Clean and Healthy Ears

Guest Author - Sandy Moyer

Ear care should be part of your regular grooming routine. By checking your dog's ears often you'll notice signs or irritation early and help prevent painful, often hard to treat ear infections.

Begin by visually examining the ears. Skin inside healthy ears should be a light pink color. Some specks of yellowish-brown wax are normal, but a heavy wax build-up is not. Smell the ears. Even a mild ear infection will cause a foul odor. If you've ever had a dog with an ear infection, you'll easily recognize that unmistakable odor.

If your dog's ears are consistently clean and healthy, with no sign of irritation, routine care is simple. Wipe away any loose soil from the ear flap and just inside each ear with a cotton cosmetic pad or cotton balls. No cleaning solutions are needed.

Ear infections begin with itching and discomfort. The production of excess of wax that occurs in response to irritation and inflammation leads to infection. The first step in treating an ear infection is to determine the cause.

Causes of Infection

Allergies are a frequent cause of chronic ear infections. Sometimes ear infections are the first and only sign of allergies. Dogs can be allergic to fleas, certain foods, medications or inhaled allergens. They can be allergic to grasses, pollen, mold, dust mites, etc... all the common things that cause "hay fever" in humans. In dogs, the allergic reaction to these inhaled allergens is itching, not respiratory symptoms. When recurrent ear infections follow a seasonal pattern, this type of allergy is a likely cause. After an ear infection has cleared up, you'll need to find the underlying cause of the allergies to prevent repeat infections. Antihistamines and anti-inflammatory medications are sometimes effective. Allergy testing followed by appropriate allergy shots can sometimes be a solution.

Foreign bodies like foxtail seeds or seeds from other dried grasses, ticks and other insects in a dog's ears cause pain and inflammation. Insects and other flying debris can lodge in a dog's eyes, ears, and nasal passages if you let him ride in the back of a pick-up truck or with his head sticking out of a car window.

Although ear mites are probably the most well known cause of heavy wax build-up and ear infections, they really are not very common is dogs. When ear mites are the cause, there is usually intense itching. Ear mites can be passed from one dog to another and between cats and dogs.

When there's no relief from the itching, irritation and pain associated with any of the above, scratching and pawing the ears can result in more trauma and infection.

Numerous types of bacteria and yeast cause ear infections. Although any of the above factors can be an initial source of inflammation, with the added moisture of excess wax, a warm dark ear canal becomes the prefect breeding ground for bacterial and yeast infections.

Dogs with large floppy ears are much more likely to get ear infections than those with upright ears. Upright, open ears allow air and light inside. Bacteria and yeast thrive a warm, dark, moist environment. Floppy ears trap moisture and prevent air from ever reaching the ear canal to dry it, providing ideal conditions for yeast infection. These dogs may benefit from routine once a week cleanings, especially if they have already had ear an infection.

Poodles, Schnauzers, Spaniels, Sheep Dogs and many other breeds have hair growth in the ear canal. Wax and debris stick to the hair and become a source of infection. Hair in the ear canal needs to be pulled out or "plucked" periodically. Removing the hair, a small amount at a time, rather than trying to remove all the hair just before cleaning the ears, will be less irritating. A special powder, available in most pet supply stores, can be used to make the hair easier to grasp. Follow the directions for use included with the powder. Using your thumb and index finger, hold onto a few hairs at a time and pull straight out. Pull out a majority of the hair, you don't have to remove every single hair.

Moisture in the ear canal from water that remains in a dog's ears after swimming can be a source of bacteria and yeast infections. After swimming, towel dry the ears, then clean both ears with a drying ear cleaner.

Signs & Symptoms of Infection
Thick wax build-up and a foul odor are sure signs of an ear infection. Skin inside the ears is inflamed. The color is bright pink or reddish, deeper and brighter than the usual pink color. Frequent vigorous head shaking... rubbing the ears on carpet or on furniture... scratching and pawing at the ears, sometimes crying at the same time, are all signs of a possible ear infection.

Advanced infections cause increased swelling, oozing and pus formation. When infection spreads to the middle ear, a dog will typically walk with it's head tilted to one side. There may also be stumbling and loss of balance.

Treatment
If your dog has symptoms of an ear infection, get veterinary help as soon as possible. Brown waxy debris and other signs of infection could be caused by bacteria, by a fungus, or by ear mites. Without knowing exactly what's causing the symptoms, an over the counter medication from a pet store may bring no relief to your dog and allow the infection to worsen. Treatment with the right medication can only begin after a Veterinarian makes an accurate diagnosis. Treatment for a bacterial infection is different than treatment for a yeast infection. An infection caused by ear mites must be treated with an antibiotic plus an insecticide. Treating with the wrong medication will not only be ineffective, some ear cleaners and ear drops can cause additional damage to a weak or ruptured eardrum.

