I cannot emphasize this following enough… Ears infections are a very common reason for vet visits and some pets are extremely prone to them.
Floppy ears and water when combined are known for brewing infections.
To help minimize troubles you should peek in your dog’s ears daily. If you are smelling something funky, try cleaning them and check later to see if the funk returns.
If there is a lot of debris then try the same tactic. If the funk keeps coming back then you may have an ear infection on your hands.
Getting your pet used to regular ear cleaning is an important thing you can do to make your journey easier. I like to wipe the visible debris out with a tissue or cotton.
What To Use To Clean Your Dog’s Ears
Don’t go digging with Q-tips you can easily push the funk down deeper and it can brew or concrete in that tight space. If you want to flush your pet’s ears and don’t have any ear cleaner on hand, I like a 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water solution in a pinch because it is relatively gentle and helps the ear to dry out.
Don’t use plain water-this will brew more funk. The vinegar mix does not work if your dog has very red skin or blood coming from anywhere in the ear. It will sting and the next time you try to clean the ears then they will be less compliant.
Call your vet if this is the case. After mixing it up, saturate a cotton ball then wring the mixture into the ear as you are wiping them out. Do this outside or in a bathroom because all dogs shake their head after ear flushing and the liquid will go all over.
Be sure to reward your pet with a little food or a small treat after this to encourage them to tolerate your futzing with their ears. These are sensitive bits to dogs.
A happy, clean, funk-free ear is a good thing and will go a long way to keeping the peace at your house. Some dogs will not show signs of ear trouble until things are well past the point of being manageable at home.
Signs Of Ear Problems In Dogs
Also, a little time on the front end will keep your relationship in a better place so you don’t have a painful ear that needs chronic management.
If your pet is shaking their head, scratching at their neck and head, or rubbing their ears on the ground then their ears are likely bothering them.
Take a quick peek inside if they will let you, are there gobs of junk built up? Is the skin in there red or does it have the rough texture of tree bark? Is there a funk that originates from the ear?
If your answer is yes, then you may have an ear infection on your hands. The faster you address this, usually the less time you will spend in the long run working on it.
If your dog will let you, gently wipe away any visible goop using a cotton ball or soft kleenex. if you have ear cleaner then place a small amount on a cotton ball and use it to clean after you have debunked the chunks.
Again, if the ear is very red or has blood coming from any part of it then this may sting. Head in to your vet for help if your pet seems distressed by gentle cleaning or if the goop returns quickly after cleaning.
If Your Dog Has Regular Ear Infections
There are many dogs who suffer from nearly constant ear infections. As with all ongoing health problems, keeping a brief record of the symptoms and things that may be helping or making things worse will not only keep you on top of the situation but help get at where to focus your efforts down the road.
There are many reasons that contribute to constant ear infections. Swimmers are prone to this, allergies contribute and certain ear configurations or breeds of dogs are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to the ear goop.
Talk to your vet about a plan for keeping your pet’s ears as healthy as possible not just when they are having problems but even before the next ear infection comes up.
