Content / article / Ear Infections and Cleaning

Taking care of your dog

The human ear canal is straighter than it is in pets. In pets the canal is “L” shaped. This makes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of ear problems more difficult. We can only see into the top two-thirds of the ear canal without using an otoscope. An otoscope is a light with a magnifying glass and a cone attached. Signs of ear problems can include shaking the head, scratching the ears(s), foul odor, ear discharge,loss of balance, redness or swelling of the ear canal.
Ear infections can affect the outer or inner ear and the eardrum may be affected. Some infections can cause deafness, dizziness or loss of balance. Ear infections are commonly secondary to allergies affecting the skin. Often times, water left in the ear canal can cause an infection, so clean and dry well after swimming, playing in heavy rain, or bathing. In severe cases, surgery may be needed to allow for easier treatment or total removal of the ear canal (not the ear).

We suggest cleaning your pets ears on a regular basis to monitor for infection or problems. This will also keep you and your pet in good practice of handling and cleaning ears. Generally, cotton balls are used to clean “deep” in your pets ear. Cotton swabs, or Q-tips, can cause damage to or around the eardrum and certainly can push debris deeper into the canal. Cotton swabs can he used safely only where you can easily see the tip, such as the wrinkled skin at the opening of the canal. If you clean your pets ears several times in one week and the debris is consistently there or returns, your pet probably has an ear infection and you should seek help immediately.

When cleaning the ear canal, use a pet ear cleaner. (A general rule for cleaners is Do not use anything that you would not put into a babys ear canal.) Fill a cotton ball or the ear canal with the cleaner, Swab out the ear canal as deeply as you finger(s) can easily go. Massage the base of the car canal so that you hear squishy sounds. This will help bring ear debris up from deep in the canal. Pulling the pinnae up & away from the head will help straighten the canal and make cleaning easier. Continue until the ear looks and smells clean or until your dog looses patience. It may take many cotton balls and a great deal of cleaner to end up with a clean ear. You may also need the assistance of a very strong person to keep your dog in CHECK while you perform these tasks. Dry well. And by the way, after putting the cleaner in the ear - stand well back or you will be splattered.

A recheck vet visit to evaluate the ear drums is always suggested. If infection continues deep in the canal, where you can not see, the infection may not be gone or will return in time.

Do not save left over medication and use later. Some medications will make different types of ear infections worse.
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