Jan 31 2009
Ear Infections in Dogs with Floppy, Long Ears
How Can I Tell if My Dog Has an Ear Infection?
“My dog’s ear is red. Does he have an ear infection?”
“Are dogs with floppy ears more prone to developing ear infections?”
“My dog has discharge coming out of his ear. Is discharge a symptom of an ear infection?”
“Why do dogs with floppy ears get chronic ear infections?”
Virtually every dog will develop an ear infection at some point in his lifetime. Unfortunately, some dogs are more prone to ear infections.
Is My Dog Prone to Ear Infections?
Dogs with floppy ears or long ears are most likely to get an ear infection. Why? A floppy eared dog or a long-eared dog’s ear canals are covered by the ears. This makes the ear canals a warm, dark, moist area with little air flow - perfect conditions for trapping and growing bacteria inside the dog’s ears.
That’s not to say that dogs with erect ears are immune to ear infections; every dog can develop an ear infection. Floppy-eared and long-eared dogs are just more prone to developing ear infections.
What are the Symptoms of an Ear Infection in a Dog?
Symptoms of an ear infection in a dog include:
- Redness
- Discharge
- Odor From the Dog’s Ears
- Swelling of the Dog’s Ear Canal
- Scratching at the Ear
- Head Shaking
If you suspect that your dog has an ear infection, it’s important to keep his ears clean. Clean the dog’s ears with an ear cleaning solution twice a day will help to eliminate some of the skin irritation that can occur as a result of the dog’s ear discharge.
Cleaning the dog’s ears twice a day is important to allow for healing. A dog’s ear infection will not heal on its own; you will need to visit the veterinarian for antibiotics and ear drops or ear ointment. It’s important to clean the dog’s ears before applying the ear drops or ointment, a procedure that’s usually done twice a day for 10 to 14 days.
