Causes, Symptoms And Methods of Treatment Dog Ear Infection
By: Bimol Bee
Submitted: 2011-12-15 05:00:23 | Word Count: 497
Although the canine ear consists of three parts, the outer ear gets infected most frequently – in 90% of cases. Many dogs get their outer ear infected because of the peculiarities of design of canine ears, so that they become subjects to different infections from pathogens. The design of the dog ear makes it difficult for such substances as water and debris to quickly drain outside of the ear.
The signs or symptoms of Dog Ear Infection include:
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-The dog keeps shaking its head all the time.
-Yellow to brown fluid is coming out of the dog's ears.
-The fluid coming out of the dog's ears smell unpleasant.
-Usually there is redness and swelling on the ear, look out for that.
The causes of dog ear infection
As a rule, allergic dogs are more prone to getting dog ear infection.
Because of the design of dog ears the water can't drain out of the ears easily, that can lead to dog ear infection. So, if your dog likes swimming, it can get dog ear infection. But you can easily avoid it by proper cleaning and drying your dog's ears every time after spending time in water.
You're probably interested in how the dog's ears should be cleaned. Try to follow the next steps.
1. First of all, put a few drops of ear cleanser on the dog's infected ear.
2. Tenderly massage the ear to loosen the debris stuck inside the ear.
3. Wipe the dirt out of the infected ear with the help of a cotton ball to gently.
After cleaning the ear, turn to medication. It's necessary to apply it in accordance to the instruction given on the label of the medicine. The latter should be prescribed by a veterinarian. There're various kinds of medications which are used for treatment different types of infection. If it's yeast infection, the veterinarian will probably prescribe anti-fungal drugs. In case of the infection caused by bacteria, antibiotics will be prescribed.
The medication used for treating dog ear infection needs mostly to be applied directly into the ear. But in some cases oral treatment is necessary as well, depending mainly on the severity of the situation. If the dog has too long hair around the ear, it should be clipped to allow more air to flow through. Very seldom, but still it happens when no medication is able to help the dog, then the veterinarian may suggest surgery.
Generally speaking, all dogs are at risk of getting dog ear infection. Of course, certain breeds are more prone to this illness, especially the dogs with smaller ear canal. However, this infection can be successfully prevented if a dog owner pays special and regular attention to his/her dog's ears, won't forget to periodically clean them.
So, if you have a dog and really appreciate it, take proper care of it and always pay special attention to your dog's ears, clean and wipe them every time after your dog plays in water. Good luck!
