- If your dog has ever experienced ear infections, when they happened, and what was done to treat them
Your veterinarian will do a physical examination after learning the history of your dog. In severe circumstances, your veterinarian might also advise sedated inspection of your dog’s deep ear canal. Your veterinarian will examine both ears, which could involve:
- Visual examination to detect symptoms like redness, swelling, and discharge
- Utilizing an otoscope throughout the examination will enable for ear canal and eardrum inspection.
- gentle ear palpation to determine the degree of pain
- microscopic analysis of materials obtained by ear swabbing
- Culture of ear sample material
- with severe or persistent situations, biopsies or X-rays
How are Dog Ear Infections Treated?
Your dog’s ears will be expertly cleaned by your veterinarian using a medicated ear cleanser. Additionally, your veterinarian could advise that you apply a topical treatment and ear cleaner at home. In serious situations, your veterinarian could recommend oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Once the proper therapy is started, the majority of simple ear infections disappear within 12 weeks. However, persistent issues or those brought on by serious infections or underlying diseases may take months to overcome. Your veterinarian may suggest surgery, such as a Total Ear Canal Ablation, in cases of severe chronic disease where other treatments have failed (TECA). By eliminating the ear canal, a TECA procedure removes the infected tissue and stops the infection from returning.
It’s crucial to carefully follow your veterinarian’s recommendations and show up for any advised follow-up appointments at the animal hospital. Failures in your dog’s treatment plan could cause the infection to return. Even if your dog seems to be getting better, it is crucial that you finish the entire course of medicine. Failure to complete the entire course of therapy could result in additional issues such infections with resistant bacteria.
Can You Prevent Ear Infections in Dogs?
Prevention is always ideal, as it is with the majority of ailments. After swimming and taking a bath, make sure to completely dry your dog’s ears because too much moisture is a typical reason for ear infections. Finding and treating any underlying reasons, such as allergies, can help avoid new infections in dogs that are prone to chronic or recurrent ear infections.
Additionally, home cleaning of your dog’s ears can aid in preventing ear infections. The following steps for cleaning the ears are suggested by Jeff Grognet, DVM, an author for AKC Family Dog: The vertical ear canal should first be massaged from the outside after being filled with a dog ear cleaning solution. Utilize absorbent gauze to clean out the canal. Avoid using cotton or paper towels since they may leave fibers behind that could irritate people. When cleaning your dog’s pinnae, which are the external ear flaps, cotton swabs can be helpful. However, you should avoid using them in the ear canal because doing so could unintentionally push debris deeper into the canal.
Many dogs get frequent ear infections, but with your veterinarian’s assistance, you can keep your dog’s ears healthy and pleasant. To ensure that the issue does not worsen, seek treatment as soon as your dog displays symptoms of an ear infection.
Emergency First Aid for Dogs
A sudden injury or illness cannot always be prevented, even by the most diligent pet owner. Receiving emergency medical care for your pet could mean the difference between life and death. To find out more about what to do in an emergency, download this e-book.
What medication can I get over the counter to treat my dog’s ear infection?
Because some ear treatments may raise the risk of hearing loss in pets, natural cures for ear infections are a safer option to conventional ear medications. Dr. Dym, our veterinarian, suggests Zymox, which has a natural enzyme to aid in the treatment of ear infections. As per Dr. Dym, “It’s crucial to periodically use an ear cleanser on your pet’s ears to help avoid ear infections. Zymox with Hydocortisone should be used to treat itching ear infections in pets for 7 to 14 days. Then, wait two to three days before cleaning your pet’s ears or administering any more ear medications. Consult your veterinarian right away if the illness gets worse.”
Do dog ear infections naturally heal?
A dog’s ear infection typically won’t go away on its own. Even worse, if you put off getting the ear infection treated, it can be considerably harder to treat later on. Untreated ear infections can result in long-term problems, hearing loss, and perhaps the requirement for pricey surgery.
Without using ear drops, how can I treat my dog’s ear infection?
Home cures for ear infections frequently fail to relieve symptoms. They can even worsen an illness because they can irritate and harm your pet’s ears.
