Dogs’ ears are likely to be affected frequently with dust and debris leading to infections and other ear related problems. Their ears should be cleaned regularly. If they are not cleaned regularly, they develop ear mites. Ear mites are parasites which develop in the outer side of the ear canal. The symptoms of having ear mites are dogs keep on shaking their head or they constantly scratch their ears. They also try to rub their ears on the floor or sometimes they have excessive wax. These mites cause irritation. The other most affected part is its tail. Dogs mostly couch by keeping their tail near their head and so the tail gets affected. They also develop a bad odor. Dogs must be rushed immediately to a veterinarian to get cured. During their medication to the ears, the tail must also be paid attention.

Dogs’ ears are very sensitive in nature. They should be cleaned only by a veterinarian. People without proper training may damage the dog’s ears. You can learn about the cleaning methods from a practitioner and you can clean your own puppy. But this applies only to regular cleaning, and in case of an infection, definitely a veterinarian should be called on.

Dog care is not just feeding and hanging out with the dog. A bundle of responsibilities handled with perfection is the right path of taking care of a dog. One should acquire information from a doctor or through other sources to help them in difficult situations. Any knowledge gained about dog care will serve the right purpose at the right time.

Dog Care provides detailed information on Dog Care, Dog Day Care, Dog Dental Care, Dog Ear Care and more. Dog Care is affiliated with Large Dog Beds .

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Ear infections usually start out mild, and in the outer ear. This dog's health was effectively neglected by it's owners. And when their toddler grabbed the infected ear, the dog, already in constant pain anyway, reacted out of instinct. By not taking the time to properly care for their pet, these owners were in fact responsible for what happened to their child. And then blamed the dog. And probably out of ignorance or anger, or both, they had it killed. Their emotional response to what happened to their child as a result of their own neglect aside, I find this absolutely reprehensible. And the tragedy that happened to their dog when they chose to kill it instead of investigating further, as well as the tragedy to their child, was totally avoidable.

Unlike these owners, show your dog the same level of care and love you'd show your children. Become aware of the signs of ear infections, what causes them, and how to avoid them, taking dogs to get treatment when it seems like they have one.

Ear infections can be caused by any number of things. Wet ears not dried after swimming or bathing, a build up of ear wax, grass seeds and fox tails, untreated ear mites, using cotton tips to clean ears (which pushes things further into the ear), and growths in the ear canal, can all lead to ear infections. If your dog is scratching at his ears, rubbing them, holding his head to one side, or down, shaking his head, or if they look bloody or waxy or swollen, they should be checked out. And if he cries when his ears are touched, this is another sign of a potential ear infection.

When untreated ear infections progress deeper into the ear, the pain the dog is in increases sharply. The dog may hold his head as still as possible, and to one side. And opening his mouth, or touching his head, will cause him pain. Dogs can also become dizzy, with poor balance and coordination, when the infection progresses to the inner ear. Dogs may walk around in circles, and vomit.

Ear infections are also related to skin allergies, especially food hypersensitivity dermatitis and canine atopy. Dogs with these conditions often develop inflamed ears. The dog's ears become very itchy, which creates an 'itch-scratch-itch' cycle that in turn creates scabs around the ear, hair loss, crustiness, and raw skin. The ear canals become filled with a brown wax.

Some dogs are also allergic to some ear medications. A common one is an antibiotic called neomycin, but can be any ear treatment products including cortisone, nystatin, chloramphenicol, thiabendazole, gentamicin, miconazole, and clortrimazole.

One thing of concern in dogs that are professionally groomed is the practice of plucking the hairs out of the dog's ear. The serum which then comes out of their pores is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, which is a common cause of ear infection. Vets generally don't recommend you allow your dog's ears to be plucked unless their is a good medical reason to do so. An example of a good medical reason is if there is a large mat of hair that is blocking air flow.

If the mats of hair are in the ear canal, they should be removed by a vet only. If they're not, first soak the hair in a coat conditioner for a few minutes to soften it. Then, with your fingers, separate as much of the mat as possible. You may be able to untangle the rest of the mat with a comb, but more likely you'll need scissors or a mat splitter. Be very careful if you're using scissors. Using a comb, position it under the mat to protect the skin. Hold the scissors at right angles to the comb, and cut into the matted fur in narrow strips. Very gently, tease the mat out, and then comb out any snarls that are left. Regular grooming, with the right tools, will avoid mats forming in the first place.

Always check your dog's ears after he's been playing in long grasses. If you think there is a foxtail in his ear, take him to the vet's and don't try and get it out yourself. Fox tails can really damage the ear. If when you press gently on the ear canal he cries out in pain, there's a good chance there's a fox tail in there.

References:
1. Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson, Good Owners, Great Dogs
2. Richard Pitcairn, Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
3. James Griffin and Liisa Carlson, Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook

Learn more about dog health and dog care at The Dogs Bone. There are sections on training, puppies, and breed information. For more information on ear mites, check out this article here: http://www.thedogsbone.com/articles/3/1/Dog-Health-Question—Getting-Rid-Of-Ear-Mites

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A week or so after the last training course was finished I noticed that Cooper was scratching his left ear constantly. It looked like he was very uncomfortable. When examining his ear we noticed that there was allot of "brown gunk" inside it and the smell coming from it was terrible. We took Cooper to the Vet for a check up and she confirmed that he had an ear infection. It was obvious that the infection had come from the water that he was swimming in every Saturday. We purchased a bottle of a commercial brand solution which was to clear his ear infection up.
Cooper's ear infection never got better though. We continued to use the solution and even bought a second bottle in our fight against it. This is when I turned to a website that recommended a homemade solution. The Purple Power Ear Solution got rid of Cooper's ear infection in a matter of days. Here is the formula and how to administer it. 

"Purple Power Ear Solution"

• 16 oz. bottle isopropyl alcohol
• 4 tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
• 16 drops Gentian Violet Solution
  
  Mix all ingredients in the alcohol bottle and shake well and administer it 2 times per day for the first 2 weeks, 1 time per day for the next 2 week and 1 time per month thereafter. Fill your dog’s ear with the solution and gently massage it in. Warning though, be sure to do it outside or in a room that is not finished in the basement as the Violet Solution will stain.

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