Category: Ears

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Ears Grooming

Prevent Nasty Infections With These Tips for Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears

dogear

Let’s face it, your dog probably doesn’t like to get their ears cleaned. And it’s easy to see why. So for many owners, this is one of those tasks we may forget about when it comes to grooming our dog. After all, it’s not like you can forget to bathe them once they start smelling or roll in something they shouldn’t. But ears? There’s a good chance you don’t ever look into your dog’s ears, so it’s easy to forget that they too get dirty.

But not only do they get dirty, ears are also a breeding ground for bacteria and fungal infections. Especially if you have a floppy eared dog who likes going swimming, ear infections are something you need to be concerned about. But even if your dog doesn’t have floppy ears and they despise the water, they can still do with a little cleaning.

How often will I need to clean my dog’s ears?

This depends on your dog of course. Factors that affect how often you clean your dog’s ears include their breed, age, activity level and their coat. But for most dogs, once a month should be good. However, after swimming or getting water in the ears, you will want to clean them out too, even if it’s more than once a month. For that reason, find a gentle cleaner that allows for frequent use.

What items should I use to clean my dog’s ears?

Just like with human ears, avoid using cotton swabs. There’s too much potential for damage to the ear, and it’s best to avoid sticking anything in a dog’s ear, especially if they’re squirming around trying to fight you. Instead, use cotton balls or even wrap your finger in gauze to wipe them clean.

What products should I use and how should I use them?

Chances are, your dog isn’t going to like having their ears cleaned. So it’s best to limit the amount of steps you take in order to get it done. Which is why you may want to forgo the cotton balls altogether and use a wipe instead, like these ear wipes that are all-natural, gentle and alcohol free. They make it easy to wipe down your dog’s ears without too many products, and it’s just one easy step.

The wipes are perfect for normal dog’s ears. If your dog doesn’t seem to get dirty, itchy, infected ears often or they’re not swimmers, go for the wipes.

dogearswim

But if your dog is prone to ear infections and tend to get water build up in the ear (from swimming), you will want to use a product that helps dry out the liquid.

Even more so than the wipes, you need to pick a quality cleanser that will dry out the water without drying out the skin in their sensitive ears. This cleanser will do just that. This formula softens earwax and helps dry out the ear, which is important after swimming. But thanks to essential oils, it won’t be too drying either, making it safe to use daily or several times a week.

How do I clean the ear?

As mentioned above, don’t stick anything down into the ear canal. Also, their ears are sensitive, so don’t stick any harsh materials into the ear or anything that can scratch it. This allows for bacteria to get into the skin, causing a higher chance of infection.

With the wipes

1) Just use the wipe to clean the inside of the ear, being careful not to poke too far down into it. If your dog is the squirmy type, get a friend to help you hold them steady and bribe them with treats and praise.

2) Repeat on the other ear.

3) Marvel at how easy that was.

4) Give your dog even more treats and plenty of praise. Turn this into a rewarding experience!

With the cleanser

1) If your dog isn’t easy to control, you may want to get some help to keep them still for the few seconds it takes to get the job done.

2) Once you have the dog in position, squirt a few drops into the ear, making sure it goes into the ear canal.

3) Rub around the base of the ear to get the cleanser deep in there.

4) Allow your dog to shake his head, or wait until the end if they are the type to run off at this time.

5) Move on to the other ear, squirting a few drops in.

6) Let your dog shake, shake it off. This loosens the gunk inside there and forces most of it out.

7) Wipe down the outer parts of the ear, as needed, with a cotton ball.

8) Don’t forget… Praise and treats!

9) For very dirty ears, you may want to repeat this 2-3 times a day for a few days until all of the gunk is out of there. From there, you can do it weekly, monthly or after they swim.

Make cleaning your dog’s ears part of your regular grooming routine and before long, they will treat it just as they do a bath or anything else. Sure, some dogs may fight it, but in the end, it’s worth it. Ear infections require antibiotics and costly trips to the vet, and they can easily be prevented by simply cleaning your dog’s ears regularly.

Question: Do you clean your dog’s ears regularly? If so, how does your dog respond to it? Any tips to help those with dogs who resist? We’d love to hear from you!

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Ears Food

Stress-Free Tips on Giving Your Dog The Medicine She Needs

by Cate Burnette, RVT

Getting your dog to take her medicine can be like putting toothpaste back into the tube…it needs to be done, but can seem like an impossible task at the time. If your dog is anything like the normal, every day house pooch, you’ll have to drag her out from under the bed to medicate her.

AND, if you’re anything like the normal dog owner, making your pet the least bit uncomfortable sends you into reams of remorse and guilt that can cause you to quit the job way too easily.

