Secretion of a dark secretion with an unpleasant smell, shaking of the head and intense scratching are just some of the signs of one of the most common diseases of long-eared breeds.
Unlike the human sense of hearing, the ears of dogs are seen in various variants, sometimes in such a way that they are the trademark and something that attracts us the most in certain breeds. However, as much as they are more conspicuous than our ears, their inflammations are more painful and more frequent than those of humans. Why some breeds (and which ones) are more susceptible to ear infections, how to prevent this disease and how to treat it.
Symptoms of an ear infection in a dog
The symptoms of an ear infection are very striking and are manifested by: intense and frequent scratching of the ear, which is usually accompanied by whining. In addition, the dog shakes its head (as if trying to expel something from it), keeps its head tilted to one side (most often a sign that the inflammation has reached the middle ear), one ear is lowered in relation to the other due to pain, the secretion of dark discharge from the ears that smells unpleasant, the auricle is painful to the touch, redness appears, the area around the ear or inside the ear canal swells, the dog is irritable and nervous.
How ear inflammation occurs in a dog
Symptoms of inflammation can be allergies, climatic influences, retention of moisture in the ear, ear parasites, foreign objects in the ear canal, improper and irregular cleaning of the ears, bacterial infections, etc. Ear inflammation in dogs is divided into three types: inflammation of the outer, middle and inner ear. Ignoring the inflammation by the owner in the hope that it will "go away by itself" can lead to serious health disorders in the dog such as: hearing loss, facial paralysis and balance problems. The problem will not go away on its own, but causes more and more damage over time, so when the first symptoms appear, take the dog to the vet.
Which breeds are most susceptible to ear infections?
Breeds with long, hanging ears (cocker spaniel, St. Hubert dog, shih tzu, golden retriever, basset hound...) are more prone to inflammation because the drooping auricle retains moisture in the ear canal, which favors the development of bacteria and therefore inflammation.
Also, breeds like schnauzers, poodles, and curly-haired bichons have hair growing in their ear canals that traps moisture and bacteria.
What to do if an ear infection occurs
If you recognize the above-mentioned symptoms in your pet, you need to consult a veterinarian who will give a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment (whether it is cleaning the ears with drops or using antibiotics).
Prevention of ear infections
Prevention is almost always the most effective "solution" to many health problems. When it comes to ear infections, regular and thorough care is necessary, i.e. cleaning the dog's ears (never with ear sticks), bathing the dog carefully (water must not enter the ears, and if this happens, dry the ears well with a towel or napkin), trimming the hair in the ears and cleaning the dog from parasites.
