Imagine rolling around in the grass and dirt, jumping through bushes, and diving into any and every body of water at any given moment was your way of life.
Well, it is for your dog, which explains a lot when it comes to his health—particularly his ear health. A dog’s carefree attitude is the perfect recipe for collecting debris and bacteria in the ear canal, especially for floppy-eared dogs such as Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers.
Lifestyle isn’t the only reason dogs are more prone to ear disease than humans. Dogs have vertical ear canals that form an “L” shape, which holds fluid more easily while humans’ canals are horizontal. When moisture sits in a dog’s ear, it becomes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. When left to fester, bacteria in the ear canal will cause inflammation and infection. Mites, parasites, yeast, and allergens are also to blame!
The Human Ear
This is why about 20% of dogs experience ear infections during their lifetime. Infections that aren’t treated can create irreversible damage that leads to thickening of the ear canal. Half of the dogs who experience this also experience ruptured ear drums. Unfortunately, these painful side effects are permanent and cannot be resolved with medication.
Infection is most often found in the outer ear, but can lead to a more serious middle ear infection. Any dog can get an ear infection at any time, but dogs who love to swim, dogs with larger ears, dogs with weak immune systems, and older dogs are most susceptible.
So, what’s the takeaway? Prevention! There is so much you can do to keep your dog’s ears healthy, which starts with checking them regularly. Keep them clean and dry with the help of pawTree’s Ear Wash and Ear Dry combo made with chamomile, yucca, clove oil and calendula.
To clean your dog’s ears, hold his ear flap up vertically so you can see the ear canal. Squeeze the solution into the ear using enough to fill the entire canal. Continue holding the ear flap up and massage the base of the ear for 30 seconds to break up debris. Using a cotton ball, wipe away debris, but do not go into the ear canal farther than your finger can easily reach. To further dry the ear, use the Ear Dry solution that will absorb moisture and turn into a powder.
After enduring all of that, make sure you give your pup a good rub on the head and a treat for a job well done!
ABOUT KRISTI DIAZ
Dr. Diaz’s nurturing nature led her into medicine where she became a Board Certified Anesthesiologist. While she loved her career and her patients, she also wanted to be a stay-at-home mother. After retiring from her practice and achieving her goal of being a home-based parent, Kristi began looking for ways to give back to her community. At the same time, she and her husband were looking for home-based business opportunities.
Kristi knew she found the perfect opportunity when she discovered pawTree. The value Kristi placed on diet and nutrition for health and wellness, coupled with her family’s love of animals, aligned seamlessly with pawTree’s company values.
Dr. Diaz’s philosophy is that diet, genetics, and luck all work together to create the quality of a pet's life. While owners can’t control their pets’ genetics or luck, they can control their diet. Pets have no choice but to count on their owners their entire lives for great nutrition. Feeding dogs and cats high-quality food and supplements will give them the best chance to live healthy, vibrant lives.
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