The medical term
Otitis Itnerna is a term that refers to inner ear inflammation and Otitis Media is an inflammation of the middle ear. Both usually occurs from some sort of bacteria. Dogs with long floppy ears such as Labs and Cocker Spaniels are more likely to have ear infections compared to dogs with erected ears. However, all dogs in general can still suffer from ear infections too.
Symptoms
Symptoms of an ear infection really depends on how severe the problem is and how long your pup has been dealing with it. But here are symptoms to look out for.
- Pain when opening mouth
- Doesn’t want to chew
- Shaking head a lot
- Pawing at infected ear
- tilting head
When both ears are infected
- Wild swinging of the head
- Uncoordinated body movement
- Deafness
Additional
- Vomiting
- Redness of ear
- Ear discharge
- Grey bulging eardrum
- Nerve damage
- Inability to blink
tip: it is possible for your dog to have an ear infection but not show any signs.
Causes
Bacteria is the main caused of infection, however mites, fungi, or even trauma such a car accident can also lead to an ear infection.
Treatment
Mild ear infections can be easily cleared up by a prescription from your vet. However in a severe case Fido may need to be hospitalized.
Prevention
Routinely cleaning your dog’s ears with the right solution will reduce the chances of ear infections. But don’t over do it, too much cleaning can damage the ear canal.
tip1: Consult your vet on which ear cleanser is the right one, make sure to read directions carefully before use.
tip2: if you’re not sure how often to clean your pet’s ears, ask your vet.