Labradors’ ear infections – easy ways to cure and prevent them!
Narrated from: Dog BreedsLabradors are prone to ear infections – if you are the proud owner of a Lab of any kind, then chances are high that you will have to deal with this problem sooner or later. However, ear infections are quite common and not that serious.
Ear infections are commonly due to two factors: the Lab’s natural fondness for water resulting in regular dips in every random pond, and the big floppy ears of the Labrador – those ears just close in the moist air.
Symptoms
So, if you have a Labrador, it would be a good idea to check his/her ears regularly. An ear infection is usually easy to detect, since the dog will scratch the ear more often than usual and whimper as he does it. Shaking the head or tilting it to one side is another sign of ear infection. When you examine the ear of the Labrador, you will notice that the inner part of the ear is red and inflamed, and in some cases black residue may appear. You may also smell an unpleasant odor.
Reasons
An ear infection is usually caused by the Labrador’s ear structure. However, sometimes an ear infection might be a secondary symptom of another disease, so a trip to the vet is in order. An ear infection may be a sign of a bacterial infection that must be treated with antibiotics. Hormonal disorders also may affect the ear, and many kinds of allergies lead to ear infection as well as skin problems.
Treatment
The treatment of an ear infection generally depends on the cause. Sometimes antibiotics or an injection may need to be utilized, but it is definite that the dog’s ear must be cleaned.
You need to apply an ear-cleaner. Ear-cleaners are usually quite cheap. You need to fill your dog’s ear with the ear-cleaner very carefully. Then you massage the base of the ear for 20-30 seconds (this is done to soften and release the debris in the ear). You must use a sterilized cotton ball to remove the debris and the excess fluid. You should only use cotton swabs on the parts of the ear canal that you can see – do not force them further down!
This procedure should be performed once or twice a day. If the infection is more serious, your vet should prescribe you some ear drops.
Labradors are not very keen on having their ears cleaned, so always reward them with a treat after this ordeal!
Prevention
The best way to prevent ear infection is to keep your dog healthy. However, if your Lab likes to swim regularly, you should start to clean the ears routinely, especially if the dog has suffered from an ear infection before.
A useful prophylactic is clipping the hair around the ear and under the flap – that is especially recommended if your Lab has the usual floppy ears!
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