Ear infections are one of the most common problems for dogs. An ear infection is commonly caused by bacterial or yeast infection; it can also be triggered by allergies or excessive moisture, hair, earwax and foreign matter. The good news is there’s now a wide range of dog ear infection treatments that can solve the problem right away.
Signs and Symptoms of an Ear Infection
If your dog has any of the following signs and symptoms, bring him or her to a veterinarian as soon as possible:
- Bloody discharge
- Brownish or yellowish discharge
- Unnatural odor in or near the ear
- Scratching of ears or the area around
- Inflammation
- Redness
- Scabs or crusts on the inside of the outer ear
- Hair loss near the ear area
- Constant head rubbing against the floor, wall or furniture
- Excessive head shaking and tilting
- Loss of balance or walking in circles
- Unusual eye movements
- Hearing loss
Diagnosis
To diagnose a dog ear infection, your veterinarian will need to take a closer look at the ear canal and ear drum thoroughly. They will also need to get a sample of any discharge noticed to check for bacteria or yeast. If there are bacteria, the discharge sample will be sent to the lab to find out what particular bacteria is present. A fully accurate diagnosis will make the dog ear infection treatment more effective and prompt.
Treatment
Your vet will teach you the step-by-step procedure of treating the ear infection at home. Usually, it begins with cleaning the ear using a mild cleanser. We recommend you use ear rinses with no steroids, alcohol or antibiotics. You will be taught to fill your dog’s ear canal with the solution, and use a cotton ball in the opening of the ear canal.
After that, you will need to massage your dog’s ears at the base. Do this gently; however often you do it depends on the severity of the infection. It is not advisable to use a Q-tip swab as this might push the debris further into the ear canal rather than helping the solution.
Once you’re done cleaning your dog’s ears, you will need to put in the prescribed medication; it can be in the form of an ointment or drops. Your vet will tell you what specific medications are needed by your pet. Bring your dog back for a follow-up checkup after one week to check on the healing process.
Don’t let your dog be in pain. It’s important you bring him or her immediately to a veterinarian so they can receive the right dog ear infection treatment.
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