There are ways to give your pet her medicine without traumatizing either one of you.

Pills

One of the most common forms of medicine you’ll get from your veterinarian comes in pill form. Whether its an antibiotic you only need to give for 10 days to 2 weeks, or a thyroid hormonal supplement that your dog requires a couple of times a day for life, getting the pills down your dog’s throat is the ultimate goal.

For dogs that don’t have weight or diabetic issues, the easiest way to give a pill is to pop it into a small chunk of soft meat or cheese. You just need to have a big enough bite of food to cover the pill. Make sure you push the pill all the way into the middle of the food so that it can’t be seen and offer it to her as a treat.

If your dog is a fan of peanut butter – or any nut butter – stick the pill into the middle of a spoon of peanut butter and let her lick it up. With her favorite treat hiding the pill, your pooch is more likely to swallow the medicine without even thinking about it.

For those animals that can smell one tiny pill in a plate full of meat, and eat around it or spit it out, you’re going to need to try another method.

You can buy a “piller” at your vet’s office, online, or at some pet supply stores. The “piller” looks like a long, plastic tube with a plunger on one end and a rubber cylinder on the other that is designed to hold different sizes of pills.

Once you place the medicine in the holding end of the piller and draw back the plunger, you’ll need to open your dog’s mouth just wide enough to get the pill all the way over her tongue to the back of her throat. When the pill is in the right spot, push down on the plunger, quickly pull out the piller making sure you’ve left the medicine behind, and gently hold her muzzle shut. Point her nose to the ceiling and rub her throat to encourage her to swallow the pill.

Using another method along those same lines, gently pry her mouth open with one hand, then, with your other hand, push the pill to the back of her throat, making sure you set it over the base of the tongue. Hold her mouth closed, gently push her nose to the ceiling, and rub her throat until you feel her swallow.

If your pup is reluctant to swallow the pill, you can try gently blowing into her nose. The air flowing backward into her lungs causes and automatic swallow reflex that will get the medicine down her throat and into her stomach.

Liquid Medicines

You’ll probably find that giving your dog liquid medicines is an easier proposition than pilling her.

Once the proper dosage of liquid is drawn up into the medicine dropper or syringe, gently slip the end of the applicator into the side of your pup’s mouth in the pouch between her cheek and gums. Point her nose to the ceiling, and slowly expel the medicine into her mouth allowing her time to take a breath between each swallow.

Keep giving her the liquid until she’s swallowed the prescribed dose.

Some all-natural, organic tonics you can squirt directly onto her food or into her water dish, so that she gets her medicine when she eats.

Ear Medications

If you pet has any kind of ear disease caused by bacteria, yeast, or even ear mites,

You’re going to have to treat her ears at home with either a medicated ointment or liquid to clear up the infection.

Your dog’s ear consists of the earflap (or pinna), and the outer, middle, and inner ear canals. For minor infections, you’re only going to be treating the pinna and the outer ear canal.

Hold your dog’s ear open and gently pull up from the base of the ear to straighten the L-shaped ear canal. Place the tip of the applicator bottle or tube into the out part of her canal and squeeze the prescribed number of drops into the ear. By stretching her ear away from her head, you allow the medication to be deposited all over the little valleys of the ear canal.

Gently massage the base of the ear to distribute the medication evenly. You’ll want to make sure and do the massage with minimal pressure because her ears might be particularly sensitive and painful from the infection. Make sure that the underside of the earflap also receives enough to the medicine to cover it.

You’ll want to use the same method when using regular liquid organic ear cleansers to help keep her ears free of the yeast and bacteria that cause infections.

Eye Meds

Giving your dog eye medications can seem particularly scary, especially if your pooch is a squirmy, little thing, so you may want to ask someone to help you hold her head while you do so.

Gently open her eyelids with the fingers of your non-dominant hand. If you’re right-handed, that would be your left hand.

Hold the open tube or bottle of medication in the other hand with the tip of the applicator approximately ½-inch above her eye orb, making sure not to touch the eye. Drip the prescribed number of drops or approximately ½-inch of gel down onto the eye and allow the eyelids to close.

Gently massage the eyelids to evenly distribute the medicine over the entire eye.

Subcutaneous (“Under the Skin”) Injections

If your pooch is diabetic or needs regular allergy injections, you’re going to need to learn how to give her a shot of medicine subcutaneously, or just under the first layer of skin.

Draw up the proper amount of medicine in your syringe and replace the cap so that you don’t stick yourself with the needle.

Place your dog in your lap or ask someone to hold her for you. Once she’s relaxed and comfortable, pull up a loose flap of skin between her shoulder blades so that it forms a “Vee.”

