An untreated ear infection can lead to chronic issues, hearing loss, and sometimes the need for expensive surgery . An untreated outer ear infection can lead to a deeper infection within the middle and inner parts of the ear. This can cause nerve damage, which can even lead to eye ulcers.
Can an ear infection be serious for a dog?
Dog ear infections can be a serious condition , which may result in hearing loss or facial paralysis. These serious complications make it imperative to prevent infection and seek treatment as soon as symptoms arise in your pet.
How long can a dog live with an ear infection?
Most uncomplicated ear infections resolve within 1–2 weeks , once appropriate treatment begins. But severe infections or those due to underlying conditions may take months to resolve, or may become chronic problems.
Are inner ear infections painful for dogs?
Symptoms of Middle and Inner Ear Infections in Dogs
There may be no visible symptoms in mild cases, but the more serious infections can affect the nervous system, leading to neurological symptoms. If symptoms are present, these may include: Pain when your dog opens his mouth .
Can ear infections lead to death?
The ear can provide pathways for disease to attack the brain, positioned only a few millimeters from the middle ear. While a fatal ear infection is a rare event , especially when treated with the complete arsenal of modern medicine, other serious complications are possible, from extreme pain to deafness.
Can dog ear infections heal on their own?
In most cases, a dog’s ear infection will not go away on its own . What’s worse, if you wait too long to treat the ear infection, it can become much more difficult to get under control. An untreated ear infection can lead to chronic issues, hearing loss, and sometimes the need for expensive surgery.
Should I clean my dog’s ears if they are infected?
Be sure to clean your dog’s ears on a regular basis during the infection as well as once his ears are nice and healthy again . Regular cleaning will help keep your infections at bay. Natural remedies are easy to give at home.
What is the brown stuff in my dog’s ears?
A waxy, yellow, or reddish-brown ear discharge can also be a sign your dog has an ear infection , which can be a result of allergies, mites, polyps, overproduction of ear wax, excessive bathing or swimming (which can leave too much moisture in the ears), or other problems.
Why would a dog get an ear infection?
Causes of Ear Infections in Dogs
Bacteria in the ear is a primary cause of infections however yeast, fungus and ear mites can all cause your pup’s ears to become infected and painful . Other causes of dog ear infections include foreign objects lodged in the ear, trauma, and tumors or polyps.
What foods cause ear infections in dogs?
An excess of grain and/or sugar in the diet is a common causes of ear infections in dogs. Sugar feeds the yeast already in the body and causes an overgrowth, which results in the dark, yeasty-smelling buildup inside the ears.
Why does my dog keep getting ear infections in one ear?
Ear mites, foreign material such as grass awns and by far and away the most common is food allergies . Food allergies are one of the most common causes of recurrent ear infections in dogs. Food allergies in pets appear much differently than in humans and result in inflammation, often in the ear and GI tract.
What do ear infections in dogs look like?
The ears often become red and inflamed and develop an offensive odor. A black or yellowish discharge commonly occurs. In chronic cases the ears may appear crusty or thickened and the ear canals often become narrowed (stenotic) due to the chronic inflammation.
Can an ear infection cause my dog to be off balance?
Loss of balance in dogs often occurs due to inner ear infections . If your dog has an ear infection, you may also notice additional symptoms such as odor in or around the affected ear, head shaking and scratching, walking in circles, and eye flicking, as well as redness, swelling, or discharge.
How often should you clean dog ears?
Wondering how often your dog’s ears need to be cleaned? In general, once per month is a good rule of thumb. Breeds with long, floppy ears or dogs who swim frequently may need to have their ears cleaned every other week, or even weekly. After bathing or swimming, be sure to properly dry your pup’s ears.
Can ear infections spread to the brain?
Spread of infection.
This infection can result in damage to the bone and the formation of pus-filled cysts. Rarely, serious middle ear infections spread to other tissues in the skull, including the brain or the membranes surrounding the brain (meningitis) .
What happens if you ignore ear infection?
If ignored, you run the risk of your eardrum rupturing . This could lead to hearing loss, so make sure to seek treatment right away.
Is ear infection an emergency?
Seek emergency care if you have any of the following symptoms: Pain in an ear with or without fever. Itching of the ear or ear canal. Loss of hearing or difficulty hearing in one or both ears.
How can I soothe my dogs ear infection?
Apple cider vinegar can help reduce the itch and discomfort of an ear infection. Mix 1 part vinegar and 1 part filtered or spring water. Clean the visible parts of the ear with a cotton ball soaked in the mixture. Make sure you get the liquid into the ear canal by holding your dog’s ear still.
How do you get rid of a dogs ear infection?
How can I get rid of my dogs ear infection naturally?
Does vinegar cure dog ear infection?
Apple cider vinegar helps by acting as a cleanser and an anti-fungal and antibacterial agent . Dabbing this into your dog’s ears sparingly can help to clean out the inside of their ears and treat the infection.
How often should I put apple cider vinegar in my dog’s ear?
If your dog has smelly earwax and you want to try the vinegar before taking him in to the veterinarian, clean the ears then apply a few drops of the apple cider vinegar to each ear once a day . Ear infections are hard to clear up so try this at least two weeks before giving up.
How do you get black gunk out of a dog’s ear?
To clean the ears, tilt your dog’s head downward with one hand and squirt a gentle cleanser recommended by your veterinarian into the ear, filling the canal. Holding the ear closed, give it a nice massage, really squishing the cleanser around in there. That softens any gunk inside.
How do you get brown gunk out of a dog’s ear?
Instead, simply wipe the outer ear with a cotton ball . Continue to inspect your dog’s ears regularly. If you notice any brown discharge starting to appear, apply a bit of vet-approved canine ear cleaning solution, available at any pet supply store.
How do you get the gunk out of a dog’s ear?
Squeeze a veterinarian-approved ear-cleaning solution to fill your dog’s ear canal and massage gently at the base of the ear for about 30 seconds . You will hear a squishing sound as the product dislodges debris and buildup. Don’t let the tip of the applicator touch your dog’s ear, as this can introduce bacteria.
