Main Causes of Dog Ear Infections

Do you own a pet dog at home? Then, we are sure you must be curious to know about the most common causes for dog ear infections a majority of pet dog owners face. Well, there are a number of causes that can result into an ear infection for your loving dog, so just have a look at some of some main causes here.

The many cases, a dog feels irritated in the ear due to the moisture in the ear canal that often happens during bathing, swimming or grooming. When, this moisture in the ear remains for a longer time it results in the growth of many microorganisms in the small ear canal itself. There can also be chances of allergies resulting in the overgrowth of these microorganisms not just in the dog’s ear but also in his skin. However, it must be noted that in many cases the main cause of a dog suffering from an ear infection is not clear and then, every precaution should be taken to ensure your dog gets proper treatment, else he might become violent.

Prevention of Dog Ear Infections

The best prevention for an infection in a dog’s ear can be the proper cleaning. Yes, if you feel you are not capable enough to clean your dog’s ear yourself, then take help from a professional and approved dog ear cleaner. This would be best if you consult a dog ear cleaner right after you give your dog a bath or a grooming session.

How to Deal with the Problem of Dog Smelly Ears?

It can be seriously intolerable if you have a dog with smelly ears. However, there is nothing so common about this problem; most of the dogs do have smelly ears due to infection that should be treated on time under proper expert guidance. Read on to learn how to deal with the problem of dog smelly ears.

Your first aim should be to examine your dog’s ears, especially when he is sleeping. For this use a torchlight and concentrate to see the movement of his ears. Make sure your dog is calm and quite when you check his ears and if nothing gets into your mind, then, do take him to a dog ear specialist for a checkup to explore the reason of the smell. 

Things to Examine

If your dog allows you to examine his ear quietly, then do check whether there is a hole or a puncture in his ear canal or any sort of wound because that might be the major cause for the smelly ears. Another thing to look for in dog smelly ears would be any sign of blood or discharge because this can result into fungal infection in his ears. 

In case, you notice a wound or a wax in your dog’s ears, then don’t waste time thinking of any home remedies. Just straight away get an appointment from a dog care specialist and get his ears treated before the dog becomes violent due to the irritation in his ears.

How to Recognize A Cat Ear Infection

If you are a cat lover, then you need to be extra alert to take care of your cat at home. The strangest thing about cats is that there ear infections are often hard to find out but they do irritate them a number of times. However, even difficult to recognize, infections in a cat’s ear are easier to heal than a dog’s ear infection. Read on to check out the most common causes of a cat ear infection. 

Some of the most common reasons for a cat’s external ear infection or otitis externa and middle ear infections or otitis media are listed here. It can be due to an autoimmune disease or some allergies from some food intake or even from pollen. Your cat can face ear infection due to overgrowth of yeast or bacteria in the ears or due to thick ear canal hair. Improper ear cleaning or environmental irritants can also be some common causes for the same.

Most Common Signs & Symptoms

Apart from the things mentioned above, there are some other common signs and symptoms to notice to confirm a cat ear infection. For instance, if your cat has a strong odor, that is intolerable by you or if she is losing her balance. Moreover, if she has swelling or redness on the ear flap or the ear canal is a sign of cat ear infection. Yellowish or black discharge from the ears or wax formations around the ear canal are other similar symptoms to look for recognizing an infected cat ear.

Best Ways to Sooth Dog Scratching Ears

Scratching ears is one of the most common problems faced by pet owners around the world with their dog constantly scratching his itchy ears. Most common reasons for this problem of itchy ears are fungal infections, parasitic infections or even the entrance of a foreign body in a dog’s ear. Check out some of the best ways to sooth a dog scratching ears. 

You may use diluted tea tree oil while giving a shampoo to your dog to offer some relief from the itching. However, make sure to use it in the diluted form, else it might be harmful for your dog. Another way to cure the problem of itchy or scratchy ears is to give antihistamines to prevent inflammation or blockage in the dog’s ears. If you are confident enough, then try swabbing your dog’s ears yourself before visiting a veterinarian to clear any wax or foreign body from his ears.

Offer Temporary Relief

Your maximum efforts should be to offer at least some temporary relief to your dog scratching ears. However, in many cases the pet owners fail to provide this relief themselves, so it is important to consult a dog ear specialist. The specialist may then prescribe some ointments or corticosteroids to give immediate and temporary relief to the scratchy dog ears. A useful advice here is not to prolong the use of steroid based medications for your dog; else your dog may face other acute death threatening problems.