Remove the cap from the needle and syringe and quickly thrust the needle into the middle area of the “Vee,” making sure it doesn’t come through the other side of the skin.

Most diabetic and allergy syringes have very small, thin needles, so if you push the needle in quickly, all your dog will feel is a tiny pinch.

Pull back on the syringe’s plunger and look for any blood filling the tube. If you see blood, you have accidentally hit a small capillary and you’ll need to reposition the syringe. If you don’t see any blood, gently push down on the plunger until all the medicine is dispensed.

Giving your dog medicine takes a little time and patience, but with the proper techniques, can be accomplished fairly easily and stress-free for both of you.

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Ears

Fly Strike in Dogs: The Painful Condition You May Never Have Heard Of

Fly strike, also called myiasis, is an irritation of your dog’s ear caused by biting flies. A warm weather disease that primarily affects dogs confined to the outdoors in the summer and fall, fly strike is most often caused by the common stable fly, however, blackflies, deer flies, and houseflies can also bite.

These insects bite and feed from the blood on the dog’s ears causing painful, red and bleeding sores along the edges of the ears. In erect-eared dogs, the flies typically bite at the tips of the ears. In floppy-eared dogs, the front edge of the ear is a popular site for fly bites. In some severe cases, the face can also be involved, and the bite wounds attract flies that lay their eggs in the damaged tissue. These eggs will later hatch into maggots.

What does fly strike look like?

Fly strike, with its red, crusty, bleeding lesions on the tips of a dog’s ears can look just like mange, scratching from allergies, vasculitis – swollen, inflamed blood vessels – or erythematosis, an autoimmune disorder where the animal’s immune system attacks normal, healthy tissue.

How is fly strike diagnosed?

Ear wounds can sometimes be difficult to diagnose without various specific tests. In order to differentiate between fly strike and these other diseases, an ear exam, skin scraping, bacterial or fungal culture, or a skin biopsy may be required. Your veterinarian may also want a complete blood count, chemistry profile, and urinalysis to make sure the rest of your pet’s body is healthy.

What kind of veterinary treatment is available?

Treatment involves physical removal of the maggots if any are present, wound flushing and cleansing with an antibiotic liquid medication, removal of any remaining dead tissue from your dog’s ears, and clipping hair from the area to aid in drying of the affected areas. Most vets will recommend giving your dog a systemic antibiotic to speed healing. Because this condition can be particularly painful, many veterinarians will opt to either anesthetize or sedate your dog during the initial treatment process.

How can I help my dog at home?

Whether you live in the city or country, do not underestimate the pain that these flies can inflict and be sure to initiate treatment at the first sign of fly bites on your pet. Gently cleanse the ear with warm water and a mild antiseptic soap, or an all-natural, organic ear cleanser containing peppermint and tea tree oil. Peppermint has a high menthol content and has long been used for its anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties. Some holistic veterinarians suggest tea tree oil is for its antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities.

Then, apply a topical antibiotic ointment that will help to control any infection that may be present. If the fly bites are severe, or maggots are present, veterinary attention is needed.

If your dog lives mainly outside (which we DO NOT recommend), you’ll need to spray your dog’s outside living quarters to help keep fly numbers to a minimum. Remove any materials that may attract flies, including fecal material, uneaten pet food, and garbage from the area.

Whether your dog stays mainly inside or outside your home, keep your pet clean and well-groomed, using an all-natural insect repellant spray to keep flies and other pests away from exposed ears and other delicate areas of the body.

The most important treatment for this problem is prevention, which consists of keeping your dog inside as much as possible during the heat of the day, except when exercising or eliminating.

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Ears

Help! My Dog Loves To Swim…But Ear Infections Are a Problem.

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 can’t seem to stay out of the water and you don’t want to curtail their fun? Learning what causes the 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 summer time activities you both love.

What causes my dog’s ear infections?

There can be any number of reasons your dog has an ear infection ranging from an abundance of yeast, an invasion of bacteria, mites, trauma, allergies, or hereditary issues. For dogs that love the water, the warm, moist layout of the canine ear canal can be a ripe environment for all types of infections. Dogs with heavy, floppy ears, like the Beagle and the Cocker Spaniel, are prone to infections due to excess moisture build-up. 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 the hair is regularly plucked during grooming.

What symptoms should I watch for?

It’s fairly easy to tell if your dog has developed an ear infection. If you notice any of the following signs, veterinary treatment is recommended to alleviate the problem.

· Scratching or rubbing of the ears

· Excessive head shaking

· Red, inflamed ears

· Black or yellowish discharge

· Offensive ear odor

· Constant head tilting

· Pain upon handling of the ears

· Behavioral changes, such as depression or irritability

What kind of treatment is available?

