Dog Ear Problems: Symptoms and Treatments

The problems common to a dog's ears can be most often attributed to a handful of reasons, many of them in direct correlation to the physical structure of a specific dog's ears. All dogs have ears that are warm and dark - perfect for germ growth and a darn nice home for parasites in general. This can especially be problematic in dogs with long ears such as hunting dogs or hounds, as owners of these breeds of dogs must be particularly attentive to any changes in a dog's behavior or physical appearance. In most instances there is little that a pet owner to do to help a dog encountering ear problems at home, and due to the sensitive structure involved it is best to enlist the aid of a veterinary professional.

One of the most common and distressing ear problems in dogs are allergic reactions that manifest in the ear, as allergens can be a source of great discomfort for a dog. Excessive scratching from allergies can leave a dog with red, swollen, and often bloody ears that will remain so until the cause of the allergy is determined. Allergies affecting a dog's ears are usually the result of either food or environmental causes and can be simply resolved with a change in diet or alterations to a dog's general lifestyle. Dust, household chemicals, and foods containing grains such as soy, wheat and corn are usually the culprit in dog allergies. Once changes to limit these items are implemented, the scratching will diminish quickly and a dog's ears return to normal.

Another set of dog ear problems is due to infection, either in the skin on the inside of the dog's ear or in the ear canal. Ear infections in dogs can be spotted simply as the affected dog will usually tilt it's head to one side, and it's ears will be very warm to the touch. These infections can be resolved with a course of antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian, and clear up in about 1 to 2 weeks.

Parasites left unchecked can provide a source of constant agitation in a dog's ears, and if they are numerous enough can actually impact a normally gentle dog's demeanor to one of great aggression. If a dog owner cannot see the parasites by a visual examination, then itching, hair loss, pain, and swelling are good signs that some type of parasitic activity is the cause. In these cases it is a wise move to have the dog examined by a veterinarian or a pet groomer, who can not only remove the parasites that are present, but take measures to ensure your dog is no longer a receptive host.