Now that we’ve covered some of the basics, let’s discuss some of the common questions about ear disease in dogs.
The simplest answer is that you should clean your dog’s ears as often as they need it! For most normal dogs, only occasional ear cleaning is needed. As discussed above, dogs with chronic otitis often need frequent ear cleanings to prevent infection even their ears are doing well. These dogs often require specific medicated cleansers to prevent infection. As always, your vet is the best resource to recommend ear cleaners for your pet. Dog owners should not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or essential oils in their pet’s ears as these can be highly irritating to the ear canal lining.
Does swimming cause ear infections?
Although swimming can contribute to a dog developing an ear infection, there must be other abnormalities present to allow infection to develop. Studies have been done where pure bacterial culture was literally poured into the ear canals of normal dogs. These normal dogs did not develop ear infections! Thus, if your dog develops otitis after swimming, you should discuss underlying causes and treatment options with your veterinarian.
Normal Dog Ears vs Infected Dog Ears
The canine ear canal is shaped like a capital letter L, with the opening to the outside located at the top of the vertical section (versus the human ear that’s a straight, horizontal shot). Glands and hair line the dog’s ear; the glands produce wax, and the hair moves it up and out to clean the ear, naturally. A normal dog ear should not require much home cleaning.
A normal, clean ear should be a healthy pink – and not stink! Signs that something is not right in your dog’s ears can include:
An ear infection (otitis externa) begins when a trigger creates heat and inflammation in the ear. The glands that line the ear kick into overdrive and produce excess wax. Yeast and bacteria, normally present at low levels in your dog’s ear, thrive in that type of environment and grow rapidly out of control. The ear then becomes swollen; if left untended, the ear canal itself can become completely closed and no longer visible.