Dog ear care
It's not hard to keep your puppy's ears in good condition - you just need to check them regularly and keep them clean. Puppy ear problems can turn nasty so look out for the signs of trouble and get help immediately. On this page: What ear problems can my puppy get? How will I know my puppy's ears need attention? How do I treat my puppy's ear problem? How can I prevent puppy ear problems? What ear problems can my puppy get?Puppy ear problems are usually either infections or ear mites. InfectionsInfection of the outer ear is called otitis externa. It is one of the most common types of infection in dogs but it can easily be prevented with good dog ear care. Puppy breeds with long ears, such as Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, poodles and Shih Tzus, can be particularly prone to ear infections because the long flap of the ear prevents air circulation. This encourages a humid environment in the ear - perfect for infections to develop. If you have one of these breeds, you will need to establish a thorough dog ear care routine when grooming your dog. Grass seeds in summer can lodge in the ear canal and work their way far down into the ear. They are a major cause of nasty ear problems for dogs. You need to be particularly vigilant during summer months and keep to a strict dog ear care routine. A vet can remove grass seeds - in some cases a small operation may be required. Ear mitesPuppies can also get ear mites - in fact, people often suspect their dog has ear mites even though most dog ear problems are due to infections caused by bacteria. However, mites can be a major puppy health problem. Puppies and kittens are more likely to get ear mites than adult dogs so you will need to start a good dog ear care routine when your puppy is young. Ear mites cause great discomfort to your puppy - he will shake his head a lot and scratch vigorously at his ears. Ear mites should be treated by your vet. As ear mites are parasites that need hosts to live on, all pets in the house will need to be examined and, if necessary, treated. How will I know my puppy's ears need attention?Ear problems are painful and irritating to dogs so they'll let you know by their behaviour. Look for these signs:
How do I treat my puppy's ear problem?If you spot any of the above signs of ear trouble, go to your vet. Don't try to diagnose and treat your puppy's ear problems - you will need to correctly identify the cause of the trouble so you can get the right treatment and medication. There could be a number of reasons for the problem, including mites, bacterial infections, fungus infections, grass seeds or other foreign bodies in the ear, polyps and tumours. Treating the puppy for the wrong problem could cause damage to the ear and even loss of hearing. Your vet can show you how to administer any medication at home and can also give you good advice about dog ear care in general. For most common ear infections, treatment involves putting drops down the dog's ears - but this not as easy as it sounds! Dogs' ear canals are not shaped like human ear canals. The dog ear canal is shaped like an L, with the long vertical line being the outer ear canal and the short horizontal line the inner ear canal. The medication will need to get right down to the horizontal part. Your vet can show you how to get the medication all the way into the ear. Many dogs also hate the sensation of cold drops going into their ears so warm the bottle of medication gently in your hands before attempting to use it. How can I prevent puppy ear problems?To help prevent mite infestations and ear infections, set up a regular dog ear care examination whenever you groom him - say, once a week. Professional dog groomers will also check and clean your dog's ears as part of their service. A good dog ear care routine is an essential part of your new puppy care. Water in the ears from swimming or bathing can cause ear infections. Put cotton wool in your puppy's ears before bathing to help keep water out of the ear canal. Dogs that have had one ear infection will probably get another so you will need to check and clean the ears regularly. Cleaning your puppy's earsMoisten some cotton wool with a dog ear cleaning fluid. You can buy these cleansers from vets and pet stores. Gently wipe around the inside of the ear flap. Never use cotton tip applicators in your puppy's ear - they can easily go too far and damage the ear canal and even rupture the ear drum. More puppy care at PuppyPrimer.comIf your vet or dog groomer has shown you how to flush the ear canal with the cleaner then do this too. This is a good practice to learn if your dog is of a breed prone to infections or has had infections before. A regular dog ear care routine will prevent most dog ear problems. If you start when your puppy is young, he will soon get used to having his ears inspected and cleaned. Remember that if you find anything untoward about your dog's ears during your dog ear care routine, go to your vet - don't try to diagnose the problem yourself.
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Dog ear care starts with preventing infections, mites and
foreign bodies getting into your puppy's ears and causing pain and discomfort.
