Ear Infections in Dogs: Treatment & Prevention

If your dog has an ear infection, it’s really important to approach the problem properly.

The safest and smartest first step would be to contact your veterinarian. A thorough examination may be necessary to determine the cause and severity before the appropriate treatment can be prescribed and administered.

TREATING EAR INFECTIONS IN DOGS

The first course of action would be cleaning the ears. Ideally this should be done by your veterinarian if you don’t already know how to do it. The last thing you want to do is make things worse. Your veterinarian can then provide instructions for safe home cleaning moving forward.

Topical medications (such as ointments and creams) or antibiotics are typically prescribed. Pain medication may also be necessary.

REMEMBER: It’s crucial that you don’t stray from the treatment plan. Don’t skip treatments (set reminders) and always complete the course (even if your dog appears healed). The infection might take two weeks or a month to clear, unless it’s a chronic problem that needs to be managed.

While you’re at the veterinary, ask questions such as:

How did my dog get an ear infection?

How can I reduce the risk of future ear infections?

Can ear infections be prevented completely?

PREVENTING EAR INFECTIONS IN DOGS

We all know how the saying about ‘prevention’ goes… So, before infection strikes, learn how to clean your dog’s ear correctly and safely.

• Use cotton swabs for folds, NOT for the ear canal
• Wipe the ear canal with a material that doesn’t shed fibres.
• Ask your veterinarian about cleaning solutions and how to use them if relevant

Often moisture is the culprit. So, try to keep ears dry during bath time and dry wet ears after swimming.