It is essential to check for infection, irritation, parasites, and dirt every week. These examinations are not time-consuming and protect a pet’s ears from any serious illness. Just check their ears for dirt, discharge, redness or wax build up. If one finds any one of these problems, they should seek medical help immediately. However, they require maintenance lifelong, but little monitoring and necessary checkup will keep their ears healthy and clean.
Dog anatomy
Due to their curvy and twisty ear design, it is easy for bacteria, yeast, and parasites to develop hide and thrive in them. It also means debris in the canal is a way to escape for them and result in infections. Breeds like Basset hounds, Poodles, and Cocker Spaniels are more exposed to allergies and diseases due to their floppy ears.
Symptoms
- Bad Odor
- Ear discharge
- Redness
- Crusty Skin
- Swelling
- Hair Loss
Additionally, if one finds black or brown ear wax which resembles coffee grounds are typical symptoms of ear mites. One should seek medical help if one considers any of the above symptoms affecting the pet’s ears. It is advisable not to try correcting ear problems at home, it can be painful and can also lead to permanent damage and hearing loss if left untreated.
Tips for ear care
Cleaning
Most essential part of keeping a pet’s ears healthy is cleaning. There are various ways to clean the pet’s ears, and several products can be used. But the best procedure according to breed will be determined by the veterinarian as they know what is most effective and safest. However, until there is other ailment or infection it is advised to clean their ears once in a week, it will remove all the dirt, allergens and wax collections.
Inspection
Ear examining at home at regular intervals will help to know if it is suffering from an infection at early stages. It will also allow starting with an early check up and making it less painful. Infections are very painful, and hence, it is advisable to start with the treatment as early as possible. Before cleaning their ears first understand how to check dirt and debris and how to recognize if it has an infection. Also check for other irritation, scabs, redness, inside its ear. Ticks, fleas, and mites are very hard to spot, but recognizing them and working on them will allow detecting these problems. If irritation occurs, get it checked by the veterinarian. During its routine checkup make sure to get its ear checked.
Eating Habits
Regular cleaning eradicates allergens that come from the environment, but few pets have food allergies that are adaptable to ear infections also. For instance, if the pet has an allergy to meat, consuming too much meat can cause ear infections. To keep their ears infection free one needs to know which diet is suitable and what causes allergies and avoid them as diet plays a crucial role to stay healthy and fit.
Routine Care
- Maintenance regime and grooming should include thorough ear checks, this is crucial especially for those pets who are hairy and produce more ear wax than other pets.
- If ears are dirty clean it with a dampened cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil or with a unique
- The inner skin is delicate, hence, don’t use hard or pointed things to clean its ears. Additionally, don’t try to insert anything in its ear canal. Visit a professional to exhibit proper cleaning methods.
- Don’t clean its ears profoundly or every day it can irritate followed by pain.
- If it starts growing hairs from its ear, it will need plucking while grooming from professional or by the owner itself. Plucking them periodically will prevent tangles or mat formation. Get in touch with skilled professionals for more details.
- Frequent swimming and bathing can irritate, therefore, dry their ears thoroughly.
If it suffers from ear infections regularly, it is advisable to pour a little amount of ear drying solution, specially made for pets it helps to evaporate the excess water inside the ear. These ear solutions are hazel-based and readily available. If it does not have any ear problem, it is still safe to clean them periodically.
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