Dog ear anatomy and cleaning

This video gives great insight into the surprising shape of the dogs ear canal and explains why a vet visit is so important to rule out problems deep in the ear.  The ear cleaning demo is good too

All About Pets: Dog’s Ear Canals Need Cleaning : Yeast Infection Best Treatment

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All About Pets: Dog’s Ear Canals Need Cleaning

August 4, 2013 by admin  
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Dog ears are very different from human ears. For starters, the ear cartilage can be very floppy in some breeds, such as cocker spaniels, labradors and hound dogs. In floppy-eared dogs, there is no air or light going into the ear canal. If any moisture gets in there then, being dark, stuffy and moist are the perfect recipe for yeast infections! Your groomer can spot an ear infection and your veterinarian can prescribe you an ointment to clear the infection. Yeast infections are very itchy, and your baby will be shaking those ears a lot, scratching them or rubbing them in the carpet. I think the yeasty ears smell very foul, they produce a nasty brown discharge and they make the ear canal very swollen. Imagine how uncomfortable that is!

I see many labrador retrievers with ear problems and the common cause is they swim in lakes. Of course, the dirty water stays in the canal and if the owner doesn’t rinse it with an ear cleaner then it will create a nasty yeast infection.

Infections may also develop when dogs have allergies or an excessive amount of ear wax is present. Most dogs with allergies have red skin and are very itchy. Your groomer may tell you to take your pet to the vet if that’s the case.

Sometimes the pet owners cause the ear infections by using hydrogen peroxide to clean the ears. Don’t do it! Hydrogen peroxide doesn’t evaporate easily and stays in the ear canal just breeding yeast. Also it is very abrasive to the tender skin in the ear canal

Another thing pet owners use is alcohol. It is not nice to burn that ear canal so do not use it either! Ask your groomer for safe ear cleaners you can get over the counter or your veterinarian if the ear has a specific infection.

Dog ears also have a different canal than us. The dogs canals are L-shaped and ours is just horizontal, the horizontal part of the dog’s ear is very deep. Good groomers know how deep to go when cleaning, whereas owners could do more harm than good when they use Q-tips to clean ears.

Some breeds have very hairy ear canals. The groomer will use a special powder and then pluck those hairs safely and painlessly. This is very important so your dog can actually hear you. I’ve seen some poodles, bichons and cockers with these issues, and the owners are so happy. They seem to really feel much better after having the ears plucked.

I have heard of some ignorant owners damaging the ears using Nair or wax to pull hairs. Do not hurt your dog by using people products on them!

Please ask your groomer for safe tips on keeping the ear canals healthy!

[ Tiffany Santos, a certified pet groomer, is a groomer at Orchid Springs Animal Hospital in Winter Haven. Email her at postmaster@osahvets.com. ]

Article source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20130803/COLUMNISTS/130809787?Title=All-About-Pets-Dog-s-Ear-Canals-Need-Cleaning

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Cleaning Your Dogs Ears

Dogs ears are prone to infection as you might already have noticed if you have a dog with problem ears. If your dog keeps getting infections here is some information that might help you deal with chronic ear infections.

Dog ear infections are usually called Otits Externa; this means an infection in the outer ear. (Otis Interna means an infection of the inner ear). Outer ear infections account for 90% of the infections in dogs; making ear infection the most common infection for a dog to be treated for. Ear mites can often accompany ear infections.

Dogs with allergies may experience more ear infections than other dogs. It can be caused by wax build up inside the ear. It can also be caused by long hair blocking the passage of air and creating a buildup of not only wax but also dirt and debris.

Regular ear cleaning will also get the pet used to having his ears handled which will make it easier to administer treatment.

You can prevent these infections by cleaning your dogs ears well and as part of your regular grooming regime. Cleaning your dog’s ears is simple and you only need a soft cloth and some ear cleanser. Lift the ears and massage some cleanser into the ear this should loosen the dirt.

Regualr ear cleaning is a powerful preventative measure; particularly if you have a dog who is at a high risk for ear infections. Ear infections are more common in dogs that swim often for example. Water inside the ears can be a problem for dogs who are essentially not designed for water.

You can spot an ear infection on your dog by looking for the following tell tale signs:

-smelly ears

-discharge

-excessive head shaking

-swelling

-redness in the ears

If your dog seems uncomfortable or is excessively scratching their ears it’s probably causing a great deal of distress. If you pet is scratching too hard this can even break blood vessels and cause swelling and bleeding.

You can try cleaning your dogs ears with white vinegar to remove dirt from the ear and promote the growth of good bacteria. Use the vinegar in the same way as the ear cleanser – pour it on and wipe gently inside the ear with the cloth or cotton. This might help ease the infection or even clear it up if the problem was not too severe to start.   If the infection is serious its time to call the vet. It can be cleared up easily. Most often the dog will need some antibiotics to help clear the problem.

