Ear infection types, symptoms, and Treatments
An Ear Infection or inner ear infection is a common disease in dogs. Dogs’ ear canals are long and “L” shaped, which allows them to hear better. However, because of this ear shape, dogs’ ears are moist, making it easier for germs to invade.
Generally, about 20% of dogs have ear disease in 1 or both ears. Inner ear infection in dogs causes sore, foul-smelling, oozing fluid from the ears and excruciating pain. In it, the dog does not like any food, does not sleep through the night, shakes its head due to ear pain, and cannot maintain body balance.
If the ear disease or Inner ear infection in dogs is more severe, hearing loss will occur, leaving your dog unable to hear anything in his ears and you don’t want these problems to happen to your dog.
So you should identify your dog’s ear infection and seek veterinary treatment accordingly if the infection has occurred.
Symptoms of inner ear infection in dogs
Inner ear infection in dogs is a very common disease. Dogs often suffer from ear infections or Inner ear infections. Know the symptoms of an ear infection so that you can take action accordingly. Then you can easily understand whether your dog has an ear disease or not, and then you can quickly arrange treatment.
Symptoms of an ear infection in your dog may include:
1. Will repeatedly scratch near the infected ear
Your dog’s ears may become itchy due to infection. This will cause your dog to scratch around his ears frequently. This is one of the primary symptoms of inner ear infection in dogs. You should act once you notice this symptom.
2. Foul odors in the infected ears
It is one of the common symptoms of inner ear infection in dogs for any type of infection to cause foul odors from the site of the infection. So, if your dog’s ears smell bad, then you should know that he has an ear infection.
3. Thick fluid coming out of the ear
As a symptoms of inner ear infection in dogs, your dog’s ears may discharge yellow, thick, bloody pus that is very foul-smelling.
4. Swelling of ear infection in dogs
Your dog’s ears will swell and the ears will be very painful. This will prevent the dog from performing its normal activities.
5. Ears will itch again and again.
One of the most common symptoms of inner ear infection in dogs of an ear infection is frequent itching of the dog’s ears. As a result, the dog’s ears and the sides of the ears are scarred.
6. Will rub ears against grass, wall, or something else
As the infection level in your dog’s ear increases, so will the level of itching. As a result, your dog may rub his ears against various things like grass, walls, etc.
7. Dogs ears are red and swollen
As your dog’s ear infection progresses, so will the ear swelling. In that case, the swelling of the dog’s ears will also increase and you can see the dog’s ear red and swollen.
Also, you may notice other symptoms of inner ear infection in dogs, Like, If you touch the ear, it will hurt, it will be painful, or in some cases, even blood may come out. When the dog goes to sleep at night, it will shake its head repeatedly.
If your dog is suffering from a more serious inner ear infection, you may also notice other symptoms such as:
- Loss of body balance
- Signs of hearing loss in your dog
- Unusual eye movements as the inner infection increase
If your dog has any or all of these symptoms, you may have an ear infection. You don’t want this to continue with your dog and your dog suffers. So get your dog treated by a vet without delay.
Type of inner ear infection in dogs
There are three types of ear infections or otitis externa that can be seen in dogs.
- Otitis media give a hint of an infection in the dog’s middle ear.
- Otitis externa gives a hint of effect on the outside of the ear.
- Otitis interna which are infection of your dog’s inner ear.
What causes ear infections in dogs?
An inner ear infection is very common that usually occurs in the ears of dogs, there are several specific causes of these ear diseases that cause dog ear disease. So, the symptoms of inner ear infection in dogs are describe above are caused by:
Ear mites in dogs
Ear mites in dogs can cause ear disease. Dog ear mites are a type of parasite that infects dogs. However, ear mites are rare in dogs.
Bacteria
Another cause of ear infections in dogs is bacteria. Usually, this bacteria is not contagious, it is the bacteria on the dog’s skin. Due to dog allergies, the overgrowth of bacteria naturally present on the skin causes ear infections.
Yeast
Yeast is a cause of inner ear infections in dogs. However, this does not infect other dogs. Inner ear infections in dogs caused by yeast occur when your dog bathes in water and urinates. Then water gets inside the ear, if this water is not cleaned, then this water and yeast in the ear mix together to create an ear infection. This disease is more common in several breeds of dogs that develop excess moisture in their ears, such as bulldogs. Moreover, dogs with floppy ears also get Inner ear infections in dogs caused by yeast. If the dog has allergies, the yeast overproduces it, which can lead to an ear infection in the dog.
Allergies
Allergies are a deadly and notorious cause of ear infections in dogs. Allergies in dogs can develop for many reasons, When a dog has allergies, he itches his body and ears. There are two types of allergies; 1. Food allergy, 2. Environmental allergies.
If your dog has a food allergy, it can be year-round, he will often itch his body and ears.
However, if the dog has an environmental allergy, it increases this allergy during a certain month or time of the year. It usually grows more during summer, autumn, and spring.
For the proper treatment of this ear infection in your dog, you need to note that your dog has an itchy head and ears after eating any food. And in some months your dog’s itchiness increases. Noticing this can inform the vet, making it easier to treat your dog.
