|
Author: Ruth Bird Article source: http://www.petlvr.com/. Used with author's permission.
I have had Goldens and Black Labs for many years, and they are well known for ear conditions. But remember, no matter how efficient you are in caring for your dog's ears, serious conditions may still arise. Also, beware when your dog flaps its ears too much; this can cause a hematoma, which I will discuss a little further on. My Golden had to be operated for this.
Regular inspection of your dog's Ears
By performing ear inspections you will be able to detect problems early. Use both your eyes and your nose. A small flashlight will assist you in seeing problems. I have "smelled out" more serious problems using my nose.
This method can detect ear infections early. Normally a dog's ears shouldn't smell foul in any way. A dark waxy discharge this may be a sign of ear mites. A pus-like discharge along with a foul smell this is a sign of a bacterial infection. Allergies are also known to cause a foul smell in your dog's ears. My Golden had very sensitive ears. If something feels wrong, make sure you have your Veterinarian check it right away. Have your Vet show you what to look for, and how to look for potential problems! My Vet is an amazing teacher and he is always willing to show me things.
What dogs are more susceptible to ear problems?
Dogs with floppy ears, like spaniels and bloodhounds, are very prone to ear infections because very little air flows into their ear canals. There are also breeds, like the Lhasa Apso, that have a heavy growth of hair inside their ears. Dogs that frequently swim are more susceptible to ear problems. And, Goldens can be very susceptible to ear problems.
If you suspect that excess ear hair is a problem, you may need to remove the hair that grows inside your dog's ears. This is not very difficult and if you have a problem, find a good groomer to do it for you.
How to clean your dog's ears:
Your dog's eardrum is better protected than a human's, but you should still proceed with caution when cleaning the ear canal. Do not insert anything into your dog's ear. Use only the small square cleaning pads, or cotton balls. Use anything that is very soft, but has no tips. Ask your groomer or Vet to show you the best way to clean YOUR dog's ears...
Checking your dog's ears only takes a few minutes so make it a part of your dog grooming routine. And when your dog's ears need a cleaning don't put it off. Remember regular cleanings can prevent many common ear problems. If you think a problem may be developing that is beyond the scope of your home dog ear care routine, take your dog to the vet for a check up immediately. An infection, if left untreated, can be very painful.
Hematomas
My Golden had one once, a big one, from shaking her head because of her ear condition. My Vet says a hematoma can turn into a very serious condition if not treated. Hematomas are collections of blood. They are common in ears because there doesn't seem to be anything in the ear to generate enough pressure to stop bleeding until
the ear swells enough with blood. Ear infections, ear mites, fly bite irritation, mosquito bites, allergies and immune mediated diseases have all been implicated as underlying causes for this problem. Anything that causes the dog to flap its ears can make this happen and it appears to occur spontaneously in a number of dogs. Large hematomas should be treated surgically or medically.
Surgery usually involves making an incision on the inner aspect of the ear and draining the blood, removing any blood clots that are left and then suturing the two sides of the ear together by putting sutures all the way through it, in a "mattress" pattern. Sometimes it is possible just to place a drain and massage the blood out of the ear daily until it heals.
Side note:
If you use a commercial ear product please make sure it is of good quality and please make sure it is the proper product for the condition. So many dogs have had tremendous ear pain and complications because of the wrong product, or the wrong use of a product.
An educated dog owner is the best kind of dog owner.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is designed for educational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner. This information is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice. My name is Ruth Bird, and I am the owner of 3 dogs, 2 are Registered Therapy Visiting Dogs, my third dog is blind. My passions are health for people and pets and promoting a happy, healthy and wealthy lifestyle. http://www.happypetstop.com
http://www.mimfreedom.com/dogtherapy.htm
The Power Of Free
The powerful word "FREE" is an essential key to gaining subscribers to your optin list, to your pre-launch membership site, and to gain popularity with your cus...
Is This The One?
