How do we know if our dog has an ear infection?
By doing a regular inspection of our dogs ears will be the first step. Be familiar with his ears; know the typical smell, as that may be the first sign of something wrong. If there is an infection or ear mites, the smell may change, a foul odor is very typical of mites or infection. And if you see a dark, waxy type discharge, then this is another symptom of mites or infection. Either way, your dog needs to be checked and treated.
Even if you suspect, it may be something as simple as allergies, it would be better to be safe than sorry and let your loving dog suffer. They depend on you for their care and they have total trust in you. So when you think of it that way, you want to do everything in your power to make sure they stay healthy and happy.
The breeds with the longer floppy ears are going to be more prone to ear infections to those that have the upright ears. I have a black lab and a Chihuahua, ears of each kind. And I always watch for their behavior when it comes to their ears. When they are healthy, they leave them alone, but if there is pain, or discharge, they will paw at them or try to scratch. Dogs will also shake their head back and forth as if trying to shake something out of their ears.
How can you prevent ear infections?
Between normal checkups check your dogs ears on a regular basis. When you are playing with him or her, just casually look in the ears; it doesn’t need to be a form of trauma for them. Another good time is when you are bathing your dog. Never, ever stick anything in your dog’s ear. It is always a better idea to see your vet when it comes to anything to do with this very fragile part of your pet’s body. Their ears are not like ours, they are very sensitive and have parts that can easily be touched and damaged.
There is one method that a vet will recommend for the owner to do. If you sense a foul smell, or something has changed, you may want to flush your dog’s ear with warm water. There are ear washes for dogs that contain Tea Tree Oil; this is very gentle and very effective in cleaning the ears. It is a natural antiseptic, antibacterial and fungicidal, which will help to keep your dog’s ears clear and infection free.
Make your dogs ears a part of your routine, whether bathing or when sitting quietly with him. Give your dog the care that he or she needs and can’t do for him or herself. They can’t tell when something is wrong; it is our job to make sure they are well and carefree.
Just as a dogs life should be!
source: www.Isnare.comUnderstanding Ear Ache, And Your Ear!
Millions of children every year suffer painful ear infections. And every year, parents look to their child's doctor for help in easing the pain. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) have released new guidelines to help physicians and parents decide on the best treatment for acute otitis media (AOM), or middle ear infection.
Next to the common cold, ear infections are the most commonly diagnosed childhood illness in the United States. More than three out of four children have had at least one ear infection by the time they reach 3 years of age. To understand how ear infections develop, it's important to first understand how the ear works.
Think about how you can feel speakers vibrate as you listen to your child's favorite CD in the car or how you feel your throat vibrate when you speak. Sound, which is made up of invisible waves of energy, causes these vibrations. Every time you hear a sound, the various structures of the ear have to work together to make sure the information gets to your brain.
The ear is responsible for hearing and balance and is made up of three parts - the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Hearing begins when sound waves that travel through the air reach the outer ear, or pinna, which is the part of the ear you can see. The sound waves then travel from the pinna through the ear canal to the middle ear, which includes the eardrum (a thin layer of tissue) and three tiny bones called ossicles. When the eardrum vibrates, the ossicles amplify these vibrations and carry them to the inner ear.
The inner ear translates the vibrations into electric signals and sends them to the auditory nerve, which connects to the brain. When these nerve impulses reach the brain, they're interpreted as sound.
source: www.Isnare.com
Childhood Ear Infections
The most common of all childhood ear infections are infections in the middle ear. This is commonly referred to as Otitis Media. Cases of middle ear infections in children are most prevalent in children who are six years old and younger. Within that group, children between the ages of six and 24 months seem to be more susceptible to middle ear infections. Children who are in group child care facilities, around smokers, have prior ear infections, or who are bottle-fed are more prone to develop ear infections.
Middle ear infections are usually accompanied by, or come after, the child has a cold or the flu. The eustachian tube, which connects the ear and the nose, is short and horizontal in children. This opens the door for bacteria and viruses from the nose to enter the ear and set up infection.
When a child has a middle ear infection, they will experience pain. This pain can be worse upon chewing, blowing the nose, reclining, or even swallowing. The reason for the pain is the eustachian tube is swollen, and sometimes blocked. This causes a buildup of fluid which places pressure on the eardrum. The eardrum can bulge, or be stretched very taut. Middle ear infections may also bring about a temporary loss of hearing.
If your child has an ear infection, you will know they are in pain. You may notice them pulling on their ear, or they may become irritable during feedings, or when laid down to sleep. Your child may also have a fever, or drainage from their ear. You should take him or her to their pediatrician.
Once a pediatrician diagnosis that a child has an ear infection, he or she will prescribe antibiotics. You may also be advised to give your child over the counter pain or cold medication. Applying a warm cloth to your child’s ear may also help to lessen the pain.
Children who have frequent ear infections may be candidates for tympanostomy. This is a surgical procedure that places tubes in the ears. These tubes are placed in the ear drum to keep fluid draining from the middle ear, and not building up. The tubes generally stay in place six to eighteen months. Most generally fall out on their own. Some may be removed by a doctor.
source: www.Isnare.com