You might find natural treatments for dog ear infections online if you search for them, such as vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or rubbing alcohol. All of these are bad choices since they can irritate the ear’s inside and encourage more infection.
- Vinegar Yes, vinegar’s acid may destroy yeast, however the majority of vinegar is water. And because of the moisture that the water left in your dog’s ear canal, an ear infection was waiting to happen.
- hydroxyl radicals The majority of hydrogen peroxide is also water. What’s left in the ear once the first bubbling ends (and we’re very sure your pet will detest that anyhow) is… water.
- Rub alcohol with It will be horrifying to witness and even more difficult for you or your veterinarian to treat your dog’s ears because rubbing alcohol will cause virtually intolerable irritation.
Without consulting a veterinarian, never insert anything in your dog’s ear. Your veterinarian staff can assist you in locating the best course of action to eliminate the infection and provide your dog with much-needed relief.
Everything from allergies to ear mites to ear infections can result in itchy, painful ears. Bring your BFF in to have their ears examined if your dog’s ears are troubling them.
Can dogs’ ear infections be treated with apple cider vinegar?
If you have a minor ear infection, you might try some at-home remedies. Initially, you can clean your dog’s ears with a weak solution of apple cider vinegar. By serving as a cleaner and an antifungal and antibacterial agent, apple cider vinegar is beneficial. This can be used sparingly into your dog’s ears to clean out the interior and treat the infection.
Is it safe to use hydrogen peroxide in dog ears?
As dog owners, we are aware of how crucial it is to regularly clean our dogs’ ears. However, if our dogs aren’t trained to accept ear cleaning or if we don’t feel comfortable doing it, cleaning those ears can be difficult.
While some dogs naturally have clean, healthy ears and may hardly ever need to have them cleaned, other dogs need to have their ears cleaned frequently to avoid the buildup of dirt that can cause ear infections. All dog breeds are susceptible to ear infections, but those with long hanging ears, like Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels, are among the ones at the most risk.
You should frequently examine your dog’s ears to make sure they are healthy. If your dog pulls away from you, it could be because his ears are hurting even though he could prefer having them stroked when they’re healthy. Therefore, by gently stroking your dog’s ears, you may start evaluating their condition.
How to Tell When a Dog’s Ears Need Cleaning
Verify that your dog genuinely requires ear cleaning before pulling out the dog ear cleaner. Learn what a healthy, clean ear looks like (pink, odorless, and not dirty or inflamed) and smells like (not yeasty or stinky), and only clean your dog’s ears when you detect a change. Over-cleaning your dog’s ears can cause infection and irritation.
While some dogs only need their ears cleaned occasionally, others, including those who are prone to ear infections or those who spend a lot of time in the water, might. The Merck Veterinary Manual advises preventing water from entering the ear canals during bathing and applying topical astringents on dogs who frequently swim to keep the ear canals dry and well-ventilated.
It’s probably time for a cleaning if you smell a faint odor or see your dog moving his head more frequently than usual. Contact your veterinarian if your dog’s ear seems red and inflamed, smells funky, or if he shows signs of pain. These signs, which call for medical treatment, could point to allergies, fleas, ear mites, or ear infections. Frequently, cleaning an infected ear does more harm than good.
Ear-Cleaning Supplies
To successfully clean your dog’s ears, you just need a few tools: a cotton ball or piece of gauze, dog ear cleaning solution, and a towel. Avoid using anything with a pointed tip, including cotton-tipped swabs (Q-tips). These instruments may force dirt and other material deeper into your dog’s ears, increasing the risk of infection and even causing damage to the ear’s internal structures.
A word of caution: While easy, ear cleaning can be unpleasant. If your dog moves his head a lot while you’re cleaning his ears, you might want to do it in a restroom or another easily cleaned area.
Dog Ear-Cleaning Solutions
There are numerous homemade dog ear cleaning products available online. The safest option is to use ear cleaning products that have been recommended by veterinarians. Some homemade ear-cleaning remedies include poisonous or irritant substances. Others merely don’t do well.