Veterinary treatment typically relies on antibacterial or antifungal eardrops depending on the diagnosed cause of your dog’s ear infection and may require several treatments daily. Your veterinarian may also prescribe systemic antibiotics or corticosteroids to deal with any lingering skin infections and inflammation. These drugs often take several weeks to become effective and, over time, can lose their efficacy if your dog’s ear infections are chronic.

Is there a way to prevent ear infections?

The best way to prevent your pooch from cultivating an infection is by starting a regular, at-home ear-cleaning regimen. You can purchase ear cleaning solutions from your veterinarian, but those products typically contain an assortment of chemicals that become less effective over time, and they can be cost prohibitive when used regularly.

An all-natural, organic formula with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties may be just the answer to your problem. A few drops in each ear per week can break down any waxy buildup that can become a breeding ground for infection. Additionally, if you look for a solution containing essential oils and organics such as comfrey, calendula, and arnica, you’ll ease any itching and discomfort caused by inflammation and repel any water that gets into the ear while swimming or bathing.

For the dog that loves to swim (or the dog that is frequently bathed), look for an ear cleanser with gentle, drying properties. A formula consisting of essential oils and aloe softens ear wax and sanitizes ear tissue, while the touch of alcohol helps dry any moisture left in the ear after playing in the water or bathing. The inclusion of lavender, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil in the solution relieves any swelling or redness, and promotes the healing of any infected skin tissue. What always works for my dogs is using Ear Clear before a bath or swim. It’s a viscous serum that actually repels water.  After swimming (or a bath) try putting in Ear Cleanser which will help to dispel any water that may have found its way into your dogs ears.

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Ears

Dog Ear Infections Symptoms & Treatments

by Cate Burnette, RVT

Statistics show that ear infections are the number one reason pet parents take their dogs to the veterinarian. Golden retrievers, cocker spaniels, Labrador retrievers, schnauzers, Westies, wheaten terriers, and all the setters tend to have more ear diseases than other breeds, but all dogs can contract the infection at some point in their lives. Knowing what to look for, how to treat it, and how to prevent the next ear problem should be an integral part of every dog owner’s education.

How can I tell if my dog has an ear infection?

While some signs of an ear infection are fairly obvious to a knowledgeable pet parent, other signals are more obscure and can be misjudged as being symptomatic of other diseases. Listed below are some of the indications that your pooch may be suffering from this very common disease.

· Your dog is constantly scratching at his ears, rubbing them on the carpet or furniture, and shaking his head. Because the yeast, bacteria, or parasites infecting your dog’s ears cause intense pruritus – or itching – your pup may be constantly trying to find ways to stop the irritation.

· You notice the visible part of the ear is red and inflamed, and you can smell a distinctive, musty odor coming from it. The redness and inflammation is caused by your dog’s immune system trying to rid itself of the cause of the infection. Typically, a bad smell indicates yeast or pasty discharge in the ear canal.

· A visible brown, yellow, or bloody discharge – called exudate – seeping from your dog’s ears points toward a serious infection.

· Scabby, crusted skin and hair loss around your dog’s earflap and down his neck indicates excessive itching and scratching, often caused by bacteria, yeast or parasites.

· Signs of a long-term infection, or one centered in the middle and/or inner ear, can include a pronounced head tilt, walking in circles, and a loss of balance, called ataxia.

· Nystagmus, a condition where your dog’s eyes move rapidly back and forth, can be a signal to a serious ear infection and a precursor to ataxia.

· Sudden hearing loss can indicate a busted eardrum caused by inflammation, and/or an accumulation of exudate in the ear.

What can I do to help get rid of the infection?

The first thing to do to help get rid of the infection is to see your veterinarian. Your pooch needs a complete ear examination, which includes allowing the vet to take samples from the inside of the ear to inspect under a microscope. The veterinarian determines which type of antibiotic to prescribe depending on whether the infection is bacterial, fungal, or caused by parasites.

You’ll be prescribed an aural antibiotic to use at home for 7 to 10 days. To be most effective, make sure to continue applying the medicine for the entire course of the prescription. Failing to do so can allow the infection to reoccur.

Additionally, gently massage the ointment or liquid medicine into all parts of your pup’s ears, rubbing it throughout all the crevices of the ear canal and up into the underside of the ear flaps. Bacteria, yeast, and mites can travel to all the parts of the ear, and you’ll want to destroy all of the offending organisms to fully get rid of the infection.

How can I prevent another ear infection?

After the ear infection is totally gone, there are organic products available to help you prevent further disease.

