Dog Ear Care

Dogs with floppy ears are very prone to ear infections, as there is hardly any air circulation around the ear so it is even more important to check your dog's ears often (daily - weekly).

The easiest way to keep your dog's ears clean and problem-free is to make cleaning a weekly chore. It is pretty simple if you keep up with it. Be sure to check for the following:

• dirt in the ears
• redness or inflammation around the ear
• wax buildup
• or anything else that might be in your dog's ear.

Always smell your dog's ears. A foul or sour odor indicates a problem like an ear infection, ear mites, or even fleas or ticks. If you think your dog might have an ear infection, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately. Letting your dog's ear infection go can result in a severe infection or even deafness.

Here are some symptons for possible ear infection. If you notice any of these problems do bring your dog to the vet as soon as possible to avoid a worsen problem. The symptons to look out for are:

• Your dog's ears are moist
• Your dog shakes his head
• Your dog paws or scratches his ear a lot
• You notice your dog tilts his head to the side
• You see fleas or ticks in the ear
• Your dog's ear smells bad (can indicate a dog ear yeast infection)
• You notice your dog's ear is red and immflamed
• You notice a heavy wax buildup when cleaning your dog's ears

When cleaning the ear, use ONLY a gentle solution. Never use soap and water or alcohol. Do not use Q-tips, or any other cotton tipped swab as these can push dirt further into your dog's ears creating a bigger problem. This can also hurt your dog's ear canal.

Use an approved cleaner from the Vet or from a Pet Shop. Mild Tea Tree Oil can also be used.

Hope this article helps. (ref: allaboutdogs)

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