Prevent Dog Ear Infections
Authored by Taylor Innes
Dogs are vulnerable to ear infections because of the shape of their ear canal. Dogs that have floppy ears are even more suspectable due to moisture being trapped under their ear.
What causes your dog to have an ear infection?
In most cases, water trapped in your dog’s ear is the cause of an infection. Other causes of dog ear infections include: foreign objects lodged in the ear, trauma and tumors. There are also different forms of ear infections - middle ear, outer ear and inner ear.
Does my dog have an ear infection
If your dog does get an ear infection, they are going to feel very uncomfortable, which will let you know that there is a problem. Below are some symptoms to look for:
- Odor in the ear
- Redness in the ear
- Yellow, brown, or bloody discharge
- Ear swelling
- Head shaking or tilting
- Crust or scabs in the ear
- Rubbing their ear on the floor or furniture
- Scratching at their ear
For more severe ear infections, you may notice these symptoms:
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Signs of hearing loss
- Walking in circles
- Unusual eye movements
How to treat dog ear infections
If you’ve caught your dog’s ear infection early, you may be able to treat it at home by carefully cleaning out the ear and applying ear cleanser. After cleaning, try to keep the ear as dry as possible. Taking your dog to the vet will be the quickest route to a healthy and happy dog. The vet will likely clean the ear out and apply a topical antibiotic to your dog’s ear to clean out the bacterial or yeast infection. They will send you home with instructions to apply the topical antibiotic for a certain number of days to clear up the infection.
Prevention is always better than having to treat an ear infection in your dog. Keeping their ears dry and clean will help avoid future trips to the vet for ear infection treatments. As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s health, please contact your local veterinarian, or visit one or our PetVet clinics to discuss ear care with a licensed veterinarian.
