EAR INFECTIONS

Here's what you need to know about your puppy's ear infection and how to deal with it:

Ear infections (Otitis) can affect the outer ear canal, middle ear or internal ear. The deeper the infection, the more serious the potential consequences.

So first and foremost, do your best to keep your puppy's ears clean and dry. When I give my dogs baths I am very careful not to get water into the ear.  I use (tearless baby) shampoo on their face and head, then hold my hand over the top of the ears while I rinse them off.

Some breeds, like poodles, need to have their INNER ear hairs plucked periodically, which is not painful (I know, it seems like it should be.)   Just use good light and make sure to grab the INNER ear hairs ONLY, a few at a time, and not the hair around the edge of the canal. I use a pair of blunt tweezers so I don't accidentally poke and hurt them if they jump around.  Excess hair inside the ear canal will retain moisture, a main cause of ear infection.

The ear canal is very deep and L-shaped, but the most common infections are in the outer ear canal.   This is the least serious infection unless you do nothing about it, because it is likely to spread deeper into the ear canal.  The first symptoms are: excessive scratching just below the ear itself, or by an offensive odor coming from the ear canal.  If worse, your dog might hold it's head tilted to one side, shake it's head excessively, or display a lack of coordination caused by dizziness.  I've had that same condition myself a couple of times.

I use a mild rinsing solution on my dogs (Ear Clear) if I see them scratching as described above. I squirt a little bit into the ear and then gently massage from the bottom of the ear canal up in a circular motion to break loose any wax or obstructions.   If that doesn't help in a day or so, it's time to try something a bit more effective or pay the vet a visit. One of the homeopathic solutions I sell is called Otalgia Drops™.   I hate using chemicals on or in my dogs, and Otalgia drops are all-natural, very inexpensive, and designed specifically for ear infections.   Scroll down to read more about Otalgia, including the ingredients, if you're interested.

Two things I highly recommend: First, that you don't try to clean the ear canal by putting something into it like a Q-tip, which isn't long enough anyway and can cause serious damage.  And second, don't ignore the symptoms and hope it will get better by itself.  It's much more likely to get worse by spreading deeper into the ear canal.  This can lead to, among other things, inflammation, pain, a ruptured eardrum and permanent deafness, or worse.

Some of the causes of ear infections, besides water in the ear, are wax build up, ear mites, a tumor, or a foreign object that managed to accidentally get into the ear canal. It could also be allergies or even a hormonal condition, and your vet can run tests to help determine the condition and cause, then recommend the proper treatment.

It's often a minor infection, and if treated early there's a good chance it will clear up easily with no lasting damage.  But if you're not sure, don't want to try and treat the dog yourself, or there's no improvement when you do, PLEASE call your veterinarian.  Your four-legged pal will be glad you did.     

                                                                                                         Poppy G.

• Reddish-brown or black waxy buildup inside the ears. Use a bright light to inspect.

• Your pet starts to scratch when you gently rub the ear flap against the ear.