animal care |

animal care : "Signs of ear disease
Every day we see dogs who have problems with their ears. Signs of these ear problems include:
Odor
Scratching or rubbing of ears and head
Discharge in the ears
Redness or swelling of the ear flap or canal
Shaking of the head or tilting it to one side
Pain around the ears
Changes in behavior such as depression or irritability
Ear disease is one of the most common conditions we see in pets. The medical name for inflammation of the outer ear canal is 'otitis externa'. It is estimated that up to 20% of the dog population is affected by this disease.
Causes of ear disease
Dogs can have ear problems for many different reasons. When we see a dog with ear disease we need to think about the possibility of:
Allergies such as atopy or food allergies
Parasites - ear mites
Microorganisms - bacteria and yeast
Foreign bodies, e.g., plant awns
Trauma
Hormonal abnormalities, e.g., hypothyroidism
The ear environment, e.g., excess moisture and ear anatomy
Hereditary or immune conditions, and tumors "