If you’re like most people, then your pet is a member of the family. When your pet is sick or injured, you want to find out what’s wrong so that your furry friend can get better as quickly as possible. An ear infection can be painful and can cause health issues that are sometimes difficult to overcome. Here are a few ways that you can tell if your pet has an ear infection.
Scratching
One of the first signs that you’ll notice is excessive scratching. Most dogs will scratch the ears on a regular basis. If your dog seems to be scratching more often or is yelping while scratching, then there could be some issues inside the ear that need to be examined. If your dog scratches too much, then it could result in sores or scratches that develop that need to be treated along with the infection.
Painful To The Touch
When you touch your dog’s ear, you might notice that your dog flinches or pulls away. This is often a sign of an infection that has reached the middle ear. An emergency veterinarian office like Animal Emergency Clinic can examine your dog to see if it has a fever and how severe the infection is inside the ear. The veterinarian can then prescribe medications for your dog and clean the ear out as much as possible to offer some relief.
Head Shaking
You might notice your dog shaking its head. If there are mites in the ears that are biting, then you’ll probably see your dog shaking its head more often to try to get the mites to stop. Some dogs will shake the head while they are sleeping. At times, your dog might be sitting still or sleeping peacefully and begin shaking the head violently because of the infection that is present. Try to keep your dog away from walls or hard surfaces so that it doesn’t get hurt.
Trouble Sitting Still
Your dog might not want to sit still because the ear hurts. It could walk around on the bed or move from one piece of furniture to another. The pain and discomfort from the infection can make your dog very anxious, making it hard for it to stay calm at any time of the day or night.
If you suspect that your dog has an ear infection, you need to determine what is causing it before you get it treated. There are different medications for various infections, such as mites or wax buildup. If products that you get from a pet store don’t help, then take your dog to the veterinarian for further treatment.
