Ear Problems In Dogs: How To Figure Out The Problem And Treat It
Have you noticed your dog is constantly scratching its ears? If this habit has started out of nowhere, you may be concerned that something is in your dog's ears. Upon getting a closer look, you may have noticed the ears look a bit swollen and are slightly red. Instead of trying to figure out exactly what is causing these issues to occur, it's best to take your dog to the veterinarian to have its ears checked out. There is a possibility your dog has an ear infection or even a ruptured eardrum.
How Does a Dog Get an Ear Infection?
If your dog never had an ear infection before, there is a good chance you didn't even realize this was possible. However, ear infections can occur in dogs if bacteria starts growing inside the ears. If the ears haven't been cleaned in a while or if your dog has come in contact with certain things that it's allergic to, it's quite possible your dog does have an ear infection. Although you may be worried, the veterinarian will use a diagnostic otoscope to carefully inspect the ears, check for signs of infection, and then provide a diagnosis. If it is an ear infection, the veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics for you to give to your pet until the infection goes away.
How Does a Dog End Up With a Ruptured Eardrum?
The signs of a ruptured eardrum are often quite similar to the signs of a regular ear infections in dogs, which makes it difficult to know for sure unless you bring your dog into the veterinarian's office. The veterinarian may need to ask a few questions about any changes in the way your dog is hearing you when you're saying commands or just speaking in general.
Ear infections that go undetected for extended periods can lead to ruptured eardrums, which typically cause a lot of pain and discomfort for the animals. If your dog has a ruptured eardrum, the veterinarian will likely prescribe some antibiotics, but he or she will expect you to bring the dog back into the office in a few weeks. If the ears haven't healed on their own, a surgery may be necessary or else your dog could suffer from major hearing loss.
If you've noticed your dog keeps scratching its ears and they're slightly swollen and red, you're likely feeling concerned. Instead of waiting to see if the problem gets better on its own, bring your pet into the animal clinic to find out what is causing the swelling and irritation. Once you know the cause of the problem, you can follow the treatment plan provided by the veterinarian to help your pet recover.