Pet owners will often find that their pets have ear problems. This is just something that happens sometimes, and it can really be frustrating, especially if you don’t know how to take care of it. If your pet scratches their ears, shakes their head, or rubs their ears on furniture and other things, it may be a sign that they have an ear problem. They may even have some type of discharge, or have red, tender and swollen ears. Here are a few things that you will want to consider if you notice ear problems in your pet.
The Causes of Ear Problems
Dog's and Cat's ear canals have an L-shape, which can sometimes cause dirt, debris, moisture, ear wax or even parasites to get trapped in. This can lead to an ear infection. Dogs that have ears that are long and floppy are especially prone to infection because they don’t have a lot of air circulation in their ear canal. Ear mites and other parasites can also be a culprit, because they can lead to itching, scratching, and a general feeling of being unwell. Some pets may actually even get an ear infection due to an allergy, and treating the allergy may be your best bet when it comes to overcoming this issue.
Keeping Your Pets Ears Clean
One of the first things that you will want to do is make sure that you keep your pet’s ears cleaned. You need to do this carefully, because you don’t want to damage their ear canal or their ear drum. Some pet owners actually leave this up to their Vet, because they are afraid of doing it on their own. If you do want to do it on your own, we sell a range of cleaners such as: CleanAural, Malacetic Aural or Cerum Aural. You apply a small amount of these directly into the ear and rub the base of their ear to allow the solution to work its way into their ear canal and do its magic. Clean it with a soft cloth or a cotton ball, but never use a cotton bud. Diluted vinegar also works well at getting rid of debris, dirt and other build up, and is good at killing bacteria.
Should You Take Them to the Vet?
If you have tried to remedy small ear problems in your pet, and the symptoms persist, then it is time to take them to the Vet. The Vet will be able to take a look at their ears with an otoscope and let you know what is going on. They may also be able to prescribe your pet some prescription ear drops that can help to relieve their discomfort while working to get rid of the problem altogether. Sometimes, a trip to the Vet is the best way to handle things. There are even some cases where your pet may need surgery if a foreign body, such as a grass seed has become lodged in the ear. Ear problems can be caused by a variety of different factors, and the cause of your pet’s ear problems may not be evident to you. If you keep their ears cleaned, and do home remedy treatments, but still notice that your pet is uncomfortable, it should not be ignored. It could lead to more serious problems later on. This is why it is so important for you to discuss things with your Vet so that you can take advantage of any helpful advice that they have to offer.
