DOG EAR PROBLEMS

One of the most common problems for dogs to have, is ear trouble. Vets see many dogs with head shaking, ear scratching, smelly discharges, and ear mites because they are the most possible causes. Dogs with ears that flatten down like spaniels are more likely to suffer ear problems than dogs with ears that stand erect like german shepherds. Loss of balance that is connected to a hearing problem could mean that your dog has an inner ear infection. Normal age related deafness in common in certain breeds.
 
Head shaking and ear scratching

Puppies are prone to ear mites because they spread throughout the litter. They can irritate the lining of the ear and stimulate the wax to increase. They are just visible to the naked eye. Head shaking can be caused by foreign bodies in the ear such as grass seed because the dog has no other way to get it out. If the ear scratching is caused by an infection, the inside of the ear flap and the dog's ear canal with be inflamed.

Treatment

Ear mites are treated by insecticidal ear drops and all other animals must be treated together, also an insecticidal shampoo must be used as these mites can live for a while outside the ear. Foreign bodies inside the ear can be removed by your vet who will also advise on ear mites. Your vet will be able to prescribe anti-inflammatory ear drops or other suitable medication for an allergic infection.
 
  Discharge

Outer ear infections (otitis externa), if left untreated can lead to serious problems. This infection produces discharges of bacteria (thick and yellow), yeast (black and runny) or mites (black and gritty). If the outer ear infection is left untreated it can lead to a middle ear infection (otitis media) which is bad enough to cause a ruptured ear drum.

Treatment

Outer Ear discharge must be treated with anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drugs otherwise if the infection travels to the middle ear there is no cure other than removing part of the ear canal.

Loss of Balance

Inner ear infections can come from the external ear, from the throat or via the bloodstream. The dog will tilt his head to the side of the infection and since the inner ear controls balance any infection here will make the dog unsteady on his feet.

Treatment

Surgical drainage can be done by your vet and he can treat the dog with oral antibiotics and something to control the sickness the dog will feeling due to his unsteadiness. Your dog must be protected from injuring himself while the medication is working.

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Deafness

Excess of ear wax can cause temporary deafness like seborrhea which produces a yellow, bad smelling substance that builds up in the ear. This is common in dogs that have narrow ear canals such as poodles and this breed also can have lots of hair in the ears that blocks the ear canal. The hair catches the wax forming a ball of wax that acts as a plug of matted hair that is prime for causing bacterial multiplication. Natural hearing loss occurs in older dogs.

Treatment

The ear must be cleaned and dried every day with a liquid obtained from your vet. The  wax and seborrhea will soon be eliminated. Your vet will be able to remove the excess hair blocking the ears and treat with antibiotics.

Swelling on ear flap

Older dogs can get internal bleeding if they shake their heads too vigorously. The ear will swell and produce an egg like lump (haematoma). The tips of the ears are prone to damage from injuries and bleed very easily

Treatment

A haematoma can be drained by surgery and stitched by your vet. If the ear is injured, stop the bleeding and clean the wound before binding the ear to the head and immediately consulting your vet.

Hair loss

Some breeds, such as the yorkshire terrier, lose the hair on their ears when they mature, leaving leathery flaps. Sarcoptes mange mites cause itchy, crusty patches and hair loss on the tips of the ears of all breeds of dog. Ringworm, a fungal infection, can also infect the ears and thinning of the hair of the ears can be an early sign of hormonal imbalance.

Treatment

Your vet can examine the dog to determine the problem. There is no cure for genetic hair loss other than selective breeding. Once blood samples are taken to find out if there are any hormonal imbalances, your vet can give the treatment specific to the cause of the hair loss.

 
 
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