If your pooch is particularly prone to ear infections, daily or semi-daily cleaning with an all-natural ear cleanser containing essential oils and a tiny amount of alcohol may work for you. The alcohol dries any moisture found in the ear canal – very important for dogs that like to swim – and ingredients such as aloe vera, tea tree oil, lavender oil, citronella oil, and eucalyptus keep the skin hydrated and smooth. The oils also work as natural anti-inflammatories, keeping the ears refreshed and smelling nice.

Products that contain colloidal silver and extra virgin olive oil work to suppress bacteria, and relieve pain and inflammation in the ear. These components, along with arnica, chaparral oils, organic comfrey, and witch hazel, can loosen the waxy build-up that attracts bacteria and yeast, while relieving the itching and irritation inherent in canine ear infections.

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Ears Itchy Skin & Allergies

Home Remedies & Preventatives For Itchy Dogs

by Cate Burnette, RVT

While we always recommend seeing your veterinarian for any skin or ear infections, there are some home remedies that can help your dog prior to going to the vet, or after taking all medications. While they are not meant as a substitute for veterinary treatment, some of these remedies can also be used as preventative measures to keep your dog healthy.

Bathing –

Essential Oil Shampoo – Add a few drops of eucalyptus or pennyroyal essential oil to natural shampoo or castile soap. Rinse your dog with clear water. Rinse again with vinegar-water (1 tbsp. to 1 pint warm water). This easy-to-make shampoo and rinse removes soap residue and prevents the dandruff that can result in itchy skin.

Rosemary Conditioner – Steep 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or 1 tablespoon of fresh rosemary) in a pint of boiling water for 10 minutes, covered. Allow the rosemary water to cool to body temperature and pour it over your dog after her final rinse. Rub the mixture in and towel her dry without further rinsing. The rosemary in the conditioner repels fleas while promoting a soft, glossy coat.

Dry Shampoo – If your pooch hates getting into the water, an all-natural dry shampoo can keep her skin healthy and coat smelling good. Spread ½-cup to 1-cup of whole bran, uncooked oatmeal, or cornmeal on a cookie sheet and warm in the oven on low heat for 5 minutes to bring out the natural oils in the grain. Grab a handful of the grain (leaving the rest in the oven to stay warm) and rub it into your dog’s fur and skin with a towel, concentrating on the greasy, dirty areas. Then thoroughly brush the areas to remove all the grain. This dry shampoo exfoliates the skin while removing any nasty residue from your dog’s coat.

Flea Control –

Herbal Flea Powder – Combine one part each of as many of these dried and powdered herbs as you can find: rosemary, fennel, eucalyptus, rue, yellow dock, and wormwood. Put this mixture in a clean, dry shaker-type jar, like one used for parsley flakes or Parmesan cheese. Apply the flea powder sparingly to the base of your dog’s coat by brushing back the hair first, then sprinkling in small amounts around the neck, belly, and back. You’ll need to use the powder several times a week for a severe flea infestation, and place your pooch outside in they yard so the repelled fleas don’t end up in your home. Remember, this powder only repels the pests…it does not kill them.

Natural Skin Tonic – This lemon-based tonic not only repels fleas, it works as a general skin toner for itchy pets. Thinly slice a whole lemon, including the rind, and steep it overnight in a pot of boiling water. The cooling water draws out d-limonene, vitamin C, and other healing ingredients found in the whole lemon. The next day, sponge it on your dog’s skin and let the solution air-dry. You can use the lemon tonic daily for cases of heavy flea infestation.

Skin Conditions and Hair Loss –

Ringworm – Clip the hair around the bare spot and about ½-inch beyond it to keep the fungus from spreading. Take about a quarter cup of a whole plantain (Plantago major), chop it up, and place in one cup of spring or distilled water in a glass or enamel pot. Boil the concoction about five minutes and let the brew steep for three minutes covered. Strain and cool the liquid. Massage the plantain mixture onto the lesions once or twice a day until the condition clears.

You can also make an infusion of Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) by adding one rounded teaspoon of the powdered root stock to a cup of boiling distilled water. Let the mixture stand until cold, pour off the clear liquid and massage it into the lesions once or twice a day.

***Note: Please see your veterinarian for a clear diagnosis of ringworm before attempting this home treatment.

Skin Irritations – To heal minor skin infections, ringworm and other skin problems, you can apply essential oil of sandalwood or unrefined sea salt (mixed into a paste with water) to the affected areas as a way to enhance skin cell repair. If your dog has smelly skin and fur, mix one part whole cloves, one part broken cinnamon sticks, two parts myrrh gum (a tree resin), and two parts dried thyme. Rub into the hair and skin, and brush out thoroughly.