Inner ear infection in dogs treatment
If your dog has any irritation in his ears, or if you notice any symptoms of inner ear infection in dogs, don’t delay, make an appointment with a vet right away.
Have your dog thoroughly examined by the vet, and your dog’s vet cleans out the ears thoroughly with an ear cleaner. The vet may then prescribe ear drops and an ear cleaner for your dog. But if the ear condition is a bit complicated, the vet can prescribe some antibiotic medicine, which should be fed to the dog.
Ear infections usually heal within 1-2 weeks if treated well, but in many cases, if the ear condition is complicated, it may take 1-2 months or more.
But if your dog has more ear problems, the vet may recommend surgery for your dog.
After surgery, your dog will need to visit the vet periodically to have his ears checked. And regular medication should be taken properly.
It may also be that you think your dog’s ears are healed and therefore no longer administer medication regularly. This can be a big mistake, as ear infections in dogs may return and the ongoing medication may lose its effectiveness if the course of medication is not completed.
So the entire course must be completed. Do not put any water on your dog’s ears.
Above all, follow all the advice and recommendations of the vet and your dog will recover.
Inner ear infection in dogs treatment cost
The cost of dog ear treatment depends on several factors. For example, depending on the condition of the dog’s ear disease, the type of treatment, the quality of the treatment, etc. If your dog’s ears don’t require surgery, the only costs for a doctor’s visit, ear cleaning, and some antibiotics may be necessary. In this case, the cost of your dog’s treatment costs about $100 to $175.
Again, if your dog’s ear infection is really bad, surgery may be necessary. And as a result, your dog’s medical expenses can go up a lot. As a result, your dog’s total medical expenses can total as much as $500 to $2,000.
When you take the dog to the vet, your dog’s treatment costs may be lower or higher depending on what the vet examines and prescribes.
Improve dog’s diet to reduce Inner ear infections in dogs
You can greatly reduce your dog’s ear infections by feeding certain natural and healthy dog foods. Eating too much sugary food increases ear yeast. So reducing the amount of sugar in your dog’s food will reduce the excess ear yeast.
Itching and swollen ears due to allergies in pets is a common thing. Therefore, allergenic foods cannot be fed.
Wheat and corn do not cause allergies, so you can feed them to your dog. You can eat foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids. It helps reduce inflammation.
Feed your dog nutritious food, because nutritious food boosts immunity.
Feed your dog lean meats and vegetables.
Clean your dog’s ears at home
Can you clean your dog’s ears at home? Yes, you can clean your dog’s ears at home. A buildup of dirt in a dog’s ears can lead to an Inner ear infection in dogs. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the dog’s ears regularly. Clean your dog’s ears at least 1-2 times a month when the symptoms of inner ear infection in dogs are often seen.
What to use to clean dog ears:
- Cotton balls or yards.
- Dog ear cleaning solution
- Towel
Do not clean the ear with a pointed tip. Like a Q-tip, it can get dirt deep into your dog’s ear.
How to clean a dog’s ears?
Clean your dog’s ears in an open position where the dog can easily move its head.
Apply the ear-cleaning solution to the dog’s ear canal, then gently rub the base of the ear with a soft towel for 30 seconds.
After that, gently wipe the ear canal with soft cotton or gauze. Also, the dog’s ears should be gently cleaned after bathing, as wet ears can easily harbor germs.
If problems persist after this, contact a veterinarian. This way you can easily take care of your dog’s ears, preventing ear infections.
FAQs about ear infections in dogs
Will dog ear infections go away on their own?
Ear infections in dogs usually do not go away on their own. If you wait for the dog to heal on its own without treating it, the infection will worsen and your dog will become very sick, possibly requiring surgery, which is very expensive.
How do you know if your dog has an ear infection?
The symptoms that will tell you that your dog has ear disease:
1. Repeated itching near the ear; 2. A bad smell will come from the ears; 3. The thick liquid will come out of the ear; 4. Dog’s ears will be very painful, Will rub ears against the grass, wall, or something else; 5. The ear canal will become swollen or red.
Touching the ear will hurt, hurt, or in some cases bleed; 6. When the dog goes to sleep at night, it will shake its head repeatedly.
Are dog ear infections easy to treat?
Ear infections in dogs are easily treatable and preventable. But if you underestimate it and do not treat it, your dog’s health will be at risk, your dog may even become deaf. In many cases, surgery is required, which is expensive.
What soothes a dog ear infection?
Veterinarians can clean out your dog’s ears and prescribe drops to put in the ear to soothe your dog’s ear infection. In many cases, if the problem is more severe, the vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs or oral antibiotics for your dog. However, if this does not work or the problem is more complicated, surgery may be recommended.
How much does dog ear treatment cost?
The cost of treating your dog’s ear disease depends on the condition of the dog’s ears and the type of treatment.
Typically, treatment for ear infections in dogs costs between $100 and $175, including an ear exam, ear medication, and ear cleaning. However, if your dog’s ears have more problems and require surgery, the cost is $500 to $2000.
What foods cause ear infections in dogs?
Sugar is bad for dog ears. Because eating too much sugary food causes yeast to grow in the dog’s ears, which causes ear disease.
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