Can You Use Saline Solution To Clean Dogs Ears
Normal saline can be used and is very safe. This includes products like Virbacs Epi-Otic Ear Cleaner. You will need a different solution if your dog has an active ear infection. If you notice discharge, swelling, redness, or other alarming symptoms, check with your vet first as a prescription solution may be in order.
Moisture In Dogs Ear Can Cause Infection
The canine ear canal, with its horizontal and vertical layout, predisposes certain dogs to ear infections because the debris accumulated in earwax and skin oil must work its way upward, instead of straight out. This debris feeds the fungi and bacteria that normally live in the ear canal and breeds painful, itchy ear infections.
For dogs that love to get in the water to play and swim, the extra moisture in the ear can mean chronic ear infections that, if left untreated, result in deafness, balance issues and constant pain.
So what can a responsible pet parent do when your dogs cant seem to stay out of the water and you dont want to curtail their fun? Learning what causes infection, getting a proper veterinary diagnoses and treatment, then preventing any further disease with regular ear cleaning at home helps keep your pooch healthy and safe while still allowing for the summertime activities you both love.
What causes my dogs ear infections?
There can be any number of reasons your dog has an ear infection, ranging from an abundance of yeast, to an invasion of bacteria or mites, to trauma, allergies or hereditary issues.
Dogs with heavy, floppy ears, like the beagle and the cocker spaniel, are prone to infections due to excess moisture buildup. Additionally, cockers, poodles and the Maltese just about any breed with an excess of hair in the canal tend to be primed for ear infections unless their ear hair is regularly plucked during grooming.
Introduce The Solution Bottle Beforehand
This is a clever trick that can be applied to any item your husky isnt comfortable with. Your husky may be resisting this process because the bottle is freaking him out. Its very common for huskys or any dog, to be suspicious of new items.If hes familiar with the cleaning solution bottle and what it looks like, hell be less nervous around it, and this will make it a lot easier to use.The next time youre playing with him on the floor, get the solution bottle and sit it next to you but keep playing with him and his toy. If he wants to sniff and inspect it, thats great, offer him a treat, then resume playing with his toy. Dont let him become too fixated on the bottle. Every now and then pick up the bottle and perhaps even touch his head with it. Put it back down, offer him a treat and continue playing. Little moves like this will build positive associations with the bottle. Before long, hell actually get excited and happy when he sees the bottle.
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Why Do Dogs Need Their Ears Cleaned
Have you noticed a strange smell coming from your pups ears? Or perhaps they seem to be itching more than normal? Both of these signs could mean they need their ears cleaned.
In fact, there are two main reasons why dogs might need their ears cleaned: to prevent possible bacterial infections and wax build-up, or to treat ongoing issues, such as yeast infections or allergies.
Your pup may even need their ears cleaned because theyve just been swimming, or simply because their breed is more prone to auditory issues. Here are some of the most common reasons dogs need their ears cleaned.
- Allergies. Seasonal allergies and airborne allergens, like pollen and dust can cause debris build-up and irritation in the ears. While you should aim to keep your pup away from these irritants, ear cleaners are also ideal to help rid the debris build-up and soothe your poochs ears. Allergies can also be the cause of yeast infections.
- Bacterial and yeast infections. While bacterial and yeast infections are generally treated with oral antibiotics or topical ointments, using an antibacterial or antifungal ear cleaner can help prevent them from recurring. However, ear cleaners wont do much to help existing infections.
- Dog breeds. If your dog has hairy or floppy ears, they may be more prone to ear issues, including infections. These include: Old English sheepdogs, King Charles spaniels, cocker spaniels, and miniature poodles.
How To Clean Dog Ears
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Ear cleaning is an aspect of dog grooming that shouldn’t be neglected. Every dog is different when it comes to how often this is needed. Dogs that are prone to ear infections may benefit from more frequent ear cleaning, while others rarely require it. If your dog regularly visits a professional groomer, it’s likely that his ears are getting cleaned there, although it’s a good idea to check with your groomer to verify. With this in mind, it’s a good idea for any pet owner to know how to clean dog ears.
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Should You Pluck Your Dog’s Ear Hair
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Have you ever looked in your dogs ears and seen a bunch of hair growing inside? Some dog breeds naturally grow hair inside their ears, such as Shih Tzus and Poodles. Ive noticed that as my Corgi has gotten older, she has thicker fur growing inside her ears than she used to I call it her grandpa ear hair.
