Your dog uses his ears constantly throughout the day. Dog ear care is very important. Make sure you take care of dog ear problems immediately for your dog's overall wellbeing.
Ask your vet to check your dog's ears at least twice a year to be sure you are not overlooking any problems. Also, make sure you check your dog's ears during his weekly grooming routine. Ask your veterinarian how often you should clean dog ears and also ask what ear care productsicon you should use.
While cleaning dog ears, do not use cotton swabs. Instead of cleaning out your dog's ears, cotton swabs push wax and dirt further down into the ear canal. Instead, use a slightly dampened washcloth to wipe the outer rim of the ear. If your vet recommends using an ear wash, apply the quantity that is recommended and massage your dog's ears to work the cleaner in. Then, allow him to shake the excess cleaner out.
There are many types of ear washes, and different people prefer different washes. Many breeders even mix up their own ear wash, but do not use a product unless your veterinarian says that it is safe for your dog.
If your dog's ears smell bad, he may have a yeast infection in them. This infection is especially common in dogs that do not have prick ears. When the ear flops over, air is not able to circulate and the moisture in the ear is a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Take your dog to the veterinarian and ask him to check for a yeast infection.
To cure an ear infection, you will need to follow the veterinarian's instructions completely. Stopping the treatments just because the ears smell better is a bad idea. The infection most likely is not completely gone and will flare up again. Recurring infections grow resistant to treatment. Your vet may have to prescribe oral antibiotics to help destroy the yeast.
Once your dog's ear infection is cured, you can take steps to prevent a reoccurrence. If your dog has long hair, trim the hair on his ears. Shave the hair on the undersides of his ears. This helps more air reach his ears to prevent the damp, hot environment that yeast prefers. Also, if your dog gets wet, be sure his ears dry out. These few simple precautions can really help you keep outbreaks to a minimum.
Finally, if you do not notice an odor coming from your dog's ears, but his ears are red and he is constantly scratching them, take him to your veterinarian to rule out ear mites. He will probably say that it is just a mild irritation and give you a soothing ointment to apply to your dog's ears.
Remember, taking care of your dog's ears is fairly simple and helps you avoid future health problems. However, the best thing about a dog with healthy ears is that he has no excuse for not coming when he is called!
Ask your vet to check your dog's ears at least twice a year to be sure you are not overlooking any problems. Also, make sure you check your dog's ears during his weekly grooming routine. Ask your veterinarian how often you should clean dog ears and also ask what ear care productsicon you should use.
While cleaning dog ears, do not use cotton swabs. Instead of cleaning out your dog's ears, cotton swabs push wax and dirt further down into the ear canal. Instead, use a slightly dampened washcloth to wipe the outer rim of the ear. If your vet recommends using an ear wash, apply the quantity that is recommended and massage your dog's ears to work the cleaner in. Then, allow him to shake the excess cleaner out.
There are many types of ear washes, and different people prefer different washes. Many breeders even mix up their own ear wash, but do not use a product unless your veterinarian says that it is safe for your dog.
If your dog's ears smell bad, he may have a yeast infection in them. This infection is especially common in dogs that do not have prick ears. When the ear flops over, air is not able to circulate and the moisture in the ear is a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Take your dog to the veterinarian and ask him to check for a yeast infection.
To cure an ear infection, you will need to follow the veterinarian's instructions completely. Stopping the treatments just because the ears smell better is a bad idea. The infection most likely is not completely gone and will flare up again. Recurring infections grow resistant to treatment. Your vet may have to prescribe oral antibiotics to help destroy the yeast.
Once your dog's ear infection is cured, you can take steps to prevent a reoccurrence. If your dog has long hair, trim the hair on his ears. Shave the hair on the undersides of his ears. This helps more air reach his ears to prevent the damp, hot environment that yeast prefers. Also, if your dog gets wet, be sure his ears dry out. These few simple precautions can really help you keep outbreaks to a minimum.
Finally, if you do not notice an odor coming from your dog's ears, but his ears are red and he is constantly scratching them, take him to your veterinarian to rule out ear mites. He will probably say that it is just a mild irritation and give you a soothing ointment to apply to your dog's ears.
Remember, taking care of your dog's ears is fairly simple and helps you avoid future health problems. However, the best thing about a dog with healthy ears is that he has no excuse for not coming when he is called!