| Brian Kilcommons relates a terrible story about a | | | | related to skin allergies, especially food |
| beautiful golden retriever dog who was usually | | | | hypersensitivity dermatitis and canine atopy. Dogs |
| very gentle and kind with children. It's owners had | | | | with these conditions often develop inflamed ears. |
| a girl aged 3 1/2, and they normally got along | | | | The dog's ears become very itchy, which creates |
| very well. Then one day the little girl grabbed the | | | | an 'itch-scratch-itch' cycle that in turn creates |
| dog's ear. It snarled and bit her face. She needed | | | | scabs around the ear, hair loss, crustiness, and |
| 47 stitches in her face, and they put the dog | | | | raw skin. The ear canals become filled with a |
| down. The parents had the dog euthanized | | | | brown wax.Some dogs are also allergic to some |
| without bothering to find out what had caused | | | | ear medications. A common one is an antibiotic |
| this sudden change in their dog's behaviour. The | | | | called neomycin, but can be any ear treatment |
| vet, however, did an autopsy, and found our that | | | | products including cortisone, nystatin, |
| this dog was suffering not one but two severe | | | | chloramphenicol, thiabendazole, gentamicin, |
| ear infections that were incredibly painful.Ear | | | | miconazole, and clortrimazole.One thing of concern |
| infections usually start out mild, and in the outer | | | | in dogs that are professionally groomed is the |
| ear. This dog's health was effectively neglected | | | | practice of plucking the hairs out of the dog's ear. |
| by it's owners. And when their toddler grabbed | | | | The serum which then comes out of their pores |
| the infected ear, the dog, already in constant pain | | | | is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, which |
| anyway, reacted out of instinct. By not taking the | | | | is a common cause of ear infection. Vets |
| time to properly care for their pet, these owners | | | | generally don't recommend you allow your dog's |
| were in fact responsible for what happened to | | | | ears to be plucked unless their is a good medical |
| their child. And then blamed the dog. And probably | | | | reason to do so. An example of a good medical |
| out of ignorance or anger, or both, they had it | | | | reason is if there is a large mat of hair that is |
| killed. Their emotional response to what happened | | | | blocking air flow.If the mats of hair are in the ear |
| to their child as a result of their own neglect | | | | canal, they should be removed by a vet only. If |
| aside, I find this absolutely reprehensible. And the | | | | they're not, first soak the hair in a coat |
| tragedy that happened to their dog when they | | | | conditioner for a few minutes to soften it. Then, |
| chose to kill it instead of investigating further, as | | | | with your fingers, separate as much of the mat |
| well as the tragedy to their child, was totally | | | | as possible. You may be able to untangle the rest |
| avoidable.Unlike these owners, show your dog the | | | | of the mat with a comb, but more likely you'll |
| same level of care and love you'd show your | | | | need scissors or a mat splitter. Be very careful if |
| children. Become aware of the signs of ear | | | | you're using scissors. Using a comb, position it |
| infections, what causes them, and how to avoid | | | | under the mat to protect the skin. Hold the |
| them, taking dogs to get treatment when it | | | | scissors at right angles to the comb, and cut into |
| seems like they have one.Ear infections can be | | | | the matted fur in narrow strips. Very gently, |
| caused by any number of things. Wet ears not | | | | tease the mat out, and then comb out any snarls |
| dried after swimming or bathing, a build up of ear | | | | that are left. Regular grooming, with the right |
| wax, grass seeds and fox tails, untreated ear | | | | tools, will avoid mats forming in the first |
| mites, using cotton tips to clean ears (which | | | | place.Always check your dog's ears after he's |
| pushes things further into the ear), and growths in | | | | been playing in long grasses. If you think there is |
| the ear canal, can all lead to ear infections. If your | | | | a foxtail in his ear, take him to the vet's and don't |
| dog is scratching at his ears, rubbing them, holding | | | | try and get it out yourself. Fox tails can really |
| his head to one side, or down, shaking his head, | | | | damage the ear. If when you press gently on the |
| or if they look bloody or waxy or swollen, they | | | | ear canal he cries out in pain, there's a good |
| should be checked out. And if he cries when his | | | | chance there's a fox tail in there.References: |
| ears are touched, this is another sign of a | | | | 1. Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson, Good |
| potential ear infection.When untreated ear | | | | Owners, Great Dogs |
| infections progress deeper into the ear, the pain | | | | 2. Richard Pitcairn, Natural Health for Dogs and |
| the dog is in increases sharply. The dog may hold | | | | Cats |
| his head as still as possible, and to one side. And | | | | 3. James Griffin and Liisa Carlson, Dog Owners |
| opening his mouth, or touching his head, will cause | | | | Home Veterinary HandbookLearn more about dog |
| him pain. Dogs can also become dizzy, with poor | | | | health and dog care at The Dogs Bone. There are |
| balance and coordination, when the infection | | | | sections on training, puppies, and breed |
| progresses to the inner ear. Dogs may walk | | | | information. |
| around in circles, and vomit.Ear infections are also | | | | |