Pointy or floppy, big or small, your dog’s ears need to be looked after. They’re a magnet for dirt, bacteria and the type of microscopic nasties that can lead to infection. Here’s how to keep the chances of infection to a minimum, how to spot a problem - and how to deal with it…
Watch the video below to see Everypaw’s vet, Anna, demonstrating how to check and clean a dog’s ears.
Why Do Dogs Get Ear Infections?
If you’re only a foot tall and your hobbies include sniffing around in the dirt and jumping in muddy puddles, ear infections are pretty much an occupational hazard. Here are the main causes of ear infections in dogs:
- Bacteria and yeast: A healthy dog’s ear is usually able to defend itself against these organisms. But if the skin is punctured or irritated, if there’s excessive moisture in there or if your dog’s unwell, bacteria and yeast can multiply more than usual - making it much harder for the immune system to fight them off.
- Foreign objects: Those longer grass and plant seeds that tend to stick to your dog’s fur can get into the ear canal, too. They get lodged, cause your dog to scratch, and the irritated area becomes infected.
- Allergies: The allergy could be down to something your dog’s eaten, something they’ve inhaled or a skin irritant. Whatever it is, it causes them to scratch, and this is what causes the infection to set in.
There’s a very good chance that your dog will experience several infections in their lifetime. And for breeds with sizeable ear flaps (like Cocker Spaniels), it can make them more prone to ear infections.
Are Dog Ear Infections Serious?
Ear infections in dogs are not normally serious, so long as you keep a lookout for signs of an ear infection in your dog and get treatment quickly. Most bouts of ear infection can be dealt with through a consultation with your vet, a thorough clear-out, and a course of antibiotics for dog ear infections.
Just be aware that the longer you ignore an ear infection, the more difficult it becomes to shift it (and the more painful it is for your dog). The most severe cases can lead to permanent hearing damage and facial paralysis - so it’s definitely a good idea to get it sorted quickly.
Dog Ear Infection Symptoms
It's recommended to check your dog's ears every week, don't forget extra checks if your dog’s been for a swim or a walk in the woods. It's good to know what to look for, symptoms of an ear infection include:
- Pain when you stroke their head or ears
- Smell and discharge from the ears
- Swelling around the ears
- Head shaking and holding to the side
- Ear scratching
Most dogs adore having their ears stroked - so if you try to stroke them and your dog pulls away, this could be a sign that something’s going on in there. The same goes for head shaking movements or scratching around the ear area.
Next, check for smell, basically, there shouldn’t be one. If there’s a slight yeasty whiff or bad smell, it’s probably down to a bacterial or yeast infection. These smell and touch tests are pretty good indicators of any inner ear problems that aren’t always picked up by a quick peek inside the ear.
Now take a good look, the skin should be evenly pink with no signs of reddening. A coating of wax is normal, but that wax should be yellow - and there should be roughly the same amount of it each time you check. If the wax is greyish, or if there is a runny discharge, these are all signs of infection.
Ear Cleaning: When and How to Do It
Clean your dog’s ears if there’s any debris or grime present. For this, cotton buds are best avoided; they pack debris into the ear canal rather than removing it. A clean, damp soft cloth or some cotton wool are good ear cleaner options.
Squirt a few drops of dog ear cleaning solution into your dog’s ear and massage it into the inner skin with your thumb. Next, get some cotton wool and wrap it around one finger. Go deep into the affected ear and give it a good wipe to clear wax and any leftover dog ear drop cleaning solution. Moisture can provide a breeding ground for bacteria, so once you’re done make sure the ears are clean and dry.
Dog Ear Infection Treatment
If there are already signs of infection present, it’s time to make an appointment with the vet. Ear infections can be very painful if left untreated and can also cause permanent damage to the outer ear canal and middle ear if ignored.
Redness, swelling, a bad smell or discharge are all cues for you to call the vet. A change in behaviour also indicate that there’s a problem. If your dog suddenly seems wobbly on his feet or can’t hear you properly, get it checked out. Other signs include rubbing the ears on the floor or furniture, walking in circles, unusual eye movements and head tilting.
Treatment depends on what’s causing the problem. Using an otoscope, the vet can take a good look into the external ear canal to check out the extent of inflammation, look for any foreign bodies and identify the type of ear infection.
If it’s a one-off infection, treatment might involve a clear-out, corticoid medication to reduce any swelling - along with a course of either antibiotics if it’s a bacterial infection or antifungals if it’s a yeast infection.
If your pooch is getting recurrent or chronic ear infections, further investigations might be needed to get to the underlying cause of the problem. Sometimes this can involve allergy testing or immunotherapy.
So remember; keep your dog’s ears clean and dry - and don’t ignore the signs of an ear infection when they arise!
Everypaw Dog Insurance
Everypaw's Dog Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your pup will be well looked after.