How to Cure Dog Ear Infections

If your dog has been shaking his head vigorously or scratching at one of his ears persistently, he might be suffering from an ear infection. Other symptoms to look for include a dark or yellowish discharge or a foul or cheesy smell coming from the ear. In more severe cases, your dog might experience problems with balance. Canine ear infections are commonly caused by bacteria, yeast or ear mites. Other possible triggers of infection include a foreign body in the ear, tumors, food allergies or an underlying disease. Whatever the cause, canine ear infection should be addressed immediately.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. In order to find out for sure if your dog's ear is infected and what is causing the infection, you will need to take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible after noticing symptoms. Don't let it fester. Your dog is uncomfortable. And whatever is ailing him probably won't clear up by itself. The longer you wait the more serious the infection will become.

2. The veterinarian will examine your dog's ears for signs of infection, mites or a foreign body. He will use gauze or a long cotton swab to clean out the ear. The substance on the swab will be examined under a microscope to determine the presence and cause of the infection. If it is found that your dog's ear is infected, the veterinarian will probably prescribe anti-microbial ear drops and a cleansing fluid. You can ask him to demonstrate the proper procedure for administering the medicine and cleansing the ear.

3. After you return home from the veterinarian, it's up to you to make sure your dog gets the prescribed treatment - usually an application of ear drops twice daily for several weeks and a regular cleansing schedule. Proceed with caution. Your dog's ears might be tender and sore from the infection. He might resist having his ears touched. This will improve as the medicine kicks in and he begins to feel better.

4. Be sure to give the medicine for the prescribed length of time, not just until your dog's symptoms subside. Many veterinarian's will request a follow-up visit to re-examine the ear and determine if the infection is completely gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Dogs with long floppy ears, like Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds, are more likely to develop ear infections than other breeds because their ear flaps cut off ventilation. Dogs with hairy inner ear flaps, like Miniature Poodles and Schnauzers, are more prone to infection since hair also blocks the free flow of air. During bathing, try to prevent water from entering the inner ear. Afterward, make sure that the ears are completely dried.
• Never stick a Q-tip in your dog's ear. This can rupture the ear drum or pack wax further into the ear canal, preventing medications from getting where it needs to go.

Resources

• Home Remedies for Dog Ear Infections
• Cocker Spaniel Ear Cleaner Recipe
• Video: Cleaning a Canine Ear Canal

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[delila01]

on 10/11/2009 This article was very helpful. Thanx.