Ear to Ear Health

Did you know that, on average, each dog has 18 muscles controlling each ear? These muscles allow them to rotate, tilt, raise and lower their ears, giving us another way to understand their emotions. Dog ears also come in many shapes and sizes: drop, blunt, pricked, button, floppy and folded.  

 The problem is that their ears are susceptible to various airborne allergens such as pollen, bacterial/yeast, mites, food allergies and, on very rare occasions, other foreign objects.  Unfortunately, they can’t use their paws to clean and maintain proper hygiene of their ears. That’s where we come in.

 "All your dog can do is shake, scratch and bark until we notice they have a problem."

It is important to keep your dog’s ears dry after your rainy or snowy winter walks. Even playing in bodies of water on hot, sunny days can lead to problems.

 "Wipe down and dry their ears after walks."

 Our dogs’ ears are lined with hair that traps moisture and debris inside. For a lot of breeds with floppy-ears like hounds and spaniels, they naturally create the perfect environment for the growth of bacteria and can lead to ear infections. 

 If your dog thinks it’s a professional swimmer, it’s a good idea to keep the hair around their earstrimmed. For those swimmer owners, if your dog suffers from constant ear infections, you shouldconsult your veterinarian for some drying, after-swim-care products.

 Some ways to recognize if your dog is suffering from an ear infection:

 Head shaking. Scratching ears. Rubbing against furniture.Odor in ear. Redness, swelling, crusts or scabs on or in ear. Brown, yellow, bloody discharge. Loss of Balance.

 Dogs have an “L” shaped ear canal which is both good and bad. It stops dirt, debris and bacteria before they reach the eardrum, but it can also lead to ear infections. Clean their ears once a week and after every swim with a light, ear wipe.

 "Dry, clean ears make it hard for Bacteria/Yeast to breed."

 It’s important to keep a close eye on your dog and notice any changes.Distract your dog after a long walk once a week with treats or their favourite toy, and look over their paws, eyes, skin and ears for any irritation, growth, or abnormalities that may create discomfort.

Taking good care of your dog’s ears will help them stay comfortable and you will both have more fun outdoors!

Nicholas M.

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