Lisa
01-15-2006, 02:56 PM
Ear Care
Some signs that your dog may need to see a vet to have his or her ears looked at:
Your dog is shaking his head more often than usual.
The dog is constantly pawing and scratching his ear. Sometimes even yipping while scratching.
The dog keeps holding his head at an unusual angle. (The side that is tilted down is the painful side.)
A strong, sour, cheesy odor from the ear.
There is a heavy, waxy material inside the ear.
Matted hair inside the ear canal.
Fleas or ticks can be seen in the ear area.
Red, or inflamed, skin.
Inside of the ear is constantly moist.
If you think that a problem may be present or developing, consultation with a veterinarian is imperative as soon as possible. A severe infection, or deafness, can result by neglecting a problem, thinking it will go away eventually.
Should only a gentle cleaning be needed there are some things that you should never do. For the health of your dog, DO NOT use soap and water. DO NOT poke or probe the internal ear canal, or the delicate tissues of the ear. DO NOT use Q-tips, or any other cotton tipped swab. These could push dirt, or foreign objects, deeper into the ear canal, causing a more serious problem. DO NOT use a “home-made” recipe found on the internet. See your vet and get the proper treatment. For a gentle cleaning of your dog's ears, you can use mineral oil applied to a cotton square and gently wipe the surface of the external ear. Because Dachshunds have floppy, pendulent ears, they are more prone to ear infections, due to there being very little air circulation around the ear. When you bathe your dog, try to prevent water from going inside the ear canal.
Have your vet show you what to look for, what to use, how to massage your dog's ear and symptoms to watch for.
If you have been instructed to add ear drops, try this technique.
Clean the external ear thoroughly with a moistened cotton ball with the veterinary-recommended solution.
Gently pull the earflap over the head and drop the medication into the lowest opening of the ear canal.
Gently massage the ear area to help work the medication deeper into the ear canal. If there is enough medication in the ear, you will just begin to hear a 'squishing' noise as you massage.
Some signs that your dog may need to see a vet to have his or her ears looked at:
Your dog is shaking his head more often than usual.
The dog is constantly pawing and scratching his ear. Sometimes even yipping while scratching.
The dog keeps holding his head at an unusual angle. (The side that is tilted down is the painful side.)
A strong, sour, cheesy odor from the ear.
There is a heavy, waxy material inside the ear.
Matted hair inside the ear canal.
Fleas or ticks can be seen in the ear area.
Red, or inflamed, skin.
Inside of the ear is constantly moist.
If you think that a problem may be present or developing, consultation with a veterinarian is imperative as soon as possible. A severe infection, or deafness, can result by neglecting a problem, thinking it will go away eventually.
Should only a gentle cleaning be needed there are some things that you should never do. For the health of your dog, DO NOT use soap and water. DO NOT poke or probe the internal ear canal, or the delicate tissues of the ear. DO NOT use Q-tips, or any other cotton tipped swab. These could push dirt, or foreign objects, deeper into the ear canal, causing a more serious problem. DO NOT use a “home-made” recipe found on the internet. See your vet and get the proper treatment. For a gentle cleaning of your dog's ears, you can use mineral oil applied to a cotton square and gently wipe the surface of the external ear. Because Dachshunds have floppy, pendulent ears, they are more prone to ear infections, due to there being very little air circulation around the ear. When you bathe your dog, try to prevent water from going inside the ear canal.
Have your vet show you what to look for, what to use, how to massage your dog's ear and symptoms to watch for.
If you have been instructed to add ear drops, try this technique.
Clean the external ear thoroughly with a moistened cotton ball with the veterinary-recommended solution.
Gently pull the earflap over the head and drop the medication into the lowest opening of the ear canal.
Gently massage the ear area to help work the medication deeper into the ear canal. If there is enough medication in the ear, you will just begin to hear a 'squishing' noise as you massage.