canine ear infection

Recognizing A Dog Ear Infection And Providing Relief

A canine ear infection is very common, especially amoung floppy eared breeds such as  Beagles or Spaniels. This can be caused by ear mites or by the moist conditions set up in the ear canal due to the ear shape. However this can be overcome with regular cleaning and making an extra effort to keep water out of the ears at bath time and by supervised swimming. You can also buy drops that will prevent infections by cleaning out the ear and getting rid of stray hairs which tend to build up in the ears of these types of dogs.

We all know that a dog with big floppy ears is especially cute. But if you have ever owned a dog like this, you know that the cuteness comes at a price. Dog ear problems are nothing to take lightly. It is about the commonest reason why dog owners visit veterinarians. But are you able to imagine why a dog with large ears that tend to flop around might have a worse time with ear infections? The explanation is easy to guess – the ear canal in such a dog always remains in some measure closed off from the atmosphere.

This keeps the moisture in more than it would if the dog had open ears. Any space within the ear that remains clammy is sure to quickly develop a yeast infection. But open ears have problems of their own too. Open ears are also vulnerable and insects like mites can get in and cause diseases all by themselves.

A canine ear infection can be painful. You’ll regularly see a pet dog keep shaking its head to try and get the irritation out of its ears. Sometimes, it can itch so much, a dog will scratch his ears till he draws blood. Sometimes, dogs walk around hanging their head at an awkward angle. Ear diseases that beset dogs come from 3 alternative sources -allergies, mites and wierd fungal attack. The allergies often come about when your dog is infested by insects like gnats or fleas.

Food sensitivities and allergies to substances in the dog’s environment can cause ear diseases too. You must pay attention when you see that your dog appears uncomfortable. Your vet will prescribe topical medicines if the cause is an allergic reaction. For other kinds of allergies, your vet may prescribe antihistamines and different kinds of pain relief for dogs including steroidal drugs.

For the odd canine ear infection that comes from fungus or yeast, a dog owner will usually notice it from an odor that comes from the ears. Certain dogs are rather more prone than others, for instance,Rottweilers, Golden retrievers and Cocker Spaniels are especially prone. When you take your dog in to the vet, he is going to suggest an antibiotic to begin with, and then clean the ears out by flushing them. The vet will then ask you to help your pet keep its ears clean to keep such issues from happening in the future.

The same sort of treatment naturally will go for an ear infection that comes from mites in the ears or other insects. Canine ear infections in dogs can easily be helped with considerable attention paid to the dog’s environment.

To discover more about dog pain relief visit Pet Training And Care .