Pet owners are often confronted with pet ear problems. Even though there reasons other than ear mites are the most common cause of ear infections in pets. Some major causes of infections in dog ears are:

* Wet ears that do not dry on their own
* Dog ear mites
* Skin diseases
* Allergic reactions
* Injury to the ear canal
* Insect bites

The structure of a dog’s ear is such that water gets entrapped easily in the ear canal. A dog’s ears naturally produce some amount of wax. This wax should be cleaned regularly as part of normal grooming. Severe instances of infection normally leads to excessive wax production that refuses to go away despite regular cleaning.

Moist wax is an invitation for yeast infection. If your dog scratches or rubs his ears excessively or shakes his head without any reason, it is prudent to inspect the ears for any signs of yeast infection. A particularly foul odor, redness, swelling of the external ear and an oily discharge are sure indications of a yeast infection.

Pet health issues plague everyone who has a pet at some time or another. Among other areas of concern, the one that can area that can pose a fair number of problems are ear infections. Ear mites, and ear infections are some of the major problems that can discomfort your pets and can lead to many a sleepless nights for you too. A dog with ear mites is a less common phenomenon than a cat ear with mites but if contracted, it can cause high levels of stress for the dog and the owner.

The one way in which you can ensure that you never have to face issues related to dog ear infections is to adopt good hygiene practices. Once these practices are made into a regular habit, the chances of your dog contracting any kind of ear infection reduce considerably. It is therefore, important to include ear cleaning and examination as part of a weekly ritual. If you use a professional grooming service, make sure that they include ear cleaning along with the regular bath, grooming and styling services.

Dog ear canals are L-shaped to protect the sharp hearing capabilities of dogs. This unusual shape is nature’s way of protecting the ear drum. But this shape is also the major reason why an ear infection is common in dogs. This is mainly due to the fact that the structure allows the ear mites moisture, ear wax and debris to accumulate.

When moisture and excessive wax accumulates in the ear, it can lead to severe infection of the ear, especially if there is also a prevalence of dog ear mites. Conventional medications that include antibiotics and antifungal drugs tend to weaken the immune system. Home remedies for dog ear mites, on the other hand, attempt to focus on the underlying cause without harming other functions of the body.

Ear mites in dogs is often caused by excessive wax that accumulates in the ears. Since the ear canals in dogs run horizontally and vertically, all the accumulated debris tends to go inwards. Hair growth in the inner ear, long ear flaps and the resulting dampness are also a breeding ground for bacteria.

Dogs normally respond to this condition by itching near the ear. Vigorous itching may even cause a blood vessel near the ear to snap. This results in bleeding in the externally visible portion of the external ear thereby causing localized swelling filled with blood. This aggravated condition is called hemotoma.

Hematoma can also be caused by an injury to the external ear. In a few cases, hematoma may heal on its own. But your dog may be left with a shrunk external ear or a scar, altering the appearance of the dog.

If the cause of the hematoma is related to ear mites, you can treat the condition by using home remedies for dog ear mites.

There are other conventional medications like oral medications, inject-able medications, and dermatological creams that your veterinarian may prescribe. These provide quick relief from the irritation and itchiness that the ailment causes.

For ear mites, or infections of bacterial or fungal origin.

Mix Equal Parts:

* Mullien Oil
* Oregon Grape Root Oil
* Garlic Oil
* Marshmallow Oil
* A couple capsules of Vitamin E to act as a preservative and to aid in skin healing.

To use:

apply 6 -12 drops to the effected area of the earflap or ear canal. Flooding the ear canal is not necessary

Originally posted 2006-06-07 13:07:03.

Ear trouble is common among dogs, particularly dogs with floppy ears, like hounds, or heavy hair growth within the ear canals, like Poodles. (The reason, obviously, lack of ventilation.) As a matter of fact, where the little Poodles are concerned, it is highly doubtful that any of them can survive all their days without some discomfort.

But all dogs, short ears or long, are susceptible to ear trouble.

How can you tell when Bowser is suffering about the ears? Easy. He’ll scratch! Sometimes he’ll scratch until he draws blood or causes a hematoma (more on that below). He may hold his head at a cockeyed angle. He may also shake his head, continuously.