Hot Spots – Hot spots need to be healed from the inside and on the outside of the dog. On the outside, apply a warm, wet black tea bag to the affected spot. The tannic acids in the tea have a soothing, itch-relieving effect. Hold the bag on the skin for 4 to 5 minutes twice daily for three days. Following the tea bag treatments, apply aloe vera gel either directly from an open, fresh leaf or from a purchased gel. This speeds the healing process.

For the inside of the dog, you can supplement with vitamin B6, a natural antihistamine, or Rhus tox, a homeopathic remedy for irritated, red and itchy skin. Check with a holistic veterinarian for dosages for your dog when using these two products.

Hair Loss – Treat areas of hair loss with a blend of six parts wheat germ oil, three parts essential oil of lavender, one part each of rose geranium and rosemary essential oils, and 12 parts St. John’s Wort Oil (that is, olive oil infused with St. John’s Wort blossoms, not the essential oil). Spray the oil blend on the affected areas of hair loss and massage into the skin. These oils help improve circulation and stimulate the elimination of toxins by correcting body imbalances.

Ear Cleaning Solutions

***Note: Use prescribed veterinary medication on any diagnosed ear infections to rid your dog of the fungus or bacteria causing the problem.

To clean healthy ears and ears prior to medicating, wipe the inner ear with cotton balls soaked in a mixture of either one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to one quart of distilled water. As an alternative to the vinegar astringents, you can puncture a small hole in a vitamin E capsule and place a few drops on a cotton ball to clean your dog’s ears.

Categories
Ears Itchy Skin & Allergies

Does your dog suffer from the most common health problems?

by Audrey Harvey, DVM

Although veterinary practice can be exciting and challenging, most of our work is treating the same conditions in our canine patients over and over.  A recent survey indicated that the three most common reasons for a dog visiting their vet are ear infections, skin allergies and hot spots.  Interestingly, these three conditions can share common causes.

1. Ear Infections

The symptoms of ear infections in dogs are hard to miss.  Your dog will shake his head and scratch his ear, often groaning or yelping in pain.  If you have a look inside his ear, it may be red and swollen and it often smells bad.  Estimates suggest that up to 20% of dogs have infection and inflammation inside their ear and many chronic ear infections in dogs are secondary to skin allergies.  In most cases, ear problems need veterinary attention to work out the exact cause of the infection and identify the appropriate treatment.

How can you prevent your dog developing painful inflammation in the ear?

Regular use of Cain & Able ear cleanser will remove moisture and wax accumulation that can predispose to infection.  Its all natural ingredients include essential oil extracts and willow bark extract.  These have a natural anti-inflammatory effect and help soothe irritation inside the ear canal.

Colloidal silver is a natural antibiotic, and is the main ingredient in Ear Wipes.  These wipes are easy and convenient to use.  They will remove odor and help to prevent bacteria multiplying in your dog’s ear.

What you should know about your dog’s ear infection

2. Skin Allergies

Itching, scratching, licking and chewing – your dog’s skin allergies can really make life miserable for him. The commonest allergens in dogs are food, fleas and dusts and pollens in the environment.

When the skin is inflamed, the normal bacteria and fungi that inhabit it can cause secondary infections.  These infections also itch, and they cause that strong “doggie smell” that is so unpleasant.

Oatmeal has been proven by the FDA to reduce skin inflammation and ease itching.  Comfy Dog oatmeal shampoo used regularly will quickly ease your dog’s itchy skin, and start him on the road to healing.  As well as oatmeal, it contains several all-natural herbal ingredients that soothe skin irritation and stop itching.  Follow it up with Fur Butter conditioner and not only will he stop scratching, but his coat will be thick and luxurious and smell great.

How oatmeal helps to heal a dog’s itchy skin

3. Hot Spots

A hot spot is also known as acute moist pyoderma.  It is a bacterial infection of the skin that is often associated with skin allergies.  They often affect short coated breeds such as Labrador Retrievers.  These infections appear suddenly and spread rapidly; because your dog will constantly scratch them, the hot spots can go from the size of a quarter to the size of your palm in a matter of hours.  They are also extremely painful.

These acute infections usually need veterinary treatment to get them under control, however you can play your part at home by cleaning the area with Comfy Dog shampoo.  The oatmeal will soothe the red inflamed skin and give your dog rapid relief.

Follow this with a spray with Itchin’ for Relief.  Its oat extract and aloe vera will quickly ease the itch and stop the scratching.  This will allow the skin to heal.

What you can do about your dog’s hot spots

Although these conditions are common among dogs, they needn’t cause your dog serious problems.  Watch for any symptoms and treat them quickly, and his skin and coat will stay healthy.

