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