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MONTHLY DOG GROOMING TIPS FROM SCdlthOUnd.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
All About Your Dog’s Ears & How to Take Care of Them
Floppy or folded, small or large, your
pup's ears are one of their most
charming and expressive physical
traits! Regardless of shape or size,
they all serve the same purpose:
funnels for sound.
At least 18 muscles work to tilt, raise
and rotate these adorable append
ages, helping your dog identify and
capture sounds from all different
directions. Dogs' hearing ability
depends on breed and age, but the
average hearing range is between
67 Hz to 45,000 Hz (45 kHz).
Human hearing stretches from 20
Hz to 20,000 Hz (or 20 kHz), but
most adults actually top out at 16k
Hz. Another reason dogs are simply
amazing!
Unlike humans who have a very
short ear canal, dogs have a long,
narrow L-shaped ear canal. It runs
vertical toward the jaw, then takes
an almost 90° turn horizontally
toward the eardrum. This makes
examinations difficult and predis
poses dogs to an assortment of ear
issues, including parasites and
yeast infections (especially dogs
with heavy, floppy ears).
Prevention is key! It's estimated that
20% of dogs suffer from ear infec
tions which are most often due to an
of bacteria or yeast. Keeping ears
clean and dry can help.
ROUTINE CARE & MAITENANCE
Your pup's regular care and groom
ing routine should include ear
checks; this is especially important
if your dog produces excessive
earwax or has a lot of inner-ear hair.
Monitoring your dog’s ears for any
sign of irritation or infection only
takes a moment and can be easily
taken care of while snuggling on the
couch watching TV. Look for any
redness or discharge, check for any
strong odor and watch to see if
they're showing any sensitivity to
their ears being touched — all of
these could be a sign of an infection
developing.
If your dog’s ears are visibly dirty,
you can gently wipe them with dog
ear cleaner or ear wipes formulated
specifically for this purpose. The
rule of thumb is to only clean as far
as you can see — never insert
anything into your dog’s ear canal
(including Q-tips)! If you think your
pup needs a deeper ear cleaning,
schedule an appointment with a
professional.
Some dogs grow hair inside their
ears, in which case it should be
plucked every few weeks to prevent
matting and tangles. Hair inside the
ear can also make it more difficult
for your pup's immune system to
keep levels of yeast and bacteria at
a manageable level, can block the
flow of air that keeps the ear canal
dry, and may trap dirt, excess ear
wax and debris inside.
Frequent baths or regular swimming
may also lead to ear irritation and
infection. Be sure cotton balls are
placed in your dog’s ears before
baths and that ears are dried
thoroughly after all water activities.
WARNING SIGNS
• Ear discharge
• Bad smell
• Redness
• Swelling
• Crusty skin
• Hair loss
• Brown/black ear wax or dry wax
resembling coffee grounds (classic
indicators of ear mites)
If you notice any of the above, make
an appointment with your veterinari
an to make sure there's not a possi
ble ear infection or other problem.
These symptoms should be
addressed before cleaning your
dog's ears at home, as you could
unintentionally do more damage by
cleaning an infected ear.
DOG EAR DISEASES AND
INFECTIONS
Ear Infections
Ear infections are usually caused by
an overgrowth of yeast and bacteria
in the ear canal. Hair inside the ear
— especially if it’s thick — can
further contribute to a moist and
warm environment that’s ideal for an
infection to take hold.
Symptoms to look out for include
whining, repeated head shaking,
scratching at the ears or rubbing
their face on the carpet, and
discharge and/or an odor coming
from the ear canal.
If your pup is showing any signs of
an ear infection, it’s important to
visit your vet as soon as possible.
Quick treatment is necessary not
only for your dog’s comfort (these
conditions can be painful!), but also
to prevent the spread of infection to
the middle and inner ear. Do not try
to treat ear infections at home.
Ear Mites
If your dog is shaking and scratch
ing his head, it may be because ear
mites have taken up residence in
his ear canal. This arachnid's Latin
name, Otodectes cynotis, translates
as "ear beggar of the dog" — which
perfectly describes what these tiny
creatures do: feed on wax and oils in
your dog’s ears. While they don't
bite skin, their presence causes
itching and the secondary damage
caused by scratching can be
serious.
It’s important to exterminate ear
mites as soon as possible, for the
benefit of the infected pup and the
other pets in your home it can easily
spread to. Mites can also infect
humans, but this is very rare.
It's best to visit your veterinarian for
a diagnosis and treatment. Fortu
nately, ear mites are relatively easy
to treat — a deep ear cleaning and
some medications prescribed by
your veterinarian usually clear up
infections quickly.
Ear infections are a common and
often recurrent problem in many
dogs, but routine care can keep
your pup clean and comfortable. It's
important to regularly monitor their
ear health, as infections can begin
and worsen quickly. If your dog is
showing signs of an ear infection,
seek treatment right away to ensure
the problem does not become
serious.
Scenthound will handle your dog’s
basic grooming needs, so you don’t
have to. If you don't feel comfortable
doing it yourself, let us take care of
cleaning your pup's ears as part of
their monthly E-scent-ials package!
At Scenthound, ear exams are just a
part of the routine care we provide
to keep your pup clean, comfortable
and healthy. We focus on all five of
the core areas of maintenance that
dogs need: Skin, Coat, Ears, Nails,
and Teeth (SCENT).
And to keep you in the loop, after
every groom you’ll receive our
S.C.E.N.T. Check report detailing
our assessment of your dog’s overall
external health. Plus, you can refer
ence your pup's historical
S.C.E.N.T. Check data in the new
Scenthound mobile app to track the
progress they've made since
becoming a member of the Monthly
Clean Club.
The S.C.E.N.T. Check is just another
way Scenthound helps you stay
informed, educated and empow
ered when it comes to your dog's
health and well-being. This way, you
can be assured we are well-ac
quainted with your dog and any
issues he may have which helps you
stay on top of small problems, like
ear infections, that can turn into big
problems if ignored.
Dr. Jim MacLean
Chief Veterinarian, Scenthound
Dr. Mac Lean’s first job was working as
a grooming assistant when he was 15
years old. Since then, he has worked in
every aspect of small animal veterinary
hospitals, has practiced in small
animal medicine and surgery for 26
years, and has owned and started
multi-doctor veterinary hospitals.
With a mind for both medicine and
business, Jim received his Doctorate of
Veterinary Medicine from VMRCVM at
Virginia Tech in 1994 and his MBA
from Georgetown University in 2011.
Coming full circle, he joined the
Scenthound pack to bring his expertise
and experience to the grooming world.
As chief veterinarian, Dr. MacLean
guides Scenthound from a health and
medicine perspective and helps
achieve our mission to improve overall
pet health on a broader scale.
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