Most veterinary clinics stock dog ear cleanser. As some products may be more advantageous for your dog’s unique needs than others, you can also consult your veterinarian for their recommendations.
How to Clean Dog Ears in 3 Easy Steps
- Bring your dog and your supplies together. It will be simpler to clean your dog’s ears if you wait until he is calm. Don’t be hesitant to entice them with sweets.
- Fill your dog’s ear canal with an ear cleaning solution that has been recommended by a veterinarian, then gently massage the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. As the product removes buildup and debris, you will hear a squishing sound. As touching your dog’s ear with the applicator tip could introduce bacteria, avoid doing so.
- Give your dog a headshake. This is where the towel comes in; you may use it to clean his face and shield yourself from the spray. Once your dog has stopped shaking, carefully wipe out the ear canal with a cotton ball or piece of gauze, only going as deep as one knuckle. During the cleaning process, if your dog seems to be in pain, stop and call your veterinarian.
Should You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Dog Ears?
No. On your dog, avoid using hydrogen peroxide. In fact, this ubiquitous home item might irritate healthy skin cells. Hydrogen peroxide use over an extended period of time may eventually cause harm to the ear itself because ears contain very sensitive tissue. Use only cleaning products that have been recommended by veterinarians.
How to Clean Dog Ears: A Summary
Now that you understand how to clean dog ears, let’s review the fundamentals:
- Understand the appearance and smell of a clean, healthy ear.
- Following a bath, regularly check your dog’s ears.
- Overly frequent ear cleaning can result in severe inflammation.
- Use a dog ear cleaning product that has been approved by a veterinarian.
- If you think your dog may have an ear infection, consult your veterinarian.
Maintaining your dog’s ears helps keep them free from infections. Regular ear checks will also help your dog become less sensitive to handling his ears and catch any further issues, like ear mites, before they worsen.
Dog Ear Infection Symptoms
Depending on the location and intensity, ear infection symptoms might be mild to severe. Constant head shaking and scratching are the most typical symptoms of an ear infection. Most dog owners who have experienced an ear infection will quickly identify the distinctive accompanying stench that frequently occurs once the infection has advanced.
Typical signs include:
- rubbing one’s ears
- rubbing one’s ears against objects or the ground
- yeasty odor coming from the ears
- head swaying or tilting
- swelling and redness near and around the ear
- yellow discharge or moisture from the ear
- Scabs in or around the ear caused by scratching
- loss of equilibrium
- hearing loss
Your dog may whimper or yell when they scratch their ears out of pain if an ear infection has advanced past the initial stages.
What to Do if You Suspect an Ear Infection
Call your veterinarian if your dog is displaying any of the aforementioned signs and you think they are related to an ear infection. Your veterinarian may do a physical examination to make a diagnosis or may require a sample to be taken.
It is simple and quick to obtain a sample. After swabbing the inside of the ear using a cotton-tipped applicator, your veterinarian will analyze the sample under a microscope.
Your veterinarian may just suggest a medication ear cleaning solution for you to use at home if they judge that the ear infection is minimal or in the early stages. Your veterinarian or veterinary assistant will demonstrate how to use the solution to clean your dog’s ear.
Your veterinarian could also suggest prescription ear drops if the illness is more serious or persistent. Usually, two to three times each day for at least one to two weeks, dogs receive ear drops.
Dogs often tolerate having their ears cleaned, especially if a treat is involved. Oral antibiotics may be necessary for canine ear infections that are more severe or persistent, but this is uncommon for most dogs.
You should take care of any symptoms as soon as possible since persistent or untreated ear infections can cause deafness in dogs. Stick to the suggested dosage to prevent causing your dog further discomfort because improper or excessive usage of ear drops can be dangerous.
Finally, it’s crucial to note that you should never give your dog human ear cleaners or ear drops unless your veterinarian advises you to. Hydrogen peroxide is also never advised since it may leave water in the ear canal, which would exacerbate the infection. Stick to ear cleaning items that your veterinarian has indicated for optimal results.