Categories
Ears

Where Does All That Ear Discharge Come From?

by Nicola Parry, DVM

Discharge from the ear canal is one of the most common ear issues in dogs, and typically indicates an ear infection. Just like in people, your dog’s ears will normally produce some discharge even when completely healthy. This is mostly composed of a waxy substance called cerumen that tends to be a yellow-brown color. Cerumen acts to coat the ear canal, helping to prevent excessive growth of bacteria or yeast that can set up infections in the ear. When the ear is irritated for any reason, however, it produces more of this cerumen, and sometimes its quantity can seem never-ending!

So if healthy ears produce discharge, how do you recognize an ear problem?

5 Signs That Your Dog May Have Ear Problems

  1. Increased quantity of ear discharge
  2. Scratching or shaking of the ears
  3. A change in discharge color
  4. Nasty smelling discharge
  5. A head tilt

3 Ways To Attack Ear Problems

1. Consult your veterinarian

Have your dog examined immediately by a veterinarian if you suspect an ear problem. Ear discharge can result from a variety of causes, so it may not be obvious as to whether the problem is due to ear mites, bacterial infection, fungal infection, allergy, or a foreign body such as a grass seed in the ear canal. Your veterinarian may need to perform tests to diagnose the underlying problem, before prescribing any medications that may be necessary, such as antibiotic tablets or ear drops.

2. Grooming

Dogs with long hair around the ears or those with long, floppy ears (or a combination of both!) can be particularly prone to recurrent ear infections because their ear canals aren’t well ventilated. One important way that you can help in these cases, is to pay attention to any excess hair growth around the ear canal, and to trim it regularly.

3. Ear Cleaning

Your role here is especially important, especially if your dog is prone to developing recurrent ear infections. Weekly cleaning can be a vital part of your dog’s ear-care regime. Use a gently formulated product, such as alavender and eucalyptus ear cleanser, to remove moisture, wax and debris that may accumulate in your dog’s ears. Then follow this up with a few drops of Ear Clear, a natural serum to help clear debris, break down cerumen, and reduce itchiness. And then especially when weekly cleaning regimes are underway and the ear canal no longer contains excessive discharge, pre-moistened ear wipes can be a wonderful and convenient way to keep the ears clean and sanitized.

As you begin cleaning your dog’s ears, you will notice that tissue from inside the ear canal, and the skin around its external opening, may start to peel. This is completely normal! Your cleaning regime loosens the dead tissue and debris in this region – but this is a good thing! Getting rid of the dead tissue, in and around the ear canal, helps to get rid of debris that could otherwise act as a focus for development of further infection.

Ear infections are therefore one of the most common reasons for dogs visiting their veterinarians, and can be a result of many underlying causes. And although you can’t completely prevent ear infections arising, your regular ear cleaning regime can definitely help reduce the number of times your dog visits his vet!

Nicola Parry is a veterinarian at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is ACVP board-certified and her career has taken her along various paths, including general practice and academia. She enjoys teaching veterinary pathology, as well as writing for the veterinary, medical and scientific worlds. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her oddball cat, Tiddles

Categories
Ears Itchy Skin & Allergies

The food your dog eats might be causing your dog's ear infections

by Audrey Harvey, DVM

Does your dog suffer from chronic ear infections? Did you know that the food your dog eats might be the to blame?

Food allergies are often the culprit in cases of otitis (ear inflammation). Otitis or conjunctivitis could also be associated with atopy (allergies to inhaled dusts and pollens).

Let’s start with the ears. In one study, researchers examined 100 dogs with chronic ear problems to try and work out why they kept developing these infections. Of those 100 dogs, 43 of them were found to have underlying allergies that were the primary cause of their otitis. Although 100 dogs isn’t a large number of animals to survey, the results do indicate that allergies are a major cause of chronic ear problems in our dogs.

These allergies cause inflammation of the skin inside your dog’s ear canal, which will make him shake his head and scratch his ear. This inflammation allows bacteria and fungi to multiply and cause a secondary infection. The inflammation also causes his ear canal to thicken which prevents air circulation and provides a warm moist environment for the infection to flourish.

What does this mean for you? It means that if your dog has ongoing or recurring ear problems, you are not likely to clear these up by just treating him with ear drops. Drops will kill the infection, but unless you manage his underlying allergies, his ears will be sore again soon after you stop the medication.

Here are some guidelines for managing your dog’s chronic ear infection and inflammation.

1.    Make an appointment with your vet to have his ears examined thoroughly, including looking at the discharge from his ear under a microscope.

2.    Use an appropriate antibiotic or antifungal ear drop to get the secondary infections under control.

3.    Treat any allergies. This often means using medication such as corticosteroids or antihistamines to stop the itch and reduce the inflammation. However, it is vital that you start a food trial to rule out food allergies, and consider allergy testing to see if he’s sensitive to any environmental allergens.