Isn't that the million dollar question? How can I tell if this is the one? Is this one my soulmate? How will I know when I find the right one? There is no m...
Do You Know What You Are Eating?
What is all the hooplah about Splenda and the National Sugar Association Lawsuit that the FTC is looking into? "Splenda tastes like sugar, 'cause it's made fro...
The Best Medicine For Stress ( A Daily Dose Of Gratitude)
This article gives offers a completely new approach to stress. The offers ways to dissolve upset,clear the mind and be an inspiration to others. Exercise incl...
Year 2010: Permanent Employees No Longer Required
In a Short Period of Time, New Outsourcing Wave Called On-demand Sourcing Will Be Here to Change the Way People Work and Force Companies to Revisit Their Corpor...
Quality Time?
From the book Spider's Big Catch Gary Anderson www.abciowa.com There's a phrase that's become popular over the past few years that fills me with wonder. That ph...
Success - Its Never Too Late
Thing Big! The level of your success will be determined by
how much you believe in yourself.
If you think small and expect small achievements - that's
what you'...
Family Fun on the Rails
Railroading is in the blood of thousands of Americans. And, even through steam engines may have disappeared from full size rails across the nation, they are sti...
Africa; The Forgotten Land of The Catholic Church
Many financial analysts and high value property real estate appraisers applaud the Catholic Church's choice for Pope as it makes the most monetary sense. Others...
Sales Training from the Ghostbusters
Picture this scene from the 1984 comedy movie, Ghostbusters: Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray, aka… the Ghostbusters, are involved in a heated meeting with the Mayor...
When Panic Attacks Writers
If you write for a living and have worked with deadlines for a few years, you probably know what I mean...when suddenly everything seems impossible...and you st...
Acting As Your Own General Contractor When Building Your Dream Home
This article is intended for the DIY (Do It Yourself) home builder; however, it is very useful information for the new home buyer to understand what processes y...
Is Your Title Compelling?
Short Story Writing Tips: Your title is your selling tool. It's the first thing readers will scan and contemplate whether to read your story. What your title's ...
Why Good Enough... Isnt
About a year ago, I had an opportunity to have dinner with the CEO of an engineering startup company in Pennsylvania. As we discussed engineering design matters...
Clutter & Creativity
This article explores the different kinds of clutter in our lives, and how that clutter stifles our creative expression. It includes questions to help you see w...
How You Developed Bad Habits That Rob You Of Motivation
Bad habits rob you of your motivation. Today I want to tell you why I decided I absolutely had to take charge of my self-motivation. And why you must do the sa...
What Your Body Features Say About You
According to the Chinese art of body reading, the physical attributes of a person reveal his character, disposition, attitude towards life and even his hopes an...
Mortgage: Effective Household Investment for Financial Autonomy
Mortgages have been open to people and are a very straightforward way of fulfilling financial loopholes. Mortgage has been oversimplified into various forms so ...
The Bad Girls Guide to Health
Just when you start to get the hang of eating well and making healthy choices, your inner bad girl takes over and throws you off-track. This article sheds light...
Clipper Experiments: A Tail in Two Parts
Grooming the dog as an exercise in futility, or, "Why My Dog Hates Me."
Interactions of Conflict in A Loving Relationship
Loving relationships exhume our most intense feelings and emotions, as individuals invest so much of themselves in their lover. It seems that the more important...
Organic Hydroponics - Simplified
The more we learn about plants, the more difficult it becomes to cultivate them. The more details we learn about plant cultivation, the more we strive to implem...
Blueprints Of Ranch Style Homes - Check Them Out
Blueprints of ranch style homes are readily available on the internet and in magazines. The ranch home is the most popular home style in the United States. Ra...
Difficult Relationships at Work - Dealing with Workplace Conflict
Learn how to deal with workplace conflict and bullying through seeing the five different methods which people can use. Improve your relationships through manag...
|
Print this page