Ears play a vital role in your pets for hearing and balance. However, disorders in your pet’s ears can cause hearing loss, pain, and discomfort. Following these expert tips will make sure your pet has to never suffer ear infection again.
Ears are sensitive organs, and keeping them clean and stable is extremely necessary for every creature. Your pets rely entirely upon you for every task, and thus, it is your role to maintain this sensory organ. Apart from hearing, ears also provide balance to the body. Also, ear infections can be very painful for the dog.
Here, we have discussed some facts in detail related to the importance of ear care in your pets. These points will guide you to be more careful and proactive about taking care of your pets’ hearing organs.
How to Detect Ear Problems in your Pets?
Your pets cannot speak to you about the discomfort they experience, and thus, it is your responsibility to check them regularly to ensure their fitness. It would help if you were alert and observant regarding your pet’s health.
If your pet is behaving abnormally, such as shaking their heads vigorously or scratching their ears with paws, you should immediately examine their ears. They may also lose their balance due to an ear disorder in some cases. Moreover, you should mandatorily check your pet’s (dog’s and cat’s) ears while grooming them to detect any underlying issue.
If you find redness, swelling, excess wax, bad odour, or any form of discharge from your pet’s ears, you should contact the vet at the earliest. Also, it would help if you never tried to experiment with their ears by cleaning them with cotton swabs. Special ear cleaners are available for your pets, and you should clean their ears only after taking the doctor’s consultation.
What Are the Causes of Ear Infections in Pets?
If your pet is suffering from an ear issue, it might have cropped up due to one of the problems mentioned below.
- Infections – Microorganisms like yeast and bacteria give rise to ear infections in animals. This type of ear issue is very painful and uncomfortable for your pets. The treatment for ear infections includes antibiotics and pain killers to reduce swelling and eliminate bacterial growth.
- Mites – These parasites feed on the oils and wax inside your pet’s ears and can also travel among animals. The most common curative method, in this case, is ear drops.
- Excessive Wax – The production of extra wax can have some underlying issues in the functionality of this organ. If you spot excess wax in your pet’s ears, you should contact the veterinarian, who will guide you about the treatment.
- Trapped Object – Animals hardly know the difference between what is good or bad for them, and thus, out of their curiosity and agility, they might end up putting foreign objects such as small twigs or grasses into their ears. In such an event, you should visit the vet immediately to get rid of the stuck material.
- Inner Ear Disorders – Ears are complex structures and consist of many sections. If there is an issue in the inner ear, it will not be treated using over-the-counter tablets or drops. Therefore, the doctor will specially treat your pet’s ears using a cleansing solution or other medication, which may also involve anaesthesia.
- Loud Noises – Some Indian festivals and celebrations are incomplete without loud bangs. But, no matter how thrilling it may be for us humans, it is not at all safe, healthy, or comfortable for our pets.A large sonic impact can cause hearing losses to our pets as they have a higher sensitivity to sounds. Apart from hearing problems, loud sounds also cause anxiety in animals.
How To Clean Your Pet’s Ears Carefully?
As mentioned earlier in this write-up, you should never experiment while cleaning your pet dog’s or cat’s ears.
- It would help if you never used cotton buds or swabs to clean your ears. These buds can push back the material you are trying to take out. Also, as these buds are too small, they can reach too far inside the ear canal, interfering with the eardrums.
- You can use cotton balls or gauze to clean your pet’s ears. Always use clean materials, and it is best to use sterilized gauze that you get from the pharmacy.
- It would help if you cleaned your hands before handling your pet’s ears. You may also wear gloves.
- You should use an ear cleaner meant for your pet and apply it per the instructions. Then, carefully squeeze the required amount from the nozzle and ensure it is not too deep inside your pet’s ear.
- While cleaning your pet’s ears, they must remain stable. If they are moving, you might lose control over your hands, which may cause them more harm as it is a sensitive body part. Thus, you should take help from someone to hold your pet steadily when you clean their ears.
The Concluding Thoughts
Unwanted infections or parasitic growth inside ears can cause pain and discomfort to your pets, which is the last thing you would want. Therefore, you should be careful about your dog’s ear care to make sure they are not susceptible to ear infections. Regularly inspecting your dog’s ear by veterinarian will go a long way in preventing ear infection in your furry friend.
