Others, on the other hand, are more complex and may require several weeks, additional tests and various treatments or therapeutic procedures.
Always follow your veterinarian's recommendations for regular checkups, as he or she can determine if the ear infection is cured or if it requires further treatment
Step 6. Prevent ear infections
When otitis occurs once, it will most likely recur at other times during the dog's life. The good news is that there are several things you can do to prevent future infections. Several preventive measures are listed below:
- Don't allow your dog to swim or bathe too often;
- Plug his ears by putting cotton in front of his ear when you bathe him;
- Spray your ears with a product containing salicylic acid (which helps dry ear canals).
- Check and manage any allergies your dog may suffer from;
- Clean his ears often.
Part 3 of 3: Clean the Ears
Step 1. Know when to clean your dog's ears
Follow your vet's instructions regarding how often you should clean your furry friend's ears daily or weekly. If the animal suffers from otitis, you must allow the veterinarian to check its ears to make sure that the eardrum is not broken or damaged. Cleaning the ears in case of a ruptured eardrum can cause the situation to worsen and not improve it. Also, doing it too frequently can damage your ears.
Symptoms of ruptured eardrum include pain, turning of the head to the injured side, and sometimes rapid, uncontrolled eye movements and / or dizziness
Step 2. Get a cleaning solution
It is best to use the product recommended by the veterinarian, but there are also washes that can be freely purchased in pharmacies and pet stores. These are quite effective for routine cleaning, but don't use them if you have an infection or if they contain alcohol and other harsh ingredients. They could cause even more pain and irritation.
If the dog has otitis, the veterinarian may prescribe a specific wash to dissolve the earwax, break the cell membrane of bacteria and kill the yeasts that cause the infection
Step 3. Pick up the dog and put him in the correct position
Have him sit so that his back is leaning against a wall or in the corner of a room. Doing so prevents him from moving and escaping during the procedure. He may be in a lot of pain and since you work close to his muzzle, it would be wise to have him wear a muzzle, otherwise the dog may bite you. Plus the muzzle provides you with a gentle grip to hold his head still.
Remember that even the most docile specimen can bite you when it is sick. It is worthwhile that there is also another person to help you to keep the dog still and block its head
Step 4. Apply the cleaning solution
Pour a few drops into the dog's ear canal following the instructions on the package. Massage the base of the ear for 20-30 seconds to help the cleanser to penetrate deeply and remove dirt.
Step 5. Plug the ear and massage it
Use a cotton ball to close the ear canal and repeat the massage at the base of the ear canal. This will push the cleaning solution towards the cotton that will absorb it. The dirt will stick to the wad. Just be sure to insert the cotton vertically into the channel until the opening is blocked and so that it is easy to extract.
The anatomy of the canine ear is different from the human one. Dogs have an "L" -shaped auditory canal, where the vertical portion is what you can see from the outside, while the horizontal one is not visible, as it extends into the dog's skull after an almost 90 ° curve
Step 6. Remove and check the cotton ball
Check the surface for ear wax or other leaks. With cotton, remove all visible traces of dirt from the outside of the ear. Gently clean the inside of the auricle and around the entire ear with a soft, dry cloth, so as to remove residues and moisture.
If the wad is very dirty, then repeat the entire washing procedure one more time
Advice
- Give the dog a treat after cleaning his ears, so that he can associate it with a treat.
- If your dog wags his ears while you clean them, allow him to do so. This way it loosens all traces of dirt and gets rid of excess fluids.
- Highly praise your faithful friend while cleaning his ears. Don't scold or punish him if he moves or shakes his head.
Warnings
- Dogs with pendulous ears or with hair inside the auricle are particularly prone to ear infections.
- Contact your vet instead of trying to treat the infection yourself.
