April 6, 2012
Posted in How to

Ear infections can be both irritating and painful and this problem doesn't just happen to people. Dogs and cats are susceptible to getting ear infections and it's important for owners to know the signs, what causes them and ways to prevent them from happening.

There are a number of potential causes behind ear infections, including a dog having allergies to mold, grass, trees, dander or pollen. Many of these issues tend to be seasonal, so if your pup has had an infection during a specific season before, it may be best to keep a lookout for symptoms during the same season this year. Other causes include the dog suffering from biting ear mites, Fido having a food allergy or your pup suffering from issues like ear polyps or bacterial growth in its ear canals. Dogs can also develop ear problems if they get water in their ears as this allows bacteria and yeast to fester.

Signs that your pup may be experiencing pain in its ears include the dog shaking its head to one or both sides. The pooch might also be scratching at its ears and head nonstop or may seem less playful or energetic than usual.

The best way to figure out what's going on is to bring the dog to the vet's office. The vet will likely examine the dog's ears to check for any foreign objects, bacteria growth and ear mites. He or she will also run blood and/or skin tests to come to the most accurate conclusion.

If the issue is ear mites, the vet may recommend using pet products like Mita-Clear, which is a lotion that gets dropped into the dog's ear to kill off adult and larval mites. You should also start your pup on tick and flea preventive pet drugs like Frontline Plus or Comfortis at this time to ward off other harmful parasites. If bacterial growth is found, the vet may recommend that you start using ear cleaning medication like Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser once a week to prevent future irritation. For seasonal allergy issues, the vet may prescribe the dog an antihistamine medication that you can give it if you notice telltale signs that an ear infection is starting to brew. To help
soothe the discomfort right away in any situation, the vet will most likely start the pup on topical antibiotics like Otomax as well.

Related posts:

1. Maintain a good relationship with your dog’s ears
2. Helping your cat cope with hairballs