Dog Ear Odor

Dog Ear Odor

The majority of times, infections are found in "drop-ear" dogs such as Poodles, Spaniels, and Bichons. The reason for this is that air does not circulate into the ears of drop-ear dogs. Also, in long-haired dogs, hair grows inside the ears, and when it accumulates, even less air gets in. The ears become a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

However, all dogs can develop problems in the ears. The ear canal gets hot, red, inflamed, and full of gooey stuff. If you touch the ear the dog will groan or yelp.

A strong foul odor either with or without an accumulation of brown debris is the sign of something wrong in the ear.

Sometimes the ear leather (the underside of the dog's ear) looks dry and flaky. In many cases, the dog will frequently shake his head and scratch his ears. That's because ear infections itch and hurt! If he has a severe infection, your dog might flinch, cry out, or attempt to snap at you when you touch his ear.

Bacterially infected ears are often extremely smelly. A bath may make ears worse if water is trapped in the ear canal. Remember to further reduce the risk of ear infection, keep your dog's ears as dry as possible. Dry them off whenever they get wet externally, and, when bathing your dog, use large cotton balls to prevent bath water from getting into the ear canals.

Keep the ears clean. Ear infections almost always have a bad smell and are relatively common in drop-eared dogs. Weekly cleaning will help prevent infections.

Your veterinarian can recommend an ear cleaning solution to purchase or you can make your own by combining equal parts: Water, distilled white vinegar, and rubbing alcohol.

You can clean your dog's ear canal with this solution once a week by pouring an amount onto the ear leather and into the ear canal. Use the solution at room temperature.

Gently pour enough into the dog's ear to fill the canal and, from the outside, working from the base of your dog's ear (where it attaches to the head) massage it thoroughly. Continue for about 10-15 seconds working the cleaning solution deep into the ear by massaging from the outside while holding your dog's ears up to keep the solution from running out. This will help loosen normal dirt and wax.

Use cotton balls to dry as much of the ear as you can reach without pushing down into the ear canal.

Your dog will naturally shake his head after a few seconds of ear cleaning; this will help to release any internal debris.

Another indication of the need for veterinary attention is the distinctive "cheesy" smell of a yeast infection. Please have that professionally attended to. Sometimes, because of the high incidence of yeast infection in these heavy-eared dogs, a vet will prescribe a medication for owners to use at home as a routine part of ear maintenance, but only after an examination to rule out other problems.

With dogs that seem to have constant ear problems - clean their ears at least once a week.

Yeast infections and other infections in the ears are quite common and cause odor, so seek experienced help.

Pet stores sell various ear medications, but there are so many different types of infections. You can save your dog a lot of unnecessary agony and suffering by taking him to your vet who will diagnose the infection and provide the proper medicine.

Whatever medicine he gives you, always follow his instructions and complete the course of treatment to prevent a recurrence. Recurring ear infections are very common. Call your vet if you feel your dog isn't healing properly or has a recurrence.

Prevention is the best medicine. From the day you get your dog, check his ears regularly for excessive dirt or unusual odor. Hair that grows inside the dog's ear canal is very easy to pull out. You can ask your vet or groomer to show you how it's done. If you start doing this when your dog is a pup, he won't you a hard time. Many dogs like having the ear hairs pulled out and become very relaxed!

A healthy ear is pale pink and has no odor. A little bit of wax or dirt in the outer portion of the ear canal and around the ear leather wrinkly area is perfectly normal, and it's okay to carefully remove this with a piece of gauze, cotton ball, or a cotton swab (Q-tip).

Never stick a Q-tip inside the ear canal. You can cause pain or more serious damage. A good rule to follow is: Only clean what you can easily see.

Your vet or groomer can also show you how to clean your dog's ears. A cotton swab is.

By keeping your dog's ears clean and healthy, you can avoid having him suffer from a painful infection.

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