When you notice your dog scratching his ear, shaking his head, or the presence of an unpleasant-smelling discharge coming out of his ears, he may have contracted an infection at the site. They are common in dogs and can occur on the outer, inner or middle ear, usually starting with inflammation of the outer ear canal, which is caused by bacteria or yeast. However, ear infections in dogs can also be contracted from food allergies, parasites, foreign bodies, trauma, excess moisture in the ear, or hereditary conditions. If you suspect an ear infection of the animal, take it to the vet immediately for treatment and then learn how to avoid them by properly cleaning the ear and ear of the dog.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Treating Dog Ear Infection
Step 1. Look for ear infection symptoms
Watch for any unusual changes in the dog's behavior and physical symptoms, such as:
- itchy ear
- Yellow, brown or bloody discharge
- Odor in the ear area
- Redness
- Swelling
- Scabies or crusted skin on the ear
- Hair loss in the area around the ear
- Scratching behavior of the ear area on the floor or furniture
- The dog shakes or tilts his head a lot
- loss of balance
- Unusual eye movements
- the animal walks in circles
- hearing loss
Step 2. Know when to take the dog to the vet
If he has symptoms of ear infection, you should take him as soon as possible, as it is very painful for the puppy. Some dogs will show they are suffering by becoming more aggressive, while others will not show any signs.
In any case, prompt treatment is important, as the infection can damage the ears if not medicated
Step 3. Treat the infection
Ear infections are usually caused by yeast/fungi, bacteria, or both. A veterinarian will likely prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic to treat the bacterial infection; if it is caused by a fungus, the doctor will prescribe a liquid antifungal product to wash the dog's ear, topical and perhaps oral medication.
Step 4. Do not try to remove something stuck in the pet's ear
If you suspect that a foreign body is present in the dog's ear, it could be the cause of the infection, which will not be cured until the body is removed. Never try to take it out on your own! Instead, take him to the vet.
As the canine ear canal has an "L" shape, foreign bodies can become lodged deep inside it, making detection by the naked eye impossible. Specialized instruments and a method of containing the animal (physical or chemical) will be needed to enable removal of the foreign body. This shows that treatment by a veterinary professional is essential
Method 2 of 3: Treating Hidden Causes and Preventing Ear Infections
Step 1. Determine if the dog has any allergies
They are, in most cases, the main cause of inflammation in the ear, making it more susceptible to infections. Determining the allergic cause can be tricky, but paying attention to factors such as new foods or treats that were given to the dog before the infection started will help. A certain protein may have triggered the allergic process, so avoid it.
Animal proteins and dairy products are more often allergic to animals than grains, although grain-free diets are said to be better suited for dogs with food allergies
Step 2. Try a test diet for the dog
Try one that has a new protein or one he has never eaten before. Diets prescribed by the veterinarian must be applied exclusively and for at least 8 weeks, but the ideal is to use it for at least 12 weeks. Do not give him snacks, leftovers or any other type of food during this period.
This can help determine if dietary proteins are the problem by identifying the "culprits". The best new protein diets are prescribed, as the chance of cross-contamination with other proteins will be much lower. The downside is that they are generally more expensive
Step 3. "Challenge" the dog's diet
At the end of the test, if your pet is not showing signs of ear inflammation or skin allergies (the most common are itchy paws or other parts of the body), you can "challenge" its diet by feeding it a single type of food. /snacks he enjoyed before the problem. If you notice signs of irritation near the ears, paws or skin after reintroducing the old food/snack, it is wise to determine that one of them has the protein that causes the infection.
If the infection seems to start around the same time of year, a seasonal allergy may be causing the ear disease
Step 4. Decrease the dog's activity
While the ear is infected, ensure that the pet is not exposed to large amounts of moisture, preventing it from playing in water, swimming, bathing or being taken care of until the problem is completely eliminated. More moisture will only make the infection worse, causing it to take even longer to heal.
