Caring for your Dog's Ears and Preventing Infection

If you've ever had a dog that suffered from chronic ear infections, you know how much of a pain it can be for both you and your loved one. If your dog continues to get ear infections, there are some practical ways that may help you reduce their frequency.

Typically dog ear infections are an infection of the outer ear, just like people. They account for about 90% of all infections that a dog will ever get and, consequently, are the most common infection that dogs are treater for. In addition to the infection itself, dog ear infections can be accompanied by ear mites.

You can usually spot an ear infection if you notice the following:

1. Ears that appear swelled

2. Redness around or inside the ears

3. Discharge from the ears

4. Ears that smell or have a faint odor

5. Excessive scratching

One of the things that may increase the frequency of ear infections is if your dog has allergies, especially if they are severe. Excessive ear wax and long hair can exasterbate any allergic reaction or increase the likelihood of infection. Long hair can actually prevent air from getting into the dog's ears and allow wax to buildup as well as dirt. If your pet swims a lot, this can increase the possibility of infection as well. Weekly or monthy cleaning of your dog's ears will allow it to become used to regular cleaning and make it easier to treat infections when it really matters.

Cleaning your pet's ears is an essential way to reduce the risk of an ear infection. It's a simple process and only requires some soft cloth and ear cleanser which is available at pet store. To perform the cleaning, just lift your dog's ears up and massage the cleaner in a circular motion to loosen up any residue inside the ear.

If you notice your pet scratching its ear infection a lot, this can cause an additional complication. Frequent scratching of an infection can cause blood vessels in the ears to break and result in bleeding or swelling.

As a preventative measure, you could try using white vinegar to remove dirt from the dog's ears and simultaneously promote the growth of helpful healthy bacteria that can actually prevent infection. It's best to apply the white vinegar with a soft cloth or cotton. If you notice that an infection might be coming, try this to clear it up before the infection gets worse. If it does persist, antibiotics may be the only solution.

Yahoo! News Search Results for Ear Infection
Yahoo! News Search Results for Ear Infection

More health problems for Ragone
Notre Dame backup tight end Mike Ragone is suffering from an inner ear infection and his status for Saturday's opener against Purdue is uncertain. It's the second physical setback of the preseason for Ragone, who was hospitalized for a day earlier this summer after a practice because of heat illness.
Vail Daily column: Ear hematoma - 'It's not a tumor'
"It's not a tumor." I couldn't resist using one of my favorite Arnold Schwarzenegger lines to describe ear hematomas. Hematomas of the ears invoke a lot of questions: What are they? How did they get there? How can we fix them and prevent them from re-occurring? Can I call it a hema-tomato? Whoa there. Hold on! One question at a time, please. A hematoma is a pocket of blood in an enclosed space ...
KC Chief Corwin hospitalized for sinus and ear infection
Kansas City Police Chief Jim Corwin was admitted to the hospital Monday morning for an ear and sinus infection and was expected to be released tonight. The department announced an interim chief in his absence.
Parents of youngster with cancer to benefit from comedy show
When Christopher Mullen of Canton was 18-months-old, he started complaining of pain in his ears. His parents thought it was just another ear infection, like the ones he?d been having monthly since he turned one, but when they took him to the doctor they were quickly sent over to Children?s Hospital in Boston. After a series of increasingly frightening tests, they found out their son had ...
Ragone Kept Out of Practice
Notre Dame backup tight end Mike Ragone is suffering from an inner ear infection and his status for Saturday's opener against Purdue is uncertain. It's the second physical setback of the preseason for
Family: Man shot by police was deaf in left ear
The man fatally shot in confrontation with a police officer Monday afternoon after he refused to follow police orders was deaf in his left ear, the man's brothers said Wednesday.
Ruffer beats out Tausch
David Ruffer will be Notre Dame's No. 1 kicker for the home opener against Purdue on Saturday after beating out sophomore Nick Tausch. Taush made a school-record 14 straight field goals during a stretch last season but missed the final three games after injuring his foot. Ruffer, who transferred to Notre Dame from William & Mary after the 2007-08 school year, didn't miss a field goal in five...
Ruffer wins ND kicking job
Not 48 hours before the season opener, Notre Dame has a new kicker.
Irish kicker Ruffer ready, earns start vs. Purdue
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said senior kicker David Ruffer has beaten out incumbent Nick Tausch for the start in the Irish's season opener against Purdue on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.Tausch, who set a school record with 14 consecutive made field goals and was 14-for-17 overall as a freshman last year, had been No. 1 on the depth chart during preseason workouts.Ruffer ...
Notre Dame Fighting Irish kicker David Ruffer beats Nick Tausch for No. 1 job...
David Ruffer will be Notre Dame's No. 1 kicker for the home opener against Purdue on Saturday after beating out sophomore Nick Tausch.