Dog Ear Inflammation from Water: How to Treat It

Section 1: What to Do When Your Dog's Ears Inflame?

It's crucial to act promptly if you notice your dog's ears are inflamed. Ear infections in dogs can be categorized into external and internal ear infections. The symptoms of external ear inflammation typically include redness, swelling of the ear canal, and the discharge of pale yellow, sticky fluid. Dogs often scratch or shake their heads due to the itching and pain in their ears.

As the condition worsens, and secondary infections occur, the inflammation can lead to middle and inner ear infections. This can cause your dog to continuously shake its head, spin in circles, and experience ear pain or hearing loss. In severe cases, it may affect the dog's facial nerves or even lead to meningitis.

Therefore, it's essential for pet owners to seek veterinary care immediately when their dog's condition is still in the early stages of external ear inflammation. Treatment usually involves cleaning the ears with a lowconcentration saline solution or hydrogen peroxide, applying an antibiotic ointment, and administering oral or injectable antibiotics for systemic inflammation.

Section 2: Prevention and Care for Dog Ear Inflammation

1. When bathing your dog, be cautious to avoid directly pouring water over its head. Cover the ear canal with the outer ear when cleaning the head to prevent water from entering. You can also place cotton balls in the ears to block water splashes.

2. Puppies are more susceptible to middle ear infections when they lie down to nurse, as they might choke on milk. Therefore, it's important to control the feeding speed to avoid this issue.

3. Regularly use ear cleaning solutions like EpiOtic to clean your dog's ears, reducing earwax, mites, and bacterial infections. After each bath, use a towel to absorb excess water around the ears and then dry them with a hairdryer.

4. During illness, dogs should avoid vigorous exercise and ensure they get plenty of rest. Try to keep the affected ear down while your dog sleeps to facilitate the flow of inflammatory secretions and reduce secondary infections.

5. If your dog becomes restless and anxious due to pain during treatment, a warm compress can help alleviate discomfort.

This article covers solutions for dogs' ear inflammation due to water entry and daily preventive measures. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to consult an online veterinary expert.