Step 5. Make appointments with the veterinarian
Take the dog for follow-up with the doctor until the infection is completely cured. Ear infections can be mild, lasting 1-2 weeks through administration of topical medications and proper cleaning, but others are more complicated and will take several weeks, necessitating tests, treatments or procedures to eradicate them.
Follow the veterinarian's recommendations for when to return to the office, as he or she can help you determine if the infection has been cured or if further procedures are needed
Step 6. Avoid ear infections
Once the pet gets an infection at the site, the probability that it will suffer from it again. The good news is that there are several preventive measures you can take to avoid them:
- Do not let the dog swim or bathe too often
- Before bathing him, cover his ears with cotton
- Rinse the dog's ears and ears with a product that contains salicylic acid (it helps dry wet ear canals)
- Find and treat any allergies he may have.
- Frequently sanitize the animal's ears and ears
Method 3 of 3: Cleaning Dog Ears
Step 1. Know when they must be sanitized
Follow the veterinarian's instructions regarding the amount of cleaning that should be used (daily or weekly). If the dog has an ear infection, have the veterinarian analyze it and make sure the eardrum has not been punctured or damaged. Cleaning ears with perforated eardrums will only make the situation worse; in addition, doing this procedure too often can also harm them.
Some of the signs of a perforated eardrum are pain, head tilted to the affected side, and in some cases, unusual eye movements and/or dizziness
Step 2. Obtain an ear cleaning solution
The ideal is to ask the veterinarian to recommend one, but most products for rinsing canine ears (sold without a prescription) will be available at the pet store closest to home, being effective in routine ear hygiene; however, do not use them to treat infections if they contain alcohol or other strong ingredients - the dog may experience irritation and pain.
If the diagnosis is an ear infection, the veterinarian may prescribe a special rinse product, breaking down the bacterial cell walls, softening the wax, and treating the yeast causing the problem
Step 3. Position the dog
Have him sit with his back against a wall or in the corner of a room; this technique facilitates the task of keeping it stationary and prevents it from running away during cleaning. As this treatment can be very painful and you are close to the dog's face, it is a good idea to put on a muzzle or he may bite you. Hold firmly but without hurting the pet's snout (with the protection) so that the head is still.
Remember that even the most docile pets can bite when in pain. If a person can help you hold the dog, so much the better
Step 4. Apply cleaning solution
Pour some of the product into the dog's ear canal (according to the instructions in the package insert) and massage the base of the ear for 20-30 seconds to encourage fluid movement, removing and absorbing dirt.
Step 5. Cover and massage your ear
With a cotton pad, cover the ear and repeat the massage technique under the opening of the ear. The liquid will be taken to the cotton ball, which will be soaked and make all the dirt stick to the bottom. Make sure the cotton is in the vertical channel until it completely covers the opening but is still easy to remove.
The anatomy of the dog's ear is different from ours. They have an "L"-shaped channel, starting with a vertical part (which can be seen) and then another, which starts after a curve of almost 90º in the horizontal direction of the channel (which cannot be seen by eye naked)
Step 6. Remove and examine the cotton ball
Remove the ball with the fluid and observe what is at the bottom of it, looking for runny or wax. Use a little more cotton to absorb dirt from the outer (visible) parts of the ear, and on the inside and around the ear, get a soft towel to remove any remaining moisture and debris.
If there is a lot of debris in the cotton ball that covered the ear, repeat the process of rinsing and massaging the ear to absorb more foreign bodies
Tips
- Give the dog a treat after cleaning his ear so that he associates the action with a positive reward.
- If the animal moves its head while cleaning its ear, do not scold it. This will help to remove dirt and reduce excess fluid.
- Give the dog a lot of care during cleaning. Never yell or punish him for moving or moving his head.
Notices
- Dogs with pendulous ears or hairy ear canals are more susceptible to infections of this type.
- Consult a veterinarian before treating the infection on your own.