Dog Ear Health


Dog's ears are not one of the places we often check for signs of bad health or problems. However the ears are a likely spot for infection. Dogs regularly scratch their eyes and their paws can bring in all sorts of germs.

Signs that your dog may have an ear condition include:


All of the above can be the sign of a mild or serious ear condition. Different dogs will be prone to different types of ear problems. You will find that dogs with floppy ears like Spaniels will have more problems with infections in general. Long haired dogs or dogs with long hair around the ears are also more prone to problems. Keeping the dogs hair clipped around the ears can help.

Shar Pei's have narrow ear canals so are prone to problems as are poodles as they have hairy ears. You should keep this in mind when choosing which breed of dog to purchase as being aware of potential problems means you are more likely to catch them before they become serious.

If you suspect your dog has ear ailments you can attempt to look inside the ear yourself. If your dog reacts aggressively then he could be in pain and medical treatment is needed. IF you can not get a good look inside the ear or can not notice anything serious, see a vet and he can conduct a proper examination. Note that you should NEVER use a sharp object or human ear bud to inspect a dog's ear as you can cause great damage and permanent hearing loss.

A foreign body in the ear can cause problems. This can include grass or small objects. If your dog has an ear infection he will be prescribed medicated ear drops, oral antibiotics or anti-inflammatories depending on what the diagnosis is according to your vet.

As with humans, a dog’s ear is very sensitive and should not be treated by anyone other than an experienced vet. Without doubt you should take your dog to the vet as soon as you suspect an ear infection or ailment as it is better to be safe than sorry.