#1 Adopting