If your dog has recurring ear infections the vet might suggest that you clip the hair around the ear or the vet might clip the hair around the ear. This often helps. If the problem is more extreme than that the vet might suggest surgery to allow for easier drainage of the ear canal.

Some breeds are more prone to chronic ear infections than others any breed of dog with large ears or particularly small ears will get ear infections easier than some other breeds.  Now that you know what to look for you should be able to detect ear infections before they become a serious problem

Some Tricks For Cleaning Your Dog"s Ears

We have found that Pyrs can be prone to ear infections.  In general, dogs with floppy ears are; their little, cute flops make for a great breeding ground for bacteria in their ears.  Most owners are apprehensive to clean their dog’s ears, fearful they will clean too deep and injure them.  A dog’s ears are much deeper than ours, and if you avoid Q-tips and use cotton squares you will not do harm.

If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, always see a veterinarian before cleaning and attempting to treat their ears.  If their eardrum is damaged, some cleaning solutions may not be advisable.  Ultimately, they will need anti-biotics also.

Cleaning their ears can be a pain.  I know one of my dogs, Ana, is a living nightmare when it comes to her nails or ears.  I swear she can read my mind.  I try to “pretend” I have other intentions, but she always knows.  If you live alone, it becomes extra challenging, as you have no friends to help you corral your pup.

Never let these daunting aspects keep you from routine cleaning.  If you have a floppy, furry-eared dog, you should be cleaning their ears proactively.  Do not wait for an infection.

So…my tips.  If you have a nutty ‘squirmier’, find a corner in your house.  Have them sit into the corner, so they cannot back up and escape you.  This is the biggest helpful point.  If you have other dogs, ask them to go out back while you do this.  Dogs all stick together, and my other dogs make it a hugely entertaining game to thwart my attempts at treating my dog.

For me, I try to associate ear cleaning with a positive experience.  I offer treats before I do it, and offer treats right after.  If she freaks and makes it impossible, then no treats.  Never offer “good girl” merely because you were able to catch the rabid beast.  Praise needs to be awarded only when they are acting completely ideal.

Once I have my girl in a corner where she can go nowhere, I pause.  I wait for her to calm down.  When she has, I offer affection.  She almost thinks it’s all over, but then the ears must be cleaned.  I clutch her collar with one hand, and use the same hand to pull her ear back.  That allows me to hold her and use my other hand to squirt the fluid in.  A tip, is to warm the fluid in your hands before administering it.  Often the coldness of it can be shocking.  Have your cotton ready!  Once you squirt into their ear, massage the base of their ear deeply, ensuring you hear a ‘swishing’ sound.  That ensures the fluid is moving around deeply enough.  Sometimes it’s the ‘squirting’ into their ears that your dog doesn’t like.  If they don’t tolerate their ears being cleaned well, lay your cotton square down and saturate it with your solution.  Then, you can squeeze the cotton and drip the cleaning solution into their ears.  I find this actually works the best.

Avoid using Q-tips.  You may see your vet do it, but you also see your dentist poke your teeth with sharp objects!  While a dog’s ear is deeper than ours, it’s advisable to avoid using Q-tips in case your dog squirms.  It’s safer to use cotton balls/squares so we don’t risk injuring their ears if they jerk.

Get your ear cleaning solution from your vet.  Our dogs don’t need fragrance and fancy ingredients, which make it pleasurable for the owner but have no benefit to the dog. 

If this process is still too challenging, make the effort to take them to your vet and have the techs do it.  Ear health is important, and can lead to disease conditions if infections are left untreated.

Click Here for a good picture tutorial–as well as some additional information!

Ear Infections in Dogs Why Cleaning Your Dog"s Ears is Important

Ear Infections in Dogs
Why Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears is Important

Cocker Spaniels Prone to Ear Infections
Dog owners who notice head shaking, ear scratching, or tilted head in their pet may be seeing symptoms of ear infection which needs prompt treatment for cure.

Ear infections are quite common in dogs. Although any dog can get an ear infection, breeds such as Cocker Spaniels with heavy pendulous ears and Yorkshire Terriers with lots of hair inside the ears are most susceptible.
Causes

Ear infections are most commonly caused by bacteria, yeast, or mites. Anything that impairs drainage and promotes moisture in the ear such as waxy buildup, dirt, hair mats, growths, or ticks can bring on infection. Sometimes pollen, dust, mold, fleas, and even certain foods can cause irritation within the ear.
Symptoms

Dogs with an ear infection may scratch at the ear, shake their heads excessively or hold their heads tilted, or scoot the side of the heads with the infected ear along the ground or carpet. They may shy away from being petted around the ears. Upon examination, dog owners may find the ear to be red and irritated or filled with dark or yellowish discharge. Often a smelly odor is detected.
Prevention
Regular cleanings with a good ear cleansing solution go a long way toward preventing ear infections. Dogs with hair growing inside the ears will benefit from keeping it clipped.