Signs Your Dog Has An Ear Infection: What To Look Out For
As a dog owner, you always want to be sure that you are doing everything that you possibly can to keep your dog as happy and healthy as possible. However, just like being a parent to a human child, they may suffer from illnesses and infection in spite of all of your diligent efforts. One of the issues that most dog owners do not realize their beloved pet can suffer from is an ear infection. Ear infections can be quite common among dogs and while some dog breeds may be more prone to them than others, any dog can suffer from such an infection. Get to know the signs that your dog has an ear infection so that you can get them to a veterinarian clinic as soon as possible if you notice them.
Rubbing the Side of Their Face on the Floor or Ground
One of the signs that a dog may have an ear infection is if that dog suddenly starts rubbing the side of their face and hear on the floor or ground a great deal. This rubbing is an attempt to essentially scratch the area and relieve itching or discomfort. While some dogs will do this every once in a while just as a part of their normal behavior, repeatedly performing this action throughout the day for several days on end is a sign that they are experiencing significant discomfort and it is often their ears that are the culprit.
Thick, Dark Ear Discharge
If you go to pet your dog's head or ears and your hand comes away with thick brown, black, or yellowish wax or discharge on it, they likely have an advanced ear infection. Just like humans, dogs naturally produce wax in their ears to protect their ear drums and ear canal from larger debris. And much like humans, when they have an infection, the ear over-produces earwax that looks and feels different than it normally does.
If this waxy situation happens with your dog, try to clean out their ear with a damp cotton ball (and then use a dry one to soak up the moisture). Check their ear periodically for the next few days for a recurrence of the thick waxy discharge. When you check, if their ear is clear, you may have resolved their problem and it might just be a fluke, but if it comes back, you need to take a trip to the vet.
With these symptoms in mind, you can be sure that you are taking the best possible care of your dog and addressing ear infections as quickly as possible.
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