Golden Retriever Ear Infections Treatment
Ear infections is very common for all dogs, especially if you have a breed dog like golden retriever, their ears are so sensitive and easily can get infected, because bacteria, yeast, and even from shampoo or stuff that you use to wash their beautiful golden fur, however, there are many things that you can do like cleaning regularly to prevent moisture and bacteria getting in their ears, in addition, there are many home remedies to cure your dogs ears, and obviously, there is a medicine to all kind of infections.
What Causes Ear Infections In Golden Retrievers
There are a few reasons why your Golden Retriever may have developed an ear infection:
The Anatomy Of The Ear Canal:
Dogs have a long and narrow ear canal that is L shaped. The ear canal is naturally deep and dark, and it is because of this anatomy that dogs are very susceptible to getting ear infections. Moisture, debris and wax are easily trapped inside.
Moisture In The Ears:
This is probably the main reason why Golden Retrievers get ear infections. This breed loves to swim, just try to keep a Golden Retriever out of the water, its not easy!
The moisture gets trapped inside and because of their floppy ears, air cannot circulate and help dry them out, therefore causing a breeding ground for bacteria.
After swimming, or when your Golden Retriever has wet ears, you should always dry the ears as best you can to prevent an infection.
Allergies:
Food allergies can cause your dogs ears to become red and irritated. The most common food allergies include beef, chicken, wheat and soy, but there are many other ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction in your dog.
Head shaking and frequent scratching at the ears are signs that your dog may be allergic to something.
Foreign Objects:
Golden Retrievers love to roll around in the grass, dirt and mud, and all that rolling can cause dirt, grass, tiny rocks, and other foreign objects to enter their ears. These foreign objects can cause an infection or worse, damage the inner ear.
Ear Mites:
Got A Golden Retriever Here Are 6 Tips On How To Keep Your House Clean
Who doesnt love golden retrievers? I’ve owned four in my time. Each one I raised proved to be loyal, have great personalities, and they are very athletic dogs. No wonder they are great for the whole family.
These irresistible pups are often used in movies because they listen well to commands and are generally pleasant.;
Life with a golden can be great, but there are some maintenance aspects that must be considered. If you want to keep your house sparkling clean with these fluffy dogs, then you must add these essential supplies:
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Common Ear Problems For Golden Retrievers
Red, inflamed skin in or around the ear canal. This can be a direct sign that your dog has an ear infection. Most dogs will scratch the infected ear, which leads to inflamed and reddish skin. These can be treated with sprays or ear washes, as well as antibiotics, if necessary, from your vet.
Bad odor or frequent scratching.;This is a common problem that often points to a yeast infection. Yeast infections are often formed due to the build-up of bacteria, earwax, or dirt in the ear. A dogs ear canal can be a moisture mating ground for these organisms, which is why it is important to clean your dogs ears regularly to keep them dry.
Your dog wont let you touch her ears. This is another sign of either an ear infection or a possible mite or tic issue. Either of these options is not great for your dogs ear health or happiness. Taking care of them swiftly will help you get back your loyal and fun-loving friend. You can use ear washes and tic/mite products;to help battle these issues.
Hearing loss due to ear canal surgeries from poor ear care.;A study;found a link between anesthesia and surgery, causing hearing loss or total deafness in dogs and cats. Poor ear care forces vets to put animals to sleep to care for their ears. If surgery is needed, it can be risky and cause damage to the eardrums. Keep your dogs ears clean to prevent hearing loss!
Dog Ear Discharge: Common Causes And Treatments
Along with ear discharge, if your dog’s ears seem painful when they’re touched, if your dog is tilting its head to one side, stumbling or circling to one side, pawing or scratching its ears, shaking its head, if the ear or ears seem inflamed, or if there’s ear odor, it could be a sign of these common dog ear problems:
Ear mites. Though extremely tiny, ear mites can be a big problem for dogs, especially younger ones. One sign your dog may have mites is a crusty, blackish-brown ear discharge, which often looks like dried shoe polish. Other signs include scratching and head shaking.
There are several treatments for ear mites; some options only kill the adult mites but newer products also eliminate the eggs and the immature forms. Treatment with these products is much easier, so talk to your vet to find the best choice for your dog.
Outer ear infection . 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 , or other problems. Additional signs your dog might have an ear infection are a bad or fruity odor from the ears; pain; hot or inflamed ears; scratching; or head shaking.
