Dog Ear Infections – Symptoms and Treatments
Your dog is your best buddy around. He misses you when you leave him home or in his dog house and he welcomes you wholeheartedly once you come back home. However, when your canine friend suffers from any health issues, you will be the saddest amongst all. One of the most common types of health issues faced by dogs is ear infections. It causes a lot of pain to dogs and they often tend to rub or scratch or shake their heads in order to get some temporary relief from it. When you notice such symptoms, you will also get an abnormal odor from both the ears or also witness a swelling or redness inside the ear.
Symptoms of Dog Ear Infections
There are several symptoms of ear infections in dogs. These symptoms may vary from one situation to another. However, proper knowledge about these symptoms can help you take proper steps to cure the problem on time.
- There may be yellow, bloody or brown discharge from the ear of your canine friend.
- Most of the time dogs scratch at their ears or the area surrounding the ears.
- You will also witness swelling and redness in and around the ear regions.
- You will also find scabs or crusts on the inner section of the outer ear along with frequent hair loss around the ear.
- Dogs also tend to tilt their heads or shake their heads when they suffer from ear infections.
- Sometimes, they also rub their ears and the surrounding area on a furniture or on the floor.
Treatment of Ear Infections
There are several ways to treat ear infections in dogs and our favorite product is this dog ear infection treatment from Banixx. First of all, it is good for you to note that ear infections are caused by bacteria. You need to take your pet to a vet and get the ears and the surrounding areas thoroughly cleaned. This should be followed by proper medications at home. Vets may either prescribe oral medicines or topical medicines for the treatment. Ear infections are painful for dogs. When it comes to cleaning, a gentle cleaner is applied. The ear canal is filled with the cleanser, after which you need to place a good sized cotton ball in the canal opening. This should be followed by a gentle massage of the ear, particularly at the base. The primary function of the cotton ball is to act as a lid to prevent the cleaner from coming out. It also tends to absorb any excess cleanser and hold onto the debris that comes out from the ear.
As long as your pet can tolerate the process, you can carry on with it numerous times until the cotton ball comes out clean. Do remember not to use Q-Tip swabs, since these have a tendency of pushing the debris deeper in the ear canal and damaging the eardrum. Rubbing alcohol should also be avoided as these tend to cause irritation to any inflamed skin. Once the cleaning process is complete, let the ear dry for around 10 minutes after which you may apply the medication prescribed by the vet.
About Christian Reynolds
Christian is the chief reporter, editor, and webmaster at Cleveland Leader. An aspiring news anchor, his hobbies outside of investigative reporting are golf, martinis, and adventure travel. If you have a scoop on any developing story, please contact him on this page.
