Introduction
While it's perfectly normal for dogs to scratch, if your dog keeps itching his ears, you'll want to figure out exactly what's causing it. Once you've determined the cause, it's time to start treating your dog. In most cases, your dog's itching can be due to a parasite infection on his body, or a bacterial or yeast infection in his ears, or it could be allergies or a foreign object like a grass awn inside his ears.
Why Does My Dog Keep Itching His Ear
There are more causes of itchy ears and head shaking in dogs, and it is important to identify the cause before treating the symptoms. Parasite infection and fungus are the main causes of itchy ears in dogs. If it is an ear mite, it should be cleaned up with ear wash and then treated with drops of medicine; if it is a flea, it is necessary to deworm the dog in vitro; if it is a fungal infection, it is necessary to clean up the affected area first, and then apply antifungal medication containing itraconazole, fluconazole anti and other ingredients. Itching can also be triggered by a foreign body irritating the dog's ear canal, and the foreign body must be removed in time. Poisoning, distemper sequelae, etc. also have the possibility of causing the dog shaking his head, but generally do not have itching symptoms, found in a timely manner to send medical treatment.
1. Parasite infection
Dogs' ears infected with mites will not only trigger intense itching of the ears, but also cause the ear canal to produce some black material. Owners can first trim the dog's ear canal and the hair around the ear, and then use the pet-specific ear wash to clean up the foreign matter in the dog's ear, and finally drop in the medicine for treatment.
Itching can also be triggered if a flea bites the dog's ear. At this point, the dog will keep licking with its paws or shaking its head desperately trying to shake the fleas out. Owners need to do emergency deworming treatment for their dogs as soon as possible to avoid damaging their skin after excessive scratching.
2. Fungal infection
When the dog is infected with fungus such as ringworm, there will also be intense itching, and ringworm spots and dandruff will form on the skin. Owners can first use saline or warm water to clean up the affected area for their dogs, and then apply antifungal drugs containing ingredients such as itraconazole and fluconazole anti.
3. Foreign objects
Dogs usually play activities, there may be a foreign body into its ears. If the itching is caused by foreign objects, you can first use a cotton swab to clean up the foreign objects in the dog's ears, it should be noted that, due to the different shapes of the dog's ear canal, it is also more sensitive and fragile, so the owner must keep the whole process of the strength of the gentle. However, if the foreign body is relatively large, or the location is deeper, it is recommended to send to the pet hospital to let the doctor to deal with.
4. Other diseases
If the dog accidentally ingested alcohol and other toxic substances, then these substances can cause nerve paralysis, and then the dog may appear to shake its head all the time. In addition, some dogs after the recovery period of distemper, there are also shaking head and other sequelae, it is recommended that the owner should send the dog to the pet hospital in time for examination and treatment.
What's Wrong with Dog Itching Ears and Licking Paws？
Paw licking in dogs can be caused by paw injuries, nails that are too long, intertoeitis, itchy paws, dry weather, feeling too bored, etc. Dogs occasionally lick their paws are cleaning, which is a normal physiological phenomenon. However, if the dog licks the paw frequently, you need to consider pathological factors, such as paw injury, inter-toe inflammation, paw itching, etc. will appear itching symptoms, resulting in the dog has been licking the paw. It is recommended that the owner carefully observe whether the dog paw lesions, if there is a need to send timely medical treatment.
Dry weather or dry skin: Dry weather or lack of moisture in your dog's skin may lead to dry skin and cause your dog to lick his paws.
Solution: Keep your dog hydrated and keep the environment at the right humidity level.
Anxiety or boredom: Dogs may lick their paws frequently due to anxiety, boredom or attention seeking.
Solution: Increase the amount of time you spend interacting with your dog, provide toys or participate in outdoor activities to alleviate their anxiety.
Trauma or Pain: Dogs have a greater tolerance for pain and will not show it easily even if they are in pain. However, if a dog feels discomfort from a foot injury, he will lick it frequently.
Solution: Check your dog's paws for wounds, foreign objects or redness, clean and disinfect the wounds promptly if needed, and seek medical attention if necessary.
Parasitic infections: Parasitic infections such as fleas and ticks may cause your dog's skin to itch, resulting in frequent paw licking.
Solution: Regularly deworm your dog, pay attention to environmental cleanliness and dog hygiene.
Skin diseases or allergies: Bacterial infections, fungal infections, food allergies or contact allergies may lead to red, swollen and itchy dog paws.
Solutions: Intertoe inflammation can be treated with Silver Pets Kang gel, while fungal infections need to be treated with sprays such as Furosemide, bacterial infections can be treated with Dermatitis Kang or MacGruber spray, and allergies need to be treated by taking your dog to the doctor in time to find out the cause of the disease and treat it.
Joint problems: Older, overweight or arthritic dogs may lick their paws frequently due to joint pain.