Hair inside the ear can make it more difficult for your dogs immune system to keep levels of yeast and bacteria at a manageable level, can block the flow of air that keeps the ear canal dry, and trap dirt, excess ear wax, and debris inside. So if youve noticed that your dogs inner ears are getting a bit overgrown, what should you do about it?
Vetwell Dog And Cat Ear Cleaner
The best smelling option
What we love: This carefully formulated product comes complete with aloe vera and several vitamins designed to clean, soothe, and dry your dogs ears. We love that VetWELL Dog and Cat Ear Cleaner is suitable for preventing infections, as well as eliminating build-up of wax and debris. Its also made in the USA which is a major plus and comes in two scents: cucumber melon and sweet pea vanilla.
What customers say: Customers rave about this VetWELL ear cleaner, noting that it smells fantastic, is easy to use and gives fast results. They especially liked how it worked to reduce itching and clear out excess ear gunk in just one use.
Ingredients: Deionized water, propylene glycol, aloe vera gel, SD alcohol 40, lactic acid, glycerin, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, salicylic acid, vitamins A, C, E & F, fragrance, benzoic acid, and benzyl alcohol.
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How To Pluck Your Dog’s Ears:
- Apply some ear powder on your fingers and firmly grip a small amount of hair surrounding the opening of your dog’s ear canal.
- If you can’t get a good grip on the fur, apply more powder or use a hair removal tool.
- Pluck the hair in a quick and gentle motion. You don’t want a hard steady pull or a tough jerk on the hair. It should come out rather easily .
- You only need to pluck enough hair to open up your dog’s ear canal, no need to over pluck!
- After plucking, it’s a good idea to clean your dog’s ears to flush out any powder residue.
This video by Love of Grooming does an excellent job showing how to pluck a dog’s ear hair, how to use clippers to trim around a dog’s ear canal, as well as showing examples of ears that don’t need to be plucked:
Distract Him With A Tasty Treat While You Clean
If all else fails, this will always work. The peanut butter plate. Take a dinner plate and smear a thin layer of natural or reduced salt peanut butter around it. Peanuts are safe to give to dogs and nearly all of them go absolutely bonkers for it.Offer the plate to your husky while hes laying down. For the next 5 minutes, the only thing that matters in his life is that plate! seriously. This gives you a free pass to clean his ears. Just be careful of his caloric intake!
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Cleaning Ears Step By Step
Finally, here are the steps on how to clean Chihuahua ears.
There you have it, clean ears, step-by-step!
It is important to note that you shouldnt clean the ears too often, as well. Cleaning the ears too much can result in disrupting the natural balance of the ear and earwax. Excessive cleanup can mean the earwax cannot function properly, which could leave to overproduction to compensate.
How Do You Flush Out A Dogs Ear
Squeeze a veterinarian-approved ear-cleaning solution to fill your dogs ear canal and massage gently at the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. You will hear a squishing sound as the product dislodges debris and buildup. Dont let the tip of the applicator touch your dogs ear, as this can introduce bacteria.9. jul. 2019
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Interaction With Other Pets
If you have other its around the house, then they probably play around, especially as puppies. When playing with cats or other dogs at home, it can break down ear cartilage, especially when some animals like chewing ears or playing around the head and ear area!
But do take note that even if you like floppy ears on a Husky you should NOT try to keep them down with petting and the like. The cartilage will struggle and also give the ears a hard time to hear as properly as they normally should.
Have The Vacuum Ready
A good vacuum is a must-have for any Husky dog owner. Id recommend going for a model that has a plastic container or at least not a textile one. You dont want those pretty hairs stuck in your vacuums textile bag. Its a nightmare to clean that!
Youll use the vacuum to clean the area and excess fur once youre done with grooming your Husky.
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Watch For Signs Of Ear Infection
Dogs and cats are known to develop bacterial ear infections, fungal ear infections, and ear mite infestations. If you notice what appears to be excessive wax in the ears, use a cotton ball to wipe the wax out of the ear and then take a look in the ear.
If there is any odor to the ear, or if the ear is red, swollen, painful, warm to the touch, or looks different than the other ear, there is a high likelihood that your pet has an external ear infection.
Other signs to watch for are:
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Sensitivity and reluctance to having the ears touched, which can signal pain
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Excessive scratching or digging at the ears
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Rubbing the ears against the ground or furniture
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible for testing and treatment, as these infections are uncomfortable at best, and at worst, horribly painful and permanently injurious if allowed to progress.
