WARNING: None of these pics are offensive or harmful, but some are just plain gross!
Ear infections are often the #1 reason dogs are taken to the vet so maybe you’ve seen (and smelled!) the signs before. As smart as our pups are, they can’t just tell us when something is bothering them, making it imperative that we pay attention and act on the nonverbal cues they give us.
Recognizing The Problem:
It usually starts with the head shaking and rubbing on the carpet. These behaviors, while pretty adorable, can indicate a big problem in your dog and require closer inspection. Some common indicators of ear infections include:
Brown, yellow or bloody discharge
Odor in the ear
Redness
Swelling
Crusty or scabby skin on the near ear flap
Hair loss around the ear
Head shaking
Loss of balance
Unusual eye movements
Walking in circles
Hearing loss
Ear infections are almost always due to an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast which could be caused by any of the following:
Ear mites
Hypothyroidism
Excessive ear wax
New hair growth (ingrown)
Tumor or foreign body in the ear canal
Trapped water left after swimming/bathing
Improper ear cleaning
Food, seasonal, or topical allergies
And just in case you were wondering what an ear mite looks like…
But in real life you wouldn’t be able to see them because they’re microscopic. Whether you see them or not, though, the effects they’ll have on your pup’s health could be disastrous (and at the very least they’ll cause your dog great pain).
Also good to keep in mind is that dogs with floppy ears (Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, etc.) and breeds that grow hair inside the ear canal (i.e. Schnauzers) are especially prone to ear infections.
Preventing The Problem:
Now that you know how gruesome ear infections can be for your dog, it’s time to take precautions to minimize their chance of ever having to go through it.
Inspect your dog’s ears regularly for any swelling or unusual discharge/odor.
After swimming or bathing, always dry your dog’s ears thoroughly.
Perform regular cleanings to keep your dog’s ears in tip-top shape (Note: It’s important not to clean too deeply or too frequently as this can also lead to infection). Check out the video below courtesy of the ASPCA to learn proper technique!
If the problem persists, you should talk with your vet about ear-drying products specifically formatted for dog’s who suffer from chronic infections.
Treating The Problem:
If your pup does develop an infection, take them to the vet immediately; chronic or untreated ear infections are not only extremely painful for your pup but can also cause permanent hearing loss.
In most cases, your vet will perform or recommend a thorough cleaning of the entire ear canal and a follow-up regimen of regular cleanings. Depending on the severity of the infection, they may also prescribe topical and/or oral medication to keep your dog infection- and pain-free.
If your poor pup is unfortunate enough to suffer from repeat infections, it is very important that you do NOT use leftover medications or cleansers without consulting your vet first. If your dog’s eardrums are ruptured, some medications can cause deafness or vertigo.
It’s also necessary that you get your pup checked out each time you notice symptoms to ensure that their ear drums are intact, that the source of the infection is the same as before (bacterial versus viral), and that the head-tilt isn’t indicative of something even more serious, such as a stroke.
Check out this video for some helpful tips on keeping those floppy ears clean!
Featured image via @misspennypetuniatheprincess
Source: ASPCA
Related Gallery
14 Ancient Artworks Reveal Just How Long We’ve Loved Our Dogs
Source: War Dog
Dogs have held an important place in the world since the dawn of civilization. From some of the world's earliest artwork and cultures, pups have been a fixture of daily life. Some of our most well-known ancient societies and cultures upheld pups to the highest degree. Here is a round-up of dogs emblazoned in ancient artwork.
Source: Ancient Art Podcast
1. Mosaic Panel With Seated Dog, Byzantine, Syria - Even ancient pups patiently waited for treats.
Source: The Ancient Art Blog
2. Mosaic On Floor Depicting A Dog And A Knocked-Over Gold Vessel, Italy - The meticulous attention to detail gives life to this dog's expression.
Source: Catherine Mayo
3. Ancient Greek Marble Statue Of A Dog, Greece - Fun fact: In Ancient Greece, dogs were beloved and also associated with the goddesses Hecate and Artemis.
Source: Smithsonian.com
4. Mosaic Of Hercules With Dog Cerberus, Greece - Loyal and faithful companions for centuries.
Source: Ancient Encyclopedia
5. Roman Statue Of Greek Goddess Of Hunting, Artemis, Italy - In Greek mythology, Artemis used dogs to accompany her on hunting expeditions.
Source: Ancient Art Podcast
6. Relief Of Ashurbanipal Mastiff, The British Museum - In ancient societies, dogs were kept for protection but were also revered family members. Ancient Greeks and Romans wrote heartfelt epitaphs when their companions passed on.
Source: The British Museum
7. Roman Statue Of A Pair Of Dogs, The British Museum - This statue was originally found at a place called Dog Mountain, near Rome. Other dog sculptures were also found on site.
Source: Egypt At The Manchester Museum
8. Limestone Statuette Of Anubis, The Manchester Museum - Ancient Egyptians loved dogs so much that their god Anubis had the head of a pup. More so, when dogs passed on into the afterlife, if a family could afford it, they also had their pup mummified.
Source: Ancient.eu
9. Glazed Ceramic Dog, China - Dogs were some of the first domesticated animals in China, with Pekingese being one of the earliest ancient breeds.
Source: Your Wild Life
10. Ancient Greek Dog Shaped Drinking Vessel, Jérôme Carcopino Museum - Ancient Greeks loved dogs so much that they made drinking casks in their image.
Source: Wikipedia
11. The Jennings Dog, The British Museum - While this sculpture is a Roman copy of the ancient, extinct Molossus breed from southern Europe. The modern day counterpart to this stoic breed would be the Mastiff.
Source: wordscene
12. Roman Mosaic Of Small Boy With Puppy, The Mosaics Museum - Dog ownership was fairly common in ancient civilizations, and children often bonded with their furry family members just like today.
Source: Metropolitan Museum Of Art
13. Egyption Mechanical Running Dog, Ivory, The Metropolitan Museum Of Art - This art piece could open and close its mouth by pulling the lever. Pawhaps this could have been a very fancy toy?
Source: Master Art
13. Egyption Mechanical Running Dog, Ivory, The Metropolitan Museum Of Art - This art piece could open and close its mouth by pulling the lever. Pawhaps this could have been a very fancy toy?
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Topics: canine, care, clean, dog, ear, ear infection, health, infection, science, veterinarian
The post How To Identify And Prevent Ear Infections In Your Dog appeared first on BarkPost.