Solution: Provide your dog with proper exercise and diet, keep his weight in check, and seek medical attention for joint problems if necessary.
Nail problems: Dogs with overly long or short clipped nails may cause paw discomfort and cause frequent paw licking.
Solution: Trim your dog's nails regularly to avoid overly long or short nails.
Self-cleaning: Dogs sometimes lick their paws to clean themselves!
The action of a dog keep itching his ear may seem rare and even a bit cute to many owners. However, frequent scratching of the ears may be a health alert from the dog, such as ear mites, ear infections, allergies and other conditions. As owners, we need to help our dogs troubleshoot the cause of the condition and intervene appropriately to avoid continued aggravation of the symptoms. The following is a list of common causes of ear scratching in dogs and the proper way to handle them:
1. Ear mite infection
Ear mites are a common parasite that live in your dog's ear canal and feed on skin debris and earwax. When infested with ear mites, your dog will feel very itchy, which will result in constant itching his ear. In addition, the dog's ears will have a lot of tan or black discharge, and there may be other symptoms such as red, swollen ears and odor.
Solution:
Use a mild pet-specific ear cleaning solution to clean the dog's ears, such as Ergafen (pet ear care solution), once a day for 1 week, adjusted to 1~2 times a week after the secretion is reduced.
After cleaning the ears, apply Xinerning (compound mycophenolic ointment), this ointment contains mycophenolic, permethrin, tretinoin, neomycin sulfate and other ingredients, can remove mites and antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-itch.
Use drop pai (imidacloprid moxidectin drops) to deworm your dog once a month to prevent ear mites from recurring.
2. Allergic reaction
Dogs allergic to certain food ingredients, pollen, dust mites and other substances may also appear itchy, especially the face and ear area is more sensitive. Symptoms caused by allergies may include sneezing, runny nose, and inflamed eyes in addition to itching his ear. If left untreated for long periods of time, severe allergies can even affect the respiratory system.
Solution:
Know your dog's allergens and try to avoid re-exposure;
Use of anti-allergy drugs, you can feed Numenol (chlorpheniramine maleate tablets) at the beginning, severe allergies need to use corticosteroids;
Diet, it is recommended to choose a relatively single meat, grain-free hypoallergenic formula dog food.
3. Malassezia infection
Malassezia is a very common lipophilic yeast. Under normal circumstances, some Malassezia will exist in the dog's body itself, but it will not cause adverse effects. When the dog's ears are waterlogged, the skin is damaged, infected with ear mites, or the immune system is compromised, there may be a proliferation of Malassezia bacteria, resulting in increased ear discharge (usually brownish greasy earwax), itching, and redness and swelling of the ear canals.
Solution:
Use pet-specific ear cleaner to clean the dog's ears to reduce secretions and itching symptoms.
Apply ear drops or ointment containing antifungal ingredients such as mycotoxin, clotrimazole, miconazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine and other antifungal ingredients, which may need to be carried out 2 to 3 times a day.
Give your dog Sivibi (Vitamin B complex solution) to enhance the dog's immunity and promote the self-repair of the mucous membrane of the ear canal.
4. Ear Inflammation
Including otitis externa and otitis media, and in severe cases, otitis interna may occur. Dog ear infections may be caused by trauma, allergies, fungus, ear mites or simple bacterial infections, which will mainly lead to redness, swelling, pus, pain, hearing loss and other problems in the ear canal.
Solution:
Take your dog to the pet hospital for a professional examination to determine the specific pathogen and degree of infection;
If it is an external otitis, you can use Ergafen Care Solution to clean it, and then put in Erdic (Frobenicol Metronidazole Ear Drops) to inhibit the inflammation of the ear canal.
If it is more serious otitis externa, otitis media or otitis interna, it is recommended to arrange for the dog to seek medical treatment to avoid more serious consequences.
During daily feeding, you should pay attention to clean the dog's ears regularly, depending on the speed of the ear getting dirty, you can do it once a week, or once in 2 weeks, to keep the ear canal clean and odorless. However, do not over clean, so as not to affect the balance of the ear canal flora, resulting in the occurrence of ear inflammation.
To Confirm If Your Dog Has An Ear Infection and Treat It
Look for signs that your dog has an ear infection. Ear infections can be painful and cause inflammation. When you notice your dog rubbing or even itching his ear all the time, look for redness, swelling, burning to the touch, smelling, running water or pus. There are many causes of ear infections, ear mites, bacteria, and yeast are all possible, so be sure to have your veterinarian diagnose it first.
You should first see if both of your dog's ears are the same, if they look different and one has allergies, then his ears are definitely infected.
Have your veterinarian examine your dog v. en pro to check it out. Because there are many causes of ear infections in dogs, you should have your veterinarian diagnose the problem and prescribe some ear drops containing antibiotics. If your dog's ears have been infected before, the doctor will take a sample of the pus from your dog's ears and send it for testing. This will give you a good idea of what bacteria is causing the infection, what antibiotics will cure it, and how serious infections need to be treated with a combination of internal and topical medications.