Treatment for middle or inner ear infections may require antibiotics, flushing the ear by your vet, or surgery if the infection is serious.
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Entertaining Your Golden Retriever
Things You Should Avoid When Cleaning Your Retrievers Ears
We have already shared tips on how you should clean your Golden Retrievers ears, but its also important that you learn what to avoid when you are cleaning your Retrievers ears.
- Never use vinegar to clean your dogs ears. Some people will suggest there is nothing wrong with using vinegar to clean an ear infection, but you shouldnt use it for your dog because its acidic and will cause irritation in the inner ear.
- You shouldnt use water as well since it allows bacteria to grow and cause the infection to spread.
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Checklist For Healthy Dogs Ears
There are a number of steps you can take to look after your pets ears. Your vet may recommend a preventative program if your pet is susceptible to ear infections. Below is a checklist towards healthy ears in your pet:
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Learn what healthy, clean ears look like
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Check your dogs ears regularly
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Clean ears only when dirty, cleaning too often can cause irritation
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Use a vet approved cleaning solution for dogs
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Contact your vet if you suspect your dog has an ear infection
Taking care of your dogs ears can help to prevent infections and protect your dogs hearing. Regular ear examinations will help to identify any problems before they become serious and ensure your dogs ears stay healthy. If you need advice about cleaning your dogs ears or if you suspect your dog has an ear infection, give us a call on 03 8784 4444.
Recommended Ear Cleaners For Golden Retrievers
While ear cleaning solution is the best for giving your Golden a thorough cleaning, some dogs do not take well to having liquid squeezed into their ears, and even run away at the sight of the ear cleaning bottle. For those dogs, you could use ear wipes.
Regardless of which type of ear cleaner you choose, here is what you should look for:
- Gentle soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile and oatmeal.
- Antibacterial/antifungal ingredients such as witch hazel and tea tree oil.
- No harsh chemicals that will irritate your dogs ears. Avoid ingredients such as alcohol, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
My Top Picks:
- Gentle, soothing and all-natural ingredients.
- Alcohol-free and non-stinging.
- Contains aloe vera, tea tree oil, witch hazel, and chamomile.
- Easy to use.
- Convenient and easy to use.
- Wipes away dirt and odour, and controls ear wax.
- Contains natural ingredients including witch hazel and chamomile.
- Leaves your dogs ears smelling fresh and pleasant.
Cons:
- Wipes are small, you need a few to clean the ears.
- Not as effective as an ear cleaning solution, as you cant get all the way inside the ear canal with a wipe.
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Signs That Your Golden Retriever Has An Ear Infection
Ear infections are one of the most common dog health problems, according to pets WebMD. They can come on quickly, and be very painful for your dog, and should not be left untreated. Here are the signs to look out for:
- Ears are sensitive to touch.
- Head shaking.
- Your dog rubs his ears on the ground, furniture, or carpet.
- There is a yellow or brownish-black discharge.
- The ears feel hot to the touch due to inflammation.
- There is crusting or scabs in the ears.
Golden Retriever Types Of Ear Infection
Bad smell, itchiness, ear sensitivity, inflammation of the ear or the surrounding area, and redness, all of them are signs that your dog is suffering from some kind of ear infection. There are many types of ear infection that infect golden retrievers, here are some of them;
There are three types of this infection, firstly, Otitis externa; it caused usually when water is stuck in the ear canal which leads to moist environment and bacteria that result unbearable pain and swelling, that can spread through the ear and bones around it.
Secondly, Otitis interna ; Itis the most dangerous type of infection, because its located in the inner ear which are the nerves for hearing connected to the brain if it didnt treat as soon as possible, it can lead to deafness.
Thirdly, Otitis media, is one of the reasons for the previous type of infection, because its located behind eardrum, it can easily spread in the inner ear, however, this type is the less common, usually caused by an extension of infection from the external ear canal or by penetration of the eardrum by a foreign object.
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How To Prepare Your Dog For An Ear Cleaning
- First, you need to massage your dogs ears to make sure that there arent any sores there.
- Make sure that their; ears actually needs cleaning
- If your dogs ears smell, it does not necessarily mean that it needs cleaning, but it could mean that your dog probably is suffering from inflammation, ear mites, or allergies and theyll need to get their ears checked by the vet.
- Calm them down, wait for them to be relaxed to begin;
- Make someone help you to steady their head because they will want to move.