A veterinarian will use an otoscope to examine the ears and rule out the possibility of a foreign body like foxtails or an insect causing the problem. They'll examine a sample of debris under the microscope, looking for parasites like ear mites or fleas. They might send a sample to a lab to identify the type of bacteria or fungus.

Antibiotics will be prescribed according to the type of bacteria. An antifungal will be prescribed a for yeast infection. To reduce inflammation, the prescribed medication might also includes steroids.

For dogs with a first time mild infection, treatment might include daily cleaning with a prescribed ear wash + use of prescribed ear drops for about a week or so, followed by once a week cleaning after that.

Treatment for more severe infections sometimes requires a combination of daily cleaning with a prescribed ear wash, oral antibiotics, plus topical ear drops that contain an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic. This treatment could continue for as long as 4 to 6 weeks.

If inflammation from an infection makes cleaning the ears too painful, your Vet will probably recommend a "full ear flush" to remove built-up wax, pus and debris from deep inside the ear canal. This procedure is done while the dog is either sedated or under general anesthesia.

Whatever medication and method of treatment is prescribed, follow directions carefully and complete the entire course of treatment, followed by responsible preventive care.

Recurring infections can lead to formation of scar tissue in the cartilage and lining of the ear canal. This narrows the ear canal and makes cleaning and treating the ear with medication impossible without surgical correction. When dogs continually get ear infections despite diligent routine care and treatment with veterinary prescribed medication, surgery might eventually be needed to open the ear canal.

Vigorous scratching, pawing and head shaking can break blood vessels in the floppy part of an ear. Bleeding from the ruptured blood vessels causes a balloon-like swelling, or hematoma. Aspirating the fluid may temporarily reduce swelling, but in most cases the bleeding will continue and the hematoma recurs. Ear hematomas typically require surgical repair to completely drain the hematoma, repair the blood vessels, and stop the bleeding.

Ear Cleaning
Most ear cleaners work by breaking up and liquefying the wax so it can be wiped out of the ear. They also help dry the ear canal, and provide the right amount of acidity for healthy ears.

Use extra large !00% cotton balls or !00% cotton squares or rounds.

Clean your dogs ears in a well-lighted area. Before you begin, have everything you need at hand.... a soft terry cloth towel to lay under the dog's head, plenty of absorbant cotton, ear cleaner, and any ear medication that follows, plus a trash bag for the used cotton.

Unless directed otherwise, ears should always be cleaned before administering ear drops or applying any topical medication.

Instructions for a routine ear cleaning....

If your dog has floppy ears, gently lift up the ear flap to expose the inside of the ear.

Try to hold the dog's head in a position that will allow the cleaning solution to flow downward into the ear canal.
I find this is easier to do if I sit next to the dog, with her head on my lap, and hold her head in position.

Visually examine the ear, and wipe away any loose dirt and residue from just inside the ear.

Squeeze ear cleaning solution into the ear, filling the ear canal.

Gently massage the base of the ear for about 30 seconds to a minute. This will help to soften wax and other debris.

If there's still a pool of cleaner just inside the ear, soak up the excess liquid with cotton before the next step.

Let your dog sit up and shake her head a few times. This will help release the softened wax and other debris.

Gently swab inside the ear with cotton to remove the remaining cleaner and residue.
Repeat as necessary, replacing saturated or soiled cotton with new, until the ear is dry.

Wipe any residue from the inside of the ear flap.

Discard all used cotton. Never re-use anything from one ear on the other.

Administer any prescribed medication, as directed.

Repeat on other ear.

Give your good dog a hug and a healthy treat.

For dogs with large floppy ears, and dogs with a history of recurrent ear problems, weekly cleaning may be necessary. Follow your Veterinarian's recommendations to determine how often to clean your dog's ears.

Weekly ear inspections and prompt Veterinary treatment at the first sign of infection are essential.
Don't wait until your dog is in pain or struggling with ears that won't stop itching.
Clean ears are healthy ears.

Ear Care Products

Zymox Otic
For the treatment of acute and chronic inflammation of the external ear caused by bacterial, viral and yeast infections. Use once a day for 7 days for acute infection or once a day for 14 days for chronic infection.
Click here to read more about Zymox from "The Animal Pet Doctor"

Halo Herbal Ear Wash
This soothing blend of herbal extracts, in a witch hazel base, eliminates ear wax, odors, prevents infections and heals abrasions, promoting healthy new cell formation.

Illustrated guides to cleaning and medicating a dog's ears....
Examining and Medicating the Ears of a Dog -
from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University

reference sources
Ear Care - Lubbock Pets Online
All Creatures Animal Hospital
Grooming Maltese Dogs
VetInfo.com - Ear Problems in Dogs
The Animal Pet Doctor

The information in this article is intended to make you aware of the need for preventative care and emphasize the importance of seeking Veterinary care, without delay when needed. It is not intended to replace professional advice from your Veterinarian.