What to Do if Your Dog Has an Ear Infection

Many pet parents are typically not aware of a brewing ear infection. The American Pet Association recommends regular pet checks to detect this condition right away. Early treatment can help maintain your dog’s health. If you want to know what to do if your dog develops an ear infection, here’s what you should know.

Watch Out for Symptoms

First, keep an eye out for symptoms. Painful ears, head shaking, crusting in the ear, and scabs on the side of the face are common symptoms. Partial deafness, vomiting, and loss of balance can also happen due to inner and middle ear infections.

Know When to Contact Your Vet

Calling your vet right away is necessary if you suspect an ear infection in your dog. This needs immediate treatment to relieve the pain. A head tilt will need emergency treatment for inner and middle ear infections. Inform your vet if your dog has had two to three ear infections in the past.

Help With the Standard Treatment

Your vet will target the cause of your dog’s ear infection. A common one is a skin disease. It is important to treat the cause first. Then, the ear infection can have treatment as well. The underlying cause must go away or the ear infection will just keep coming back.

Follow your vet’s instructions about giving antibiotic tablets and pain relievers. You may need to administer eardrops as well. Medicated eardrops contain anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and antifungals. Finishing the course of drops is important even if your dog’s ears seem better.

Make sure that you clean your dog’s ears as they heal up. Your vet will instruct you on doing this properly and which product to use. Sterile gauze is more ideal than cotton buds. Bringing your dog to a professional groomer can help with the cleaning.

Be Open to Possible Surgery

Catching your dog’s ear infection early will lead to early treatment. This can clear up the infection right away. Bringing your dog back to the vet for checkups will ensure that the infection is completely gone. There are cases when the dog’s ear infection does not improve. This will lead to a more detailed ear examination.

The vet will then treat your dog’s ears under anesthesia. Some dogs will need weeks of treatment. More severe cases will require surgery. The ears will become deformed if the ear infection does not receive treatment for a long time.

Provide Continuous Care

Dogs with ear infections will need ongoing care. The treatment must become part of the dog’s routine. Maintaining your dog’s skin health is a priority. Removing excessive ear hair will allow air to enter your dog’s ears. This will prevent yeast and bacteria from thriving in your dog’s ears.

Your vet can teach you how to clean your dog’s ears the right way. Checking your dog’s ears regularly can help you spot signs of infection. A distinct, sour smell often develops during an ear infection. This needs an immediate visit to the vet.

An ear infection is a serious condition in dogs. Getting immediate treatment is important. At Pet Community Outreach, we make sure your dog gets proper treatment as early as possible.

You can visit our clinic in Lewisville, Texas, for a one-on-one consultation. Please call us at 972-848-8930 if you want to set an appointment or inquire about our ear infection treatment packages.