If your dog often scratches its ears, shakes its head or just generally seems to be irritated
with its ears - chances are it has an ear infection.
The good news is that ear infections can be easily treated and cured.
But Laura Smith one of the vets at Abbey House Veterinary Hospital advises you get your dog
checked out as soon as possible.
It's very important to look after your dog's ears.
It's really important to get them used to having their ears cleaned from being a puppy,
because a lot of dogs that we see are very head shy and don't like you looking in their
ears.
If a dog has recurring ear infections, then the canal get very narrowed and then sometimes
it's irreversible and may even go on and have surgery to open up that canal, which can be
very painful and very costly.
Ear infections can be caused by mites, bacterial infections, food allergies or poor dog hygiene.
Dogs with floppy ears are especially susceptible because their ear lobes cover their ear canal
resulting in dark warm moist places where bacteria can thrive.
This morning owner Sue has brought in her five year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Molly who is prone to having ear infections.
She's been crying since Friday.
So there's something wrong with her.
But she's eating and walking okay, so I don't think it's her feet, so - and I've brought
here because I think it's her ear, because she's got dirty ears because they're all covered
up.
Spaniels ears are notorious for getting ear infections.
She has got a lot of fur in her ears, she's been before about her ears and they said she's
got a lot of fur in them, inside them, and that collects dirt.
It's important to regularly check the health of your dog's ears.
Normal ear wax excreted by the ear is odour free.
If it smells then chances are there's an infection.
They're quite thickened, aren't they, her ears?
Has she always had problems with her ears?
Yeah, it's not new.
Does she let you clean them?
Are you putting anything in them at the moment?
I've been cleaning them with cotton buds.
Right, okay.
And what is it you're getting out of them?
Is it just this yellow discharge?
Yeah.
Oh, they're very itchy.
Look at that.
Oh good girl, very, very itchy.
If your dog has very hairy ears we recommend that if they go to the groomer's they have
their ears plucked to make sure there's not a lot of hair in there that can trap any wax
or infection.
If your dog doesn''t got to a groomer's then contact your vets and they can probably do
it for you.
We also recommend cleaning your dog's ears with a veterinary product every couple of
weeks or so any wax that's in there out, just to make sure that there's no risk of them
getting any ear problems.
Right, will she let me have a little look down those, do you think.
Maybe.
Right.
If they are too sore for her we won't put it down too tight.
Good girl.
Oh, it's okay.
Good girl.
Oh dear me, good girl.
Very, very itchy.
Good girl.
She's very red down both of the canals and they're quite narrowed as well.
Can we just turn her round and have a look in the other ear?
Oh, dear, some on.
Let's have a look in this side.
So, so, good, stay.
Oh I know.
Good, Molly Shh, it's alright.
Oh that one hurts doesn't it?
Oh dear, that's the one that hurts.
Oh.
See, I think it is quire sore because when I'm rubbing like this she does quite like
that.
Oh dear me.
With regards to her ears, what cleaning product do you have at the moment?
Do you have an ear cleaner for her?
I had some that I bought from the pet shop.
Right.
Okay.
What we'll need to do is start her off with an ear cleaner.
So kind of it's got the nozzle and put that into her ear and then massage down, and then
with some cotton wool just try and take out all of the waxy debris that you can see there
and I'll pop you out some eardrops as well.
And the eardrops will be twice a day and so after you've cleaned her ears in the morning,
then wait about 20 minutes and then put the ear drops in, so you're putting the ear drops
into quite a clean ear.
Are they like antibiotics?
Yeah, they'll be antibiotic eardrops.
And use those for about a week and then can we have another look at her just to have a
look down those canals and see how they're getting on.
Sometimes if they're not really improving, if the canal's really narrowed, we actually
have to have them in and flush those ears out just to get all of the detritus that's
in there.
Right, then, I'll pop you on the medication for her now and if we can see her in about
a week's time to see how sh'�s getting on.
Alright then.
Good girl.
Let's pop you down.
Come on then.
Don't jump.
Fortunately for Molly the antibiotics cleared up the ear infection and owner Sue says she's
had no more problems since.
The treatment will depend on what's caused your dog's ear infection but be aware that
some ear infections can be contagious so if you have other dogs it's probably best to
keep them apart until you've seen your vet.