May 7, 2012
Posted in Pet Health

Dogs' ears are very important as they help canines keep their balance and stay alert at all times. Although ears are a crucial part in a dog's overall health, they are also one of the most sensitive areas on a pup's body, so it's important owners know how to properly take care of them.

A common ear issue vets across the country see is ear disease. This condition can have a variety of symptoms and can cause a dog a lot of pain, so it's crucial pet parents recognize the signs and the reasons behind the disease.

Causes of ear disease

Ear disease is commonly triggered by underlying allergies. This can include a pet food allergy, environmental allergies or a flea infestation as many pets are allergic to fleas' saliva. Bacterial infections in the ear may also be to blame.

Ear disease symptoms

Signs that your dog has ear disease may include its ears turning red due to inflammation. The dog may also be sensitive to having its ears touched, either barking, growling or moving away when you go to scratch its ears or head. If flea bites are to blame you may notice red bumps on the dog's ears. Many times dogs with ear disease also suffer from secondary bacterial or yeast infections, so your pooch's ears may also have a distinct smell. Ear disease and all of its symptoms are painful for the pooch so if you notice any signs, it's important to bring the dog to the vet for an evaluation.

Treatment options

If you notice any issues with your dog's ears, bring it to the vet for a complete physical. The vet will likely ask you questions during the visit including when you first noticed the symptoms, whether the dog is on flea and tick preventative pet drugs like Sentinel, if the dog had recently been in the water and more. Since many times the issue stems from allergies, the vet might also ask you about what type of pet food the dog eats as a low quality brand could be behind the ear woes.

Once a diagnosis is made, the vet will start the dog on certain regimens depending on the root cause. If the issue is a flea infestation the vet may suggest starting the dog on preventive mediation as well as bathing it in pet shampoo like Excel Hydrocortisone Shampoo to ease the inflammation and itch. Antibiotics like Zymox Otic Enzymatic Solution Hydrocortisone Free may be prescribed to treat bacterial, viral or yeast infections inside the dog's ear and the vet may also suggest you start cleaning the dog's ears more frequently with a solution like Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser to prevent future problems.

Related posts:

1. Kitty scratching her ears? Infection may be to blame
2. When your pet has mite-y itchy ears
3. Keeping your pooch’s ears healthy and clean
4. When ear scratching is too much
5. Get in shape for summer by exercising with your pup