How To Clean Dog Ears
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Ear cleaning is an aspect of dog grooming that shouldn’t be neglected. Every dog is different when it comes to how often this is needed.; Dogs that are prone to ear infections may benefit from more frequent ear cleaning, while others rarely require it. If your dog regularly visits a professional groomer, it’s likely that his ears are getting cleaned there, although it’s a good idea to check with your groomer to verify. With this in mind, it’s a good idea for any pet owner to know how to clean dog ears.
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Getting Your Puppy Used To Touch
However, the most important thing you should get your Golden Retriever;used to is being touched by their owner anywhere on their body. Its important that your puppy is comfortable when you handle them and the best way to do this is by spending some time touching your puppys ears, feet, and mouth daily.
You can start by holding its;paws in your hands and then gently running your fingers between its;toes. He will probably resist by trying to take its foot out of your hand, but you shouldnt let go. Squeeze it;gently and only let it;go when it stops fighting with you.
Next,;you should move towards the mouth, by lifting its;lips gently to look at its;teeth closely. If he tries to pull away again, you should give it;another gentle squeeze and hold it;tightly, until he stops resisting you.
You should then move to the ears by lifting and rubbing them gently with your fingers. You should touch the outer part and underside of the ears;so that your puppy gets comfortable about;its;ears;being examined. Increase the time you spend holding on to its;ears, paws,;and mouth gradually;so that when you need to clean its;ears later, you wont have any problems holding it;down.
The Clean Station For Food/water
One of the biggest pet peeves I have with my golden is the mess they always make at the food and water bowls. They seem to slap water all over the place, and I find kibbles all through the house.
The key is to raise the water dishes up a bit so that they dont dunk their chin hair into the bowl. Remember these dogs are going to drink a lot of water due to their large size. I absolutely love the Paws & Pals 3-In-1 Pet Water Fountain.
With this swirling bowl, there is always an ample amount of sparkling water for my pups. The food container holds about four cups of food and about one liter can be kept in the water container. Reviews show that pets are encouraged to drink more because it lights up and has that mixing action, which attracts a Golden Retriever. Its a lifesaver at my house and makes it easier to keep everything clean.
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Symptoms Of Dog Ear Infections
One of the benefits of routine dog ear care is that youll be more attuned to your pups health and better equipped to notice when somethings not right. Your dogs behavior during an ear cleaning can offer clues to their wellbeing.
If you have a generally patient dog and they are suddenly causing trouble for ear cleanings, this may be a sign that they have an infection and are in pain, Dr. Woodward says.
Dr. Woodward and Dr. Wooten note the following symptoms of ear infections:
- Discharge
- Rubbing their ears along the carpet or furniture
- Excessive debris from the ears
How To Clean Golden Retriever Ears
Cleaning your golden retrievers ears is more than a way to keep your very good boy clean it also offers owners an opportunity to check for infections and pests lurking in a dogs coat. When you see your dog shaking or scratching its head a lot, its time to clean out its ears.
How can you get started, what materials should you use and how often should you clean your dogs ears? Use this guide to walk you through the cleaning process.
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Why Golden Retriever Ears Are Prone To Infection
As we have mentioned earlier, Golden Retrievers love nothing more than to play and act silly. You may notice them zooming across a field and then plop down on the grass or ground, rolling to and fro and getting their coats dirty. If you take them to nearby dog pools or lakes/rivers, they may even jump into the water and swim to their hearts content.
Unfortunately, the anatomy of Golden ears makes it susceptible to ear infection. For one, unlike other medium- or large-sized dog breeds, Golden Retrievers have ears that are flapping down. Whatever dirt or water that goes through their ears ends up getting trapped easily.
In addition, Goldens have a deep L-shaped ear canal. If you dont clean their ears as part of their regular grooming, ear wax and dirt tend to accumulate in the deepest part of the canal. Ear wax is moist, making it an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, thus leading to infection.
Best Cleaner For Dog Ears
If your pup has chronic ear infections, a medicated ear cleaning solution may be in order. According to Dr. Wooten, these cleaners typically act to dry out and acidify the ear canal, which keeps infection at bay. Though these are available over-the-counter, your veterinarian is the best source to ensure the safety of your pet.
Consider speaking with them about trying one of the following best-selling dog ear cleaning solutions:
Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment with Hydrocortisone
$21.99
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