You might see your dog paw at his head like a fighter in the ring. He will certainly scratch. If you look closer you may find pus in the ear, a lot of wax, or a deposit of what looks like dried blood. There may be swelling. The ear may be read with inflammation. There may be a strong, sour smell.

What To Do?

A better question is what NOT to do?

Timely and proper cleaning of your dog’s ears has many long term benefits. It helps in maintaining good overall health. If your dog is healthy, it impacts the general behavior and demeanor of your pet and he is likely to be more calm, amiable and friendly.

Dog ear grooming, therefore, goes a long way in your relationship with your dog. It is one aspect that cannot be ignored.

An unhealthy dog ear is responsible for more medical conditions than one can imagine. Chronic ear problems can occur due to various allergies or ear mites. An excess of thyroid hormones can make the condition worse than it already is. Using a wrong product to clean the dog ear mites can also lead to complications of the case.

Although less common in cats, ear mites present the same complications in cats as well.

Before the start of any treatment for ear infection, the dog’s ears should be cleaned in order to get a proper diagnosis. Vinegar diluted in water has been used for this purpose for a long time as part of home remedies for dog ear mites. This solution is good for cleaning purposes and also has curative properties.

I absolutely love rubbing my dog’s ears! Regardless of the shape and size, dog ears are adorable and most dogs melt with ecstasy when they get their ears rubbed. However, ear massages alone will not be enough to keep your dog or puppy’s ears healthy.

Ears are one of the central breeding areas for yeast infections, mites, fleas, etc. and it is your responsibility to take good care of that area to prevent the buildup of microscopic dangers. You will need to keep your dog’s ears free of moisture and build up of wax because parasites grow best in that type of environment.

Different Ears Mean Different Cleaning Needs

Not all dog ears are created equal, therefore there are different cleaning regimens for different breeds. Some dogs need their ears cleaned every day, while others only need a touch up every few weeks or so.

A good rule of thumb is knowing that dogs that have larger ear flaps will need some personal ear grooming attended to more often due to lack of circulation. You may also be faced with a dog that has too much hair growing from the inside of his ears. If so then you may want to trim away the excess air.

Ear trouble is common among dogs, particularly dogs with floppy ears, like hounds, or heavy hair growth within the ear canals, like Poodles. (The reason, obviously, lack of ventilation.) As a matter of fact, where the little Poodles are concerned, it is highly doubtful that any of them can survive all their days without some discomfort.

But all dogs, short ears or long, are susceptible to ear trouble.

How can you tell when Bowser is suffering about the ears? Easy. He’ll scratch! Sometimes he’ll scratch until he draws blood or causes a hematoma (more on that below). He may hold his head at a cockeyed angle. He may also shake his head, continuously.

You might see your dog paw at his head like a fighter in the ring. He will certainly scratch. If you look closer you may find pus in the ear, a lot of wax, or a deposit of what looks like dried blood. There may be swelling. The ear may be read with inflammation. There may be a strong, sour smell.

What To Do?

A better question is what NOT to do?

Otitis Externa is a medical term for a chronic or recurrent ear infection of the external ear and the ear canal. It is the result of a vicious circle of cause and effect. Poor grooming and unclean ears often act as an invitation for bacterial and fungal infections. Treatment is difficult as the anatomy of the dog ear does not allow the medication to reach the inner ear easily. Infection causes the skin lining of the external ear to thicken, which further inhibits exit of infectious fluid and entry of medications for treating the infection.

Dog ear infections are common but mild occurrences tend to aggravate. When the dog scratches his ears due to the itching, further complications like blood clots and haematoma are likely to occur. The external ear skin thickens and becomes reddened and scaly. With the passage of time, a discolored secretion starts creating a foul odor that is unbearable.

As the condition aggravates the ear assumes a cauliflower-like appearance, eventually leading to the blockage of the ear passage. Once the infection reaches the middle ear, otitis externa becomes more painful and brings about behavioral changes in the dog. The dog is likely to become less responsive and will shy away from opening his mouth or being petted on the head.