This week Sheila came in suffering from a common problem in dogs: swelling in her ear flap.

If left unchecked, ear problems can develop into serious inner ear problems which become more difficult to cure

This swelling is technically known as an oto haematoma, and generally referred to as ‘pillow ear’ – so called because of the soft, painless, pillow-shaped swelling that develops within the thickness of the ear flap.

The swelling is caused by excessive shaking of the head due to ear problems and the subsequent rupture of a vein inside the ear flap.

Sheila needed a small operation where-by we open the swelling and place special sutures to avoid the swelling from re-occurring.

Sheila was fine, and by now, you have probably guessed this article is all about what you can do to prevent some of the more commonly occurring ear problems in dogs.

I feel there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to ear-care in dogs. All too often I am told that the ears are never washed or that they are cleaned with cotton buds.

And over the years I find myself saying time and again that dogs’ ears were perfectly designed to enable the sharpest of hearing, but terribly constructed to keep clean.

So the first thing you must remember when considering dogs’ ears is that they are lined with skin just like any other part of their body, and that any skin condition your dog may suffer from could have an effect on the ears.

Just as you should keep your dog clean, its ears need to be kept clean. This includes having the outer ears gently washed along with the other parts of the canine body. In the case of certain dogs (especially poodles), the ear canal should be kept free from accumulation of excessive hair.

Absolutely nothing should be inserted into the ear for the purpose of cleaning. There are very good ear-cleaning solutions which should be used on a regular basis – by regular, I mean weekly – and especially about half an hour after the dog’s bath to displace moisture down the ear canal. Most ear cleaners incorporate a drying agent which would have this effect.

More precise instructions may be requested from your veterinarian as different dogs may require different frequency of use of the ear cleaner. This depends on breed and ear type, health condition of the dog and skin inside the ear.

Some ears manage to remain clean, free from any accumulation of wax, even with the least of intervention. This may be true for short-haired breeds with very wide ear canals, say German Pointers, though I would still recommend a cleaner to be used after a good wash.

On the other hand, there are other breeds like Cocker Spaniels and Poodles that would require far more frequent attention.

Any sign of ear problems such as redness, ear discharge or unpleasant odours, as well as swelling or head-tilting should immediately be checked out by your veterinarian since, if left unchecked, such ear problems can develop into serious inner ear problems which become more difficult to cure.

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