Top 4 Reasons for Dogs Scratching Ears: Be Wary of Thes

When our furry friends start scratching their ears, it might seem like a mundane, almost adorable behavior to many pet owners. However, frequent ear scratching can be a sign of underlying health issues in dogs, such as ear mites, otitis, or allergies. As responsible pet parents, it's crucial to recognize these signs and intervene appropriately to prevent symptoms from worsening.

Beneath, you'll find a list of common reasons why dogs may scratch their ears, along with the correct methods of handling these situations:

1. Ear Mite Infection

Ear mites are a common parasitic pest that resides in a dog's ear canal, feeding on skin flakes and earwax. Infestation can lead to severe itching, prompting the dog to scratch excessively. Symptoms may include a lot of brown or black discharge in the ears, along with redness, swelling, and a foul odor.

Solutions:

① Clean your dog's ears with a gentle petspecific ear cleanser, such as Erifen (Pet Ear Care Solution), once daily for a week, then adjust to once or twice a week as needed.

② After cleaning, apply Xinrining (Miconazole Nitrate Ointment), which contains miconazole, permethrin, triamcinolone, and neomycin, to kill mites, inhibit bacteria, and relieve itching.

③ Administer Dipai (Pyriproxyfen Moexiphen Drops) for deworming once a month to prevent recurrence of ear mites.

2. Allergic Reaction

Dogs can be allergic to certain food ingredients, pollen, dust mites, and more, leading to itching, particularly in sensitive areas like the face and ears. Symptoms may include sneezing, runny nose, and eye inflammation, among others. If left untreated, severe allergies can even affect the respiratory system.

Solutions:

① Identify the allergen and avoid exposing your dog to it again.

② Use antihistamines, such as Newmeino (Chlorphenamine Maleate Tablets), initially, and corticosteroids for severe allergies.

③ Opt for a singleprotein, grainfree hypoallergenic diet for your dog's meals.

3. Malassezia Infection

Malassezia is a common lipophilic yeast that naturally resides on a dog's body without causing harm. However, when ears get wet, the skin is damaged, or the dog's immune system is weakened, Malassezia can multiply rapidly, leading to symptoms like increased ear discharge (often greasy and brown), itching, and redness in the ear canal.

Solutions:

① Clean your dog's ears with a petspecific ear cleaner to reduce discharge and itching.

② Apply ear drops or ointments containing antifungal ingredients like miconazole, clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole, and terbinafine, possibly twice or thrice daily.

③ Give your dog Shiwibi (Vitamin B Complex Solution) to boost immunity and promote the selfrepair of ear mucosa.

4. Ear Inflammation

Ear inflammation can range from external otitis to more severe conditions like middle or inner ear infections. Ear infections in dogs can be caused by trauma, allergies, fungi, ear mites, or simple bacterial infections, leading to redness, discharge, pain, and hearing loss.

Solutions:

① Take your dog to a veterinarian for a professional examination to determine the specific pathogen and extent of infection.

② For external otitis, use Erifen ear care solution for cleaning, followed by Er狄ke (Fluoroxyfonitrate and Metronidazole Ear Drops) to suppress ear inflammation.

③ For more severe cases of external, middle, or inner ear infections, it's advisable to seek veterinary treatment to avoid more serious consequences.

In the course of daily care, remember to clean your dog's ears regularly, depending on how dirty they get, which might be once a week or every two weeks, to maintain a clean and odorfree ear canal. However, avoid overcleaning to prevent disrupting the ear canal's bacterial balance and potentially causing inflammation.