Dog Ear Problems
Dogs

Dog Ear Problems



The dog ear is divided into three parts as the pinna, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear or flap forms the pinna. The pinna helps capture sound waves. The middle ear processes the sound waves captured by the pinna. It consist of the tympanic cavity, the eardrum and the auditory ossicles. The auditory ossicles are a group of small bones known as malleus , incus and stapes. The sound waves travel down the ear canal and it is transmitted by the auditory ossicles into the inner ear. The inner ear is made up of small fluid-fill canals. There are tiny hair inside the canals that record the fluid movement and changes in the dog's posture and position. This helps govern the dog's sense of balance. The cochlea converts the sound vibrations into messages. These messages are carried to the brain to be translated into meaningful sounds.

Thus, the tiny ear of our dear Fluffy carries out so many process to convert sound waves into sounds. There are many dog health problems that plague Fluffy. Problems with the ear are one of the many health problems seen in canines.

Common Problems

Inflammation: Parasites, microorganisms, tumors and dog ear skin problems may lead to inflammation of the ear canal. Otitis externa is caused by ear mites. They make Fluffy agitated and he run around the house. Thus, it is extremely important to get rid of any parasites lurking around Fluffy's ears.

Yeast Infections: Malassezia pachydermatis is a common yeast infection in the dog's inner ear. Yeast thrives in the moist and warm environment of Fluffy's ears.

Bacterial Infection: Staphylococci, Streptococci, E. coli, and Pseudomonas spp cause dog outer ear infections. A persistent infection can lead to inflammation of the ear canal leading to dog inner ear problems. The infected usually discharges pus.

Allergies: Food or inhalation of certain substances may lead to allergies in dogs. Dog ear problem is the first sign of dog allergy. Thus, it is important to treat the allergies along with the dog ear problem.

Foreign Bodies: Ants, stick-tights, dog fur or any forgiven body can lodge itself in Fluffly's ears. This causes irritation, dog scratching that leads to a dog ear problem.

Hormones: Dog ear skin problems can be due to deficiency or excess of hormones in Fluffy's ears. Thyroid hormones, glucocorticoids and sex hormones are known to cause these problems.

Remedies

Ear mites: If you find dry, dark, crumbly coffee ground like deposits in Fluffy's ears, then it is a confirmed mite infestation. In order to treat dog ear problem of mites, clean the ear thoroughly and use ear medications that kill ear mites. The veterinarian may continue this treatment for several weeks to eliminate ear mites.

Yeast: A brown waxy discharge with bad odor generally spells yeast infection. Clean the dog ear daily to get rid of the infection. The veterinarian will prescribe special medications as a part of yeast infection treatment.

Bacterial Infection: The discharge in a bacterial infection is usually yellowish in color and has a bad odor. Bacterial infections are not eliminated with simple cleaning. You need to consult the veterinarian as soon as possible as the dog's outer ear problem may spread to the dog's inner ear. The veterinarian may advice antibiotics.

Home Remedies Consult the veterinarian in case of suspected dog ear problem. Include vitamin C in your pets diet to boost his immunity to fight against any possible infection. Tea Tree oil and Rosemary extracts have been found to cure infections. Follow the advice of the veterinarian and give proper treatments to cure the dog from ear problems. The next time you clean your ears, remember to clean Fluffy's ears. Maintaining physical hygiene of your dog is an important part of prevention if you want to ensure that your dog remains healthy.




- How To Get Rid Of Ear Mites
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