4.    When his ear infection is under control, continue to manage his allergies, but start using the Ear Aid two part program to keep his ears clean and healthy. Firstly, wipe his ear clean with Ear Wipes. They contain colloidal silver which will suppress any bacterial growth. Follow this with Ear Clear drops. Their herbal ingredients will soothe and heal sore ears, while helping to prevent bacterial infections.

Allergic conjunctivitis is another common problem for dogs that suffer from atopy.  It is usually seen in conjunction with itchy ears, itchy skin and feet, and sneezing, however, it is possible for allergic dogs just to have itchy eyes and show none of these other symptoms.

Conjunctivitis associated with atopy tends to affect both eyes at the same time. These poor dogs have very itchy eyes, and rub their face along the ground to try and get relief. They often rub away the hair from around their eyes. If you pull their lower eyelids down, their conjunctiva is usually very red and inflamed. They tend to have watery eyes, but as with ears, it’s common for a secondary bacterial infection to occur. This leads to that familiar yellowish sticky discharge which needs frequent cleaning.

Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis is similar to that of any other allergies. Firstly, treat the secondary infection. Clean any discharge away with Eye Pads; they are safe, gentle and they will inhibit further growth of bacteria. You may need to apply specific antibiotic eye ointment if it is prescribed by your vet. Make sure you add Eyemunity powder to your dog’s diet. It will boost his immune system and help him fight off those bacterial invaders.

It’s often very hard to keep your dog away from dusts and pollens that he may be sensitive to, so treating atopic conjunctivitis relies on desensitization and medication to keep it under control.

If your dog has recurring ear infections, or constantly watery eyes, consider an underlying allergy as the cause.

 Audrey Harvey is a veterinarian who has worked in small animal practice for 20 years, and has been involved in teaching and competing in dog obedience and agility. She is passionate about preventative health care in dogs, particularly obesity management and the prevention of boredom related behavioral problems. Audrey lives in Brisbane Australia, and shares her couch with an Australian Cattle Dog, an Australian Working Kelpie and two Whippets.

Categories
Ears

Treating Your Dog's Hematoma

When a dog has an ear irritation, he will shake his head, scratch his ear and even rub the side of his face along the ground. As you can imagine, this can cause trauma to the flap of his ear, which is also known as the pinna.  The inside of the pinna can become quite red and inflamed and, in extreme cases, this scratching may lead to development of a hematoma or blood blister.

A hematoma occurs when a blood vessel between the skin and the cartilage on the pinna becomes broken. The ear flap becomes swollen with blood, and is very uncomfortable. Your dog is then even more likely to scratch and shake his ears.

Hematomas are most likely to occur secondary to infection or allergies in the ear canal. Your vet won’t have any trouble confirming the diagnosis of a hematoma; the swollen pinna is a giveaway.

Treating a Hematoma

How your vet treats a hematoma depends to a large extent on its size. If it is only a small blood blister, your vet may decide it can be left alone. The blood in the pinna will clot and shrink, and your dog’s ear may become crinkled. This is called a “cauliflower ear”; it doesn’t cause your dog any problems at all, but it may look a little odd.

It is very important that the underlying cause of the hematoma is treated. Most dogs that develop a hematoma have a chronic ear problem that has gone undetected for some time. If this isn’t managed properly, your dog will continue to scratch, and things may go from bad to worse.

Larger hematomas respond best to surgery.  The blood is drained from the ear flap and stitches are placed through the pinna to hold it together while it heals. The ear may then be bandaged to your dog’s head, which will look quite funny for a little while.

How to Prevent a Hematoma

Prevention is better than cure, so if you can avoid your dog developing an annoying unsightly hematoma, he will be much happier.

Here are the steps you can take to prevent a hematoma developing:

1.       Stay on top of your dog’s allergies. The skin in his ear canal is very similar to the skin on his body, so if he’s scratching himself a bit, it’s worth having a quick look in his ears to make sure they’re not also affected. If they’re red, smelly or the skin is thickened, it’s time to have them looked at by your vet.

 

2.       At the first sign of ear irritation, make an appointment with your vet for a check-up.  By doing that, you’ll prevent any infections becoming more serious, and stop your dog scratching at his ears. This reduces the likelihood of him breaking a blood vessel in his pinna.

 

3.       Preventative care of his ears is critical. An ideal product to keep his ears healthy is Ear Aid. Clean his ears regularly with Ear Wipes to remove any dirt and wax. They contain colloidal silver and witch hazel to cleanse his ear canals, and prevent the growth of bacteria.  When this is done, apply Ear Clear drops to his ear to soothe and heal any ear inflammation. By following this regime twice weekly, you’ll help prevent any irritation that may lead to hematoma development.