What Are Scabs in Papillon Ears?
Papillon is a breed of toy dog with long flowing hair and beautiful fluffy ears. They have been documented as far back as 700 years in Europe. They are a loyal, intelligent, and long-lived animal, but even the healthiest creature can have problems. With the hair they boast they can run into ear problems, as can any long-haired breed. Knowing how to identify what causes ear scabs is essential in keeping a papillon healthy.
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What Causes Scabs in Papillons' Ears
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An infestation of ear mites can lead to scabs and a foul odor in a dog's ears. Fleas embedded in the ear canal, as well as in the outer ear, can cause scabs when the animal scratches at the affected area. A side effect of rabies vaccinations can also cause scabs on a dogs ears. In addition, hair allowed to mat can accumulate debris and excess earwax that causes hair pulling and scratching, causing scabs.
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Preventing Scabs in Papillons' Ears
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Keeping the ears clean and checking them regularly will help to identify a problem with mites and fleas before it spreads. A regular fur check for fleas is recommended as fleas reproduce so fast they can quickly become a problem. When an allergic reaction is suspected, it is best to seek a veterinarian's advice on treatment.
How to Clean Papillons' Ears
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Using an ear cleaning solution such as Sulfodene will remove debris and ear wax deep inside dog's ears., and there are many products available which will kill ear mites. The lack of itching will help scabs to heal over time.
Removing Excess Ear Hair
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This is best left to a veterinarian who knows how far down the ear canal to remove hair. The procedure is simple and the discomfort to the animal is brief. A vet or groomer cleans the ear and then dries it before grasping the hairs. It is like waxing one's legs without using wax. The reason this is done is to improve the environment of the ear canal to prevent fungus and wax buildup, to remove foreign matter, and to check for more serious medical issues such as infections, tumors, and excess blood buildup.
What not to do to Papillons' Ears
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Do not apply alcohol into the ear canal, as this will irritate and cause painful reactions to the sensitive tissue of affected areas. Using any human medications without the advice of a vet can be dangerous to the animal's health. Do not pick at scabs, as this can cause pain to the dog and cause infection.
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of T I M O
