Is your dog a water baby? Does he loves his swimming sessions and enjoys being soaked in water? If yes then let us remind you that water deposition in your pet’s ears may become the cause of ear infections. Since dogs have an L shaped internal ear structure, it does not give an easy passage to truncate water from the ears. This is the reason why water remains in the pet’s ears and creates an favorable environment for germs and bacteria to grow.
Due to the growth of bacteria and yeast, the pet’s ears become susceptible to infections of all kinds. The basic type of ear infection is termed as otitis externa and is observed in 20% of the dog population. It is the inflammation of the external ear canal and thus termed as otitis externa. This is one of the most common ailments in dogs and demands lot of attention. To avoid such aural conditions and many other types of ear problems in dogs, pet parents need to take proper ear care for dogs.
The problem of moist ears occurs mostly in dogs with floppy ears. It is observed that breeds like Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers have more chances of developing ear infections. The reason is their ears fold over the ear canal and lock the moist environment in the ears. Dogs with upright ears have fewer chances of ear infections as the passage of air helps in drying the water. So, if you have floppy eared pet then make sure you take extra care of his ears.
What are the symptoms of ear infections in dogs?
- Itchy ears
- Yellow or black discharge
- Foul odor
- Frequent head shaking
- Inflammation in the ears
- Painful ears
What are the methods to prevent swimmer’s ear infections in dogs?
Yes! Prevention is the best way to deal with ear infections. So, make sure you take all the necessary steps to keep your pet’s ears clean and dry.
Methods to keep the dog’s ears clean and dry:
- Once the swimming session is over, just let him shake his head properly to flush out any excess water in the ears.
- Clean up your pet’s ears on a regular basis. Make sure there is no dirt or debris in the pet’s ears. You can use a gentle ear cleansing solution and cotton ball for this.
- If the pet’s ears are very hairy then trim them frequently to keep away accumulation of moisture and debris of all kinds.
- Make sure there are no mites on Fido’s ears or else they will bite, infect and damage his ear skin and canals. Take veterinarian help for dealing with ear mites.
A word of caution here is not to use ear plugs in the dog’s ears. They may damage the ear canals. If you want to use them then do it under veterinarian’s guidance. In a nutshell, water in the pet’s ears may result in ear infections due to bacterial growth. Pet parents must use proper, ‘pain free’ methods for ear care for dogs, and prevent unhealthy ear conditions.
