Just about every single land-bound creature has ears, including dogs. Sadly, these wonderful organs do come with their fair share of problems in our canine companions, thanks to their long, L-shaped ear canals.
What’s The Matter?
Our dogs’ unique ear canal shape causes some issues. The biggest problem is that it traps dirt and moisture, creating the perfect environment for all sorts of fungus and bacteria to thrive. This can make their ears itchy – assuming that they don’t develop an infection of some kind instead.
How Can I Tell If There’s An Infection?
Here are a few signs to watch out for:
- Excessive scratching.
- Ear discharge.
- Strange smells emanating from the ears.
- Excessive shaking or tilting of the head.
- Persistent rubbing of the ears against the floor or the furniture.
What Can I Do About This?
Prevention is better than cure – ideally you’ll want to integrate ear-cleaning into your dog’s regular grooming routine. If your dog goes swimming on a regular basis, you’ll want to do this more often and ensure their ears are dried out completely after each session.
If there’s already an ongoing infection, take your dog to see a vet – they will be able to diagnose the cause and figure out an appropriate course of treatment. While you’re there, you might as well ask them to teach you how to use cotton balls on your dog!
Feature Image Source: Pixabay