Dog Care Guide

Inflammations of the Ear

Inflammatory ear problems may be part of metabolic disorders or they may be diseases in their own right.

Symptoms

The dog shakes its head over and over again, scratches its ears, tries to slide on its ears along the floor, and/or holds its head tilted at an angle (this is usually indicative of a single ear being affected). All this occurs without any other external signs of disease. Usually the dog will object if you try to touch its ears. Also, if you clean the inner ear, you might find excessive secretions, or even putrid smelling, discolored earwax. Sometimes the condition has progressed to liquefied, brownish deposits containing pus in the ear canal. The same problem may lead to dried, brownish crumbly deposits, which is usually an indication of ear mite infestation.

If this condition is not treated immediately, the problem may affect the inner ear, which will result in a very painful condition. Once it has reached this stage, the dog will not allow anyone to even touch its ears. The pain will induce a dog to bite anyone. In addition, scratching may cause external ear injuries.

Causes

The most common causes of ear problems are parasites, such as ear mites bacteria, fungal infections foreign bodies tumours and excessive hair growth. Allergic ear reactions may be caused by expired ear cleaning medications

Inflammatory ear problems, which are restricted to one side only, may be indicative of either foreign bodies that are lodged in the ear canal or they may be expressions of underlying general diseases For example, left-sided ear inflammations may be indicative of kidney problems or hormonal imbalances while right-sided ear inflammations may point to nutritional imbalance or to liver function impairment.

Self-Help

Clean the ears with Calendula essence, which you should dilute with boiled or distilled water. If the ears appear red and hot, use ampoule of Traumeel (contains no alcohol and won’t burn!) after you have cleaned the ear, and dab it gently on the affected area. Use the remaining ampoule for oral administration.

If your dog has pendulous ears, it is a good idea to tape or tie them up on top of the head. This will allow air into the affected areas inside the ear.

Home Remedies

Oral administration of Belladonna-injeel is indicated for cases where the ears feel hot, appear reddened and are sensitive to the touch. For dogs that are typically heavy and slow and prone to recurring ear problems, the medication of choice is Graphites-lnjeel for oral administration.

If the condition has progressed to pus formation, treat your dog once or twice daily with Staphylosal drops. Once the acute inflammation has subsided, give your dog, for a few days, oral doses of Silicea-injeel. This will enhance the final healing process.

When to Consult a Veterinarian

If an ear inflammation has not improved or healed after one week of your treatment efforts, it is time to see a veterinarian trained in holistic techniques.

What to Expect

First, the veterinarian will establish whether the ear problem is associated with an underlying metabolic disorder. If this turns out to be the case, the dog will receive specific homeopathic medication. If this is not the case, other homeopathic formulations will be chosen to address the local nature of the problem. You will also be instructed in the use of color therapy, so that you can aid the recovery in your home.

Preventive and Convalescent Care

Make it a habit to check your dog’s ears daily. In this way, you will find a foreign body or excessive hair growth before they cause serious problems.

Breed Dispositions

Ear problems predominantly affect dog breeds with pendulous ears.

Nov 29, 2009 | 1 | Dog Health