Ears
Health, Cleaning & Hearing
https://source.colostate.edu/pet-health-ear-inflammation-common-problem-dogs/
Hearing
Ear Problems & Infections
Cleaning
Foxtails
Hematomas
Dogs are born deaf but within weeks their world is nowhere as quiet as the one we experience because their hearing range is about double that of ours. Humans have a hearing/frequency range between 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz, whereas dogs have a range of 67 Hz- 45,000 Hz.
“The ear canal of the dog is much deeper than that of people and creates a better funnel to carry sound to the ear drum. The average dog can hear about 4 times better than the average person, including sounds at higher frequencies than can be detected by the human ear. Dogs are also better at distinguishing the direction of a sound, which is an adaptation useful for hunting. Unfortunately, this deeper ear canal predisposes dogs to ear problems. Grease, wax, and moisture can build up in the ear, leading to inflammation and infection. Floppy ears or hair within the ears further limit ventilation, making matters worse. This is why many dogs need frequent preventive ear cleaning.” [6]
Hearing - How Does Dogs’ Hearing Compare To Humans’?
Your dog may react to sounds you cannot hear with curiosity, excitement, anxiety, etc… and may have trouble settling no matter how many times you tell them there is nothing there and everything is “okay”. To your dog, they are experiencing a different reality. They can hear termites in the wall, and the ultrasonic sound a rodent makes. [1] They can hear the squirrels, gophers, and moles that are below ground.
Dogs can distinguish slight variations in sounds and some are able to recognize the engine of their owner’s car approaching the house, [2] or more specifically they likely recognize the pattern of your driving. [3] During Pavlov’s experiments on dogs he learned that even the slightest sounds from our perspective such as a conversation in another room, someone walking outside the room, or a door heard slamming could be distracting for the dogs and interfere with learning. [4]
Key Reason for Doggie Vet Visits but Largely Preventable
Ear Problems
Food intolerances/sensitivities can manifest in ear infections especially with the presence of yeast. [5] Rule out a food intolerance or sensitivity with a NutriScan test.
How to Prevent the Most Common Ear Problems in Dogs
“A normal, clean canine ear canal is a healthy pink color with no unpleasant odor. When inflammation or infection is present, you may notice your dog shaking her head more than usual, scratching at her ears or rubbing her head against the floor. The ear canal is typically red, and there can be an unpleasant smell as well.”
“There are two basic types of ear problems in dogs: chronic inflammation and infection. Untreated inflammation can lead to infection. If your dog's ears are warm to the touch, red, swollen or itchy, but there's little to no discharge, chances are the problem is inflammation. However, if one or more of those symptoms is present along with obvious discharge, it's usually a sign of infection.”
There are several potential causes for ear problems, the most common of which is a food or environmental allergy; moisture in the ears, heavy wax buildup and foreign material in the ear canal can be contributors as well
Ear infections in dogs can be fungal (e.g., yeast), or more commonly, bacterial; bacterial ear infections that are resistant to conventional antimicrobials can often be effectively managed with natural remedies
The most common cause of fungal ear infections in dogs is yeast. Yeast is always present on the bodies of animals, but when the immune system isn't in prime condition, the fungus can grow out of control and cause an infection.
“Dogs prone to yeast infections should have their ears cleaned and dried frequently. If there's a persistent infection that just won't clear up, there's probably an underlying immunological cause that should be investigated.”
“Veterinarians diagnose yeast infections by looking at a smear of the ear debris under a microscope. However, an accurate diagnosis of a bacterial ear infection requires an ear culture. Your veterinarian will swab your dog's ear and send the sample to a lab to determine what type of organism is present, and what medication will most effectively treat it.”
To continue reading click or tap here:
Common Causes of Ear Inflammation and Infection and What to do when Traditional Medicines Don't Clear the Infection Dr. Karen Shaw Becker
Infection Odor
“Yeast infection. The odor of sickness coming from a dog’s ear can be especially unpleasant. A yeast infection, which is a type of fungal infection, can cause an odor that smells like fermentation. If you notice a brown, waxy discharge upon looking at your dog’s ear (just the part you can see by looking into the pinna, or flap — don’t go further in), a yeast infection may very well be the cause. It will perhaps be soupy in appearance.”
“A bacterial infection in a dog’s ear can also smell particularly pungent — or even somewhat sweet if the bacteria are of the relatively common pseudomonas variety. In bacterial cases, the discharge tends to present as a yellowish to green pus. To clear up the problem, the dog will need topical medication in addition to taking medication by mouth.”
“Note: Ear infections sometimes result from infestation by mites. The telltale sign is granular, dark brown material in your dog’s ears. Think: coffee grinds.”
Cleaning Ears
If your dog appears to have a problems with his ears see your veterinarian before you attempt to clean them on your dog. If your dog has a foxtail in the ear, or an infection has led to rupture of the eardrum you do not want to clean his ears without consulting your vet.
I use cotton balls and sterile pads to clean debris from the folds and crevices inside the ears. “Dog ear canals are very different from human ear canals because they enter the head vertically and then take a 90 degree turn. This means that the ear drum is quite far down in your dog’s ear and is virtually impossible to injure using just your finger and a cotton ball. Do not be afraid to insert your finger deep inside your dog’s ear.”
General Ear Cleaning
1/3 cup Witch Hazel
3 TBSP Hydrogen Peroxide
1 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar
Or add one of the following options
3 drops Oil of Oregano (Yeasty Ears)
3 drops Lavender (Irritated Ears)
10 drops Neem Oil (Ear mites)
1 TBSP Colloidal silver (Ear Infection)
http://riverroadveterinary.com/how-to-clean-your-dogs-ears/
foxtails
How to Tell if Your Dog Has a Foxtail in Their Ear (Whole Dog Journal)
This is the most common entry point of foxtails in dogs, and below are some of the signs you may see.
Excessive head shaking
Pawing at their ear(s)
Whimpering and pulling away when you try to pet or touch their head
Head tilt
Redness and/or discharge coming from the ear
https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/foxtails-a-pain-in-the-everywhere
Foxtails in the Ears
RISK: Chronic irritation, infections, eardrum damage, deafness.
SYMPTOMS: Head tilting or head shaking.
FIRST AID: Squirting mineral oil into the ear to soften the awn is a common recommendation. But Dr. Randy Acker, author of Field Guide to Dog First Aid: Emergency Care for the Outdoor Dog, cautions against it; if the eardrum has been damaged, the oil will do more harm than good. Get to a vet as quickly as possible.
TREATMENT: The vet examines the ear with an otoscope and uses alligator forceps to extract the foxtail. Sedation may be necessary.
Ear Hematomas
Ear hematomas are fluid-filled pockets that develop on the inside of a dog’s earflap
Ear Cropping
[1] Inside Of A Dog Alexandra Horowitz
[2] The Dog’s Mind Bruce Fogle
[3] John Rogerson
[4] Conditioned Reflexes I.P. Pavlov
[5] Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health ((GI) gastrointestinal issues, chronic itching, gas rumblings, chronic gas, chronic burping, chronic skin, ear and foot infections, especially with the presence of yeast.)