How do I stop my dog from getting ear infections?
Meda Tillman
2025-07-30 21:33:08
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To prevent ear infections, cleaning your dog’s ears is an important part of your dog’s hygiene. Cleaning your dog’s ears can make it easier for you to examine your dog’s ear canal, remove microbes and other small foreign objects that may cause dog ear infections, and clean and expose the ear canal for possible topical medication applications. Ear infections are often caused by excess moisture, so take care to thoroughly dry your dog’s ears after a swim or a bath. Managing your dog’s hygiene is an effective way to prevent future ear infections. Clean your dog’s ears by gently wiping the ear with an absorbent gauze, never use a washcloth or paper towel, and avoiding cotton swabs, which can push debris deeper into your dog’s ear. For many dogs, ear infections are a recurring problem, so be proactive about keeping your dog’s ears clean and dry to prevent future ear-related health issues.
Monserrate Kiehn
2025-07-30 21:17:54
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Keeping your dogs ears dry and clean can help prevent infections. Your dog’s ears should be cleaned at least once a month, more often if your dog is prone to ear problems. Look inside the ear to check for dirt, scratches, parasites, or discharge. Moisten a cotton ball with mineral oil and gently wipe out the ears, going no deeper than the first knuckle on your finger. Keep ears dry and clean, or your dog may face recurrent ear infections that are difficult to treat. Avoid using drying agents on a regular basis—if there’s no problem they can dry out the ear too much, and if the ear is oozing there’s a reason for it. First, fill the canal with a cleaning solution and massage the vertical ear canal from the outside. The milking action helps break up debris, bringing it up and out. You should then use absorbent gauze to wipe out the canal.
Kade Bogan
2025-07-30 20:50:02
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Ear cleaning helps decrease debris, bacteria and yeast inside the ear. Several factors are involved in treating ear infections, and ear cleaning is one important aspect that needs to be performed before certain topical medications are applied. Ear cleanings are also often recommended as a maintenance routine for dogs prone to ear infections. The frequency of cleaning your dog’s ears will depend on whether it is for treatment of an infection, which could be up to daily to start, or maintenance, which could be every 1-2 weeks. Dogs with a history of allergies, recurrent ear infections, or floppy ears may need their ears cleaned more frequently. Regularly check your dog’s ears for signs of infection, which may include: Redness, Itching one or both ears, Headshaking, Discharge or increased wax in the ear, Odor, Discomfort when touching the ear. If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, contact your veterinarian.
Jailyn King
2025-07-30 20:32:34
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To stop your dog from getting ear infections, skin allergies should be addressed as they are the most common cause. Bacterial or yeast infections, parasites, such as ear mites or harvest mites, foreign bodies such as grass seeds stuck in the ear canal, and growths or tumours can also be prevented to reduce the occurrence of ear infections. Your vet may prescribe medication to reduce pain and swelling, ear cleaner or medicated ear drops to help prevent future infections. It's best to seek vet attention if your dog shows any signs of infection. If left untreated, ear infections can cause permanent damage to a dog’s hearing. Your vet may also use an otoscope to give them a better view of the inside of your dog's ear to diagnose any potential issues early on. Ear infections in dogs are painful, so regular check-ups with your vet can help identify any problems before they become severe.
Velma Hyatt
2025-07-30 19:38:14
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: 14
Dry your dog’s ears after swimming or getting wet. When your dog gets water in their ear, it’s quite difficult for it to come out due to the way the dog’s ear is shaped. While you should never insert anything in your dog’s ear, you can use cotton wool to wipe the entrance of the ear. There are also several products you can use after your dog goes for a swim that will help dry out the ear canal.
Keep your dog’s ear hair short. It’s not only the shape of the ears that make some dogs more prone to ear infections, it can also be the amount of hair in the ear. You can ask your groomer to make sure your dog’s ears are clipped or you can ask the vet to remove internal hair which is usually done while your dog is under anaesthetic.
Monitor your dog’s ears. Just by looking or smelling your dog’s ears, you might be able to notice if anything has changed which could be signs your dog has an ear infection. Normal ears should look clean, free of debris or muck and should not smell bad.
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