The veterinarian will choose the most suitable medication for your dog to treat, and will instruct you on how to apply the ointment and for how long, which is mainly columnist by the size of your dog's head.
Clean your dog's ears. Choose skin care products that are gentle, pH balanced, have an emollient effect and can be quickly absorbed by the skin. It is best to choose a liquid skin care product because it allows it to penetrate deep into the ear canal and clean out all the pus inside. Hold the nozzle of the lotion against the ear's eye and squirt more liquid into the ear canal, then plug the ear with a cotton ball and massage the head. Remove the cotton ball after a while and wipe off the liquid. Repeat this process until all the lotion has run out.
If you notice that your dog keeps tilting his head to one side, it is possible that one of his eardrums has ruptured and the lotion is getting into his delicate middle or inner ear. This is when you need to stop what you're doing and take him to the vet.
Cleaning the pus out of the ear will reduce the amount of bacteria and give your dog temporary relief from the itching, but if your dog is very uncomfortable or his ear hurts during the cleaning process, you'll want to take him to the vet right away as well.
Find out if your dog has allergies. Some dogs have periodic or unexplained ear infections, which can be related to allergies. The dog may be allergic to pollen, dust mites, or an ingredient in his food. If your dog has been showing symptoms of ear infections, you can talk to your veterinarian about this and they may suggest that you try switching your dog to an allergy-proof food and watch to see if the problem gets better.
Confirming If Your Dog Is Infected with Parasites and Treating Them
See if your dog is infected with external parasites. If both of your dog's ears are normal, but he keeps scratching them, it could be because he has fleas or mange mites. You can look at your dog's outer skin and turn over the hair on his ears to see if there are fleas inside, and look for flea dirt in his feces.
Fleas crawl so fast you can't see them. Flea dirt looks like brown dust, and when you put it on a damp cotton pad, there is a halo of orange that comes out, which is formed when the blood from a flea bite dries out and becomes damp.
Mange mites are small enough to be invisible to the naked eye, but dogs can be left with signs of insect bites on their fur, especially on the ears and legs.
Follow your veterinarian's treatment plan. If fleas or mange mites are causing your dog's itching, you can have your veterinarian prescribe an anti-parasite medication to eliminate the infection and relieve the itching.
There are several medications that are effective in killing fleas and mange mites, so you can consult your veterinarian to recommend one and find out the dosage.
Check your dog's body for parasites like ear mites. Since you can't look deep into your dog's ears, you can check for scratching and dark brown loose earwax. This earwax is formed by ear mites, a very common infection in dogs. Your veterinarian can look through a magnifying glass like an otoscope to see if there are any ear mites crawling around, and can also look through a microscope slide to see if there are any ear mites or ear mite eggs in your dog's ears.
Ear itch mite disease is actually an ear mite infection, and ear mites can cause the ear canal to be crisscrossed with earwax.
Follow your veterinarian's treatment plan when treating ear mites. Your veterinarian will recommend an over-the-counter medication that contains pyrethroids. Typically, applying it to the ear canal once or twice a day for 10-14 days will cure your dog. This medication is safe because it does not seep into your dog's bloodstream.
While pyrethrin is effective against ear mites, it doesn't do much for bacterial infections.
Poisoning can occur if a dog accidentally ingests the medication or if a medicated ear is licked by another dog. Symptoms of poisoning include excessive salivation, muscle tremors, shaking and even fainting. When your dog shows these symptoms, you need to immediately put him in a dark and quiet place, try not to stimulate him any more and consult your veterinarian immediately.
Look for Foreign Objects in Your Dog's Body and Remove Them
Check to see if your dog is itching his ear or tilting his head to the side. When something like grass clippings or dog tails gets into the ear canal, the dog's ears will suddenly become itchy when he is fine, and he will scratch his ears like crazy.
Foreign objects such as grass awns will penetrate deep into the ear canal and irritate the ear so strongly that the dog will involuntarily tilt its head to the side.
Have your veterinarian remove the foreign object. Your dog's ear canal is “L-shaped,” so it's hard to see what's in there. Your veterinarian will look into your dog's ear canal with an otoscope, which is part magnifying glass and part lighted, and use a grasping forceps called alligator teeth pliers to remove the foreign object that is causing the inflammation.
The process of removing the foreign body should not take too long or the dog will be in pain.
Do not treat your dog with over-the-counter medications without authorization. When your dog has inflammation, you need to use antibacterial drugs to kill bacteria and yeast. However, the dosage of antibiotics must be strictly controlled, so over-the-counter medications or products sold in pet stores are antibiotic-free, and antibiotic-free medications are very ineffective and can even cause further inflammation.