Image via Suda Productions/Shutterstock.com
Check Your Dog’s Ears Regularly
Whether you pluck your dog’s ears or not, it’s important to monitor their ear health, as infections can begin and worsen quickly. You should check your dogs ears weekly for any sign of irritation or infection :
- Look in their ears for any redness or discharge
- Smell their ears to check for any strong odor
- Watch to see if theyre showing any sensitivity to their ears being handled this could be a sign of an infection developing
If you notice any of the above, make an appointment with your veterinarian to make sure there’s not a possible ear infection or other problem. These symptoms should be addressed before cleaning your dog’s ears at home, as you could do more damage by cleaning an infected ear. Read more here about when NOT to clean your dog’s ears.
Cleaning and drying your dog’s ears should be done after plucking, bathing, or swimming. Your dog should get more regular ear cleanings if they have a history of ear issues or have food or environmental allergies that makes them more likely to get infections. It’s easy to learn how to clean your dog’s ears at home, but your groomer or vet can help if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.
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How Do You Treat Dog Mites At Home
A: There are many different ways to treat dog mites. Some of the most common treatments include using a topical solution, such as insecticide or soap, and applying it directly to the skin. You can also use an oral medication like ivermectin which is effective in killing adult mites.
Have you ever noticed that your dogs ears look dirty and unkempt? If so, it may be time to clean them. There are many products out there that can help with this task. One of the most popular is the dog ear cleaner.
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When Do Husky Ears Stand Up
Siberian Huskies have erect triangular ears, which can tell a lot about what they feel! But did you know that these adorably-shaped ears take time to develop?
When Siberian Huskies are just puppies, you probably notice that they have floppy ears at first. But thats totally normal and it takes time for them to develop over time.
There are various factors that base on when your Huskys ears will stand up. However, the usual age the ears perk up completely is when he turns six months old, which is the adult age of a Husky!
This is because his bones, including the cartilage in his ears, are still growing. As he grows older, these bones begin to firm up, which result in perked up ears. For Huskies, their ears would usually firm and perk up at between for to six weeks, though it can take longer.
Here are some things that influence your Huskys ear growth:
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Is Earwax Normal For Pets
A common question asked by pet parents is how much earwax is too much, and if they see earwax, if they should clean it from their pets ears.
If the ear appears normal and healthy on exam and there is no sign of infection, then there is no reason to clean the ear.
In most dogs and cats, the ear is a well-balanced organ that has a good system in place to take care of itself. If you start cleaning ears, you could upset the balance within the ear , which can predispose the ear to infection. If your pet has normal ears, you can leave them alone.
If you arent sure whether your pets ears are healthy or if there is too much earwax, consult with your regular veterinarian, who can give you accurate information on your pets ear health.
How Do You Check A Dogs Ears
How do I check for ear problems in dogs? Make sure you feel the whole of the surface of the ear and note anything that seems unusual. A normal ear flap is cool, soft and free from lumps and bumps or areas of pain. Then, look in and around the ear canal itself, looking for anything you wouldnt expect to see.26. jan. 2017
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How Do I Clean My Dogs Crusty Ears
There are many ways to clean dog ears and while I am sure that you will find the one that works best for you and your pet, there are some things to keep in mind before you get started.
Before you start to clean your dogs ears, here are a few things to consider:
First of all, if you notice a slight oily or greasy feeling when your dog is grooming her ears, you should be concerned.
If you notice a strong smell, this may be a sign that something is wrong. This could also be a cause for concern.
If you notice your dog begins to lick her ears after brushing her fur, this is also a sign that something may be wrong.
When the ear or the skin is rubbed or scratched too much, the ear may become infected or unsightly.
The size of your dogs ear can be very telling. If the sizeseems to grow, your dog may be in distress.
If your dog starts to chew on her paws or any objects that youhave placed in her reach, this is another indication that she may be stressedabout having to scratch her crusty ears. It is important that you give your dogplenty of toys or playthings.
If you notice your dogs ear is itching or becomes red or swollen, this is a good time to make an appointment with the vet.
An infection may be a result of a bacterial or viral problem, which requires treatment from a veterinarian.
Because pets spend a lot of time at the vet, your dogs life may depend on the vets knowledge and expertise.
There are many different ways to help your dog keep her ears clean.