Is Your Dog Predisposed to Ear Problems?

Posted by Clare Bristow

setter-coming-out-of-water Some dogs are more inclined to suffer from ear problems than others - their lifestyle and/or breed can be contributory factors to the development and persistence of otitis (inflammation of the ear canal).

These factors aren't always the main cause of otitis, but they contribute to its development because they encourage the retention of moisture in your dog's ear and/or prevent the ear being ventilated. Warm, moist ears are a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast infections.

In an earlier post I identified the primary causes of otitis to be - allergies, ear mites, foreign bodies, tumors and skin disorders. These causes all change the environment in your dog's ear, and if the ear is not kept clean and dry, will usually lead to bacterial and dog ear yeast infections developing.

Which dog's are prone to ear problems?

Dog with long ears, Basset Hounds are a prime example. Floppy ear flaps block the flow of air into your dog's ear, which makes it more difficult for the ear canal to remain dry;
Dogs that do a lot of swimming or spend time in the water (working, gun dogs and dogs that are bathed a lot) - their ears will be more moist than those dogs that spend little time in the water;
Dogs that have hairy ears such as Poodles, Schnauzers and many dogs in the Terrier group. Not only do hairy ears prevent ears drying properly, they tend to trap ear wax, discharge and debris thereby increasing the likelihood of an ear infection; and
Some breeds have particularly narrow ear canals, Chinese Shar Peis are an example, which are difficult to keep clean and dry.

If you have a dog that is predisposed to ear problems, keeping their ears clean and dry is important in order to prevent bacteria and yeast infections from developing.

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Keywords: dog ear infection, Dog ear problems, dog ear yeast infection, otitis externa

Filed Under Eyes, Ears, Paws and Teeth, Blog

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Dog Ear Problems Part 2 - the diagnosis

Posted by Clare Bristow

puppy-ear-examination Your vet will diagnose your dog's ear problems by carrying out a number of tests.

It may not be possible to get an immediate diagnosis and further procedures may be required - I've summarized below what you can expect from your first visit to your vet and the additional tests that may be required.

If you don't understand what your vet is doing and/or why he is performing certain tests don't be afraid to ask him - and keep asking until you understand. By fully understanding you may be able to tell him something about your dog's history or habits that can speed up, or help with, the diagnosis.

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Keywords: dog ear infection, dog ear mites, Dog ear problems, dog ear swab, otitis externa

Filed Under Eyes, Ears, Paws and Teeth, Blog

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Dog Ear Problems Part 1 - symptoms and causes

Posted by Clare Bristow

bassett-hound [tag]Dog ear problems[/tag] are one of the main reasons dogs are taken to the vet.

Inflammation of your dog's external ear canal is called otitis externa and approximately 20% of the dog population suffers from this disease; the percentage is even higher in tropical countries.

Diagnosing Otitis itself is easy but it can be caused by any one of a number of factors, and determining the root cause is not always straightforward.

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Keywords: dog ear mites, Dog ear problems, ear infection in dog, otitis externa

Filed Under Eyes, Ears, Paws and Teeth, Blog