Most pet owners are aware of the necessity of a sufficient
supply of water to avoid dehydration, the importance of
a healthy, nutritious diet, and sanitary living conditions.
But many pet owners are not aware of the importance of routine
ear care for their pets.
Professional dog groomers understand the importance of
possible health hazards resulting from unhealthy ears. They
usually include routine ear care and cleaning with their
regular grooming services.
There are several things they look for during their ear
exam:
-
Head shaking and ear scratching
- Ears sensitive to the touch
- Discharges coming from the ears
- Blood blisters (hematomas) on the ear
flap>
- Odors coming from the ears
Tumors (melanomas) inside the ears.
Knowing the dangers of neglected ear problems some
of which are life threatening responsible caregivers
should give their dog ear exams and clean them in between
grooming services; about once every week.
At Savvy Dog Lover web site, we recommend the following:
When inspecting the dogs ears, caregivers should
note if the ear area is sensitive to the touch. Gently handle
the dogs ear; look inside the ear for any redness,
swelling, foreign objects such as dirt or other organic
matter, or accumulated ear wax.
Water trapped in the ear canal can cause the ear to develop
an infection and become very painful. The damp environment
in the ear canal is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria
and fungus. Dogs with ear flaps are especially at risk.
For this reason, it is a good idea to place cotton in the
dogs ears during bathing. Ears should be checked after
bathing to insure that the inside is dry.
Ear mites sometimes reside in ear wax. Dogs with ear mites
often shake their heads and scratch at their ears. If the
caregiver notices this problem, they should check any ear
wax for mites. This can be accomplished by carefully removing
accumulated ear wax without entering the ear canal too far,
risking damage to the ear drum.
Use a sterile piece of cotton and a small amount of commercial
ear cleaning solution to swab inside the ear
no further down than one-half inch into the ear canal. Do
not saturate the cotton with solution, as this could cause
the solution to drip into the ear canal and cause other
health hazards. (Do not go further down into the ear than
one-half inch even if more wax, redness, or foreign matter
can be seen. Instead, consult with a veterinarian.)
What to Look For
Under providing routine ear care, smear a sample of the
ear wax on a piece of white paper under a bright light.
If ear mites are present small white specks will be seen
in the ear wax.
Ear mites are very contagious and require repeat treatments.
This is because the insecticide used to treat ear mites
kills only adult mites. Repeat applications every 7 days,
waiting 10 days for baby mites to mature before providing
more treatments is usually recommended. If ear mites are
noted in the ear wax, contact a veterinarian for treatment
recommendations.
Whether or not ear mites are present, accumulated ear wax
in a dogs ear can lead to ear canker and other serious
infections. If a dark-colored discharge and foul odor is
present, a veterinarian should be consulted at once.
While occasional scratching may be normal for a healthy
dog, repeated scratching usually signals discomfort. Even
if nothing can be seen during ear inspection, the dog could
have an allergy that causes him to scratch his ears. Again,
a veterinarian should be consulted.
Foreign debris caught in the ear can work down into the
ear canal and create serious health problems that could
be life threatening. If the debris cannot be readily extracted
without entering the ear canal more than one-half inch,
contact a veterinarian at once.
Regardless of whether or not health hazards are found in
the dogs ear, clean the inside flap. Gently swab the
inside of the ear flap using sterile cotton and a small
amount of commercial ear cleaning solution. Swab outward
to the ear flap, not towards the inside of the ear.
Repeat as needed, but do not over clean. The
inner ear flap is sensitive and could become irritated.
Do not allow liquid to drip down into the ear canal while
cleaning.
Remain observant while cleaning the ear. Possible health
hazards such as redness or swelling, previously unnoticed,
might become visible.
Summary
Routine ear care and cleaning to remove wax build up and
dirt and checking ears for the above mentioned health hazards
help avoid the risk of serious health problems that could
become life threatening.
We at the Savvy Dog Lover web site care about your pet.
Ear exams take only a few minutes and could save you a hefty
vets bill, or prevent the loss of your beloved pet.
For other canine health-related articles, healthcare products
such as ear cleaning solution, and other pet products, visit
the Savvy Dog
Lover web site.
© Lori S. Anton Savvy Dog Lover Editor
About the Author:
Lori S. Anton has been writing for nearly 30 years. She
is founder and editor of Writers Write Now, offering original
professionally written SEO content, quick content, and free
content for web sites. She lives in rural Wyoming with her husband,
Jeff, and their diabetic canine companion, Muffy. Lori is
also pet editor for the
Savvy Dog Lover web site where the best bones
are buried!
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