Ear Infections And Your Dog: Signs To Look Out For

15 March 2017
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In many ways, the average health issues that a dog will face throughout their life are similar to those that humans deal with as well. If you have ever been a parent (to human children, rather than your dog, of course), then you likely know the signs of ear infections in humans all too well. However, what you may not know is that your beloved four-legged child can also suffer from ear infections. The tough part about your dog getting ear infections is that they are not able to tell you what hurts and what is bothering them the way a child can. The good news is there are signs of ear infections in dogs you can watch out for so you can get your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment.

Your Dog Shakes Their Head Excessively

Excessive head shaking is one of the easiest signs of ear infections to detect in dogs. When your dog has pain in their ears or the inside of their ear itches a great deal, rather than scratching their ears, they may shake their head from side to side in an attempt to dislodge anything that is in their ear causing the discomfort.

This may be one of the first signs of a problem with your dog's ear. While the occasional head shake is normal for dogs, especially ones with large ears, if they do it repeatedly throughout the day or over the course of several days, there is more than likely something more serious than a little irritation going on.

You Notice Brown or Black Wax In Their Ears

Much like with human, the color and the amount of earwax in your dog's ear can tell you a great deal about the overall health of their ears at any given time. Most of the time, your dog's look clean and if there is any wax, it is clear or perhaps a light yellowish color.

Earwax is a normal and healthy substance that your dog's ears produce to protect the ear canal from debris and damage. However, brown or black colored ear wax is not the healthy type of earwax and is a sign that your dog has developed an infection somewhere in their ear canal.

The large amounts of brown or black earwax occur because your dog's body is attempting to get the infection out of the ear canal. Oftentimes, infected earwax also has a strong smell which may be yeasty if the infections is fungal.

With these signs to watch out for in mind, you can be sure that you are able to notice the signs of ear infection in your dog and get them to a veterinarian like Bay Street Pet Suite Hotel & Day Spa as soon as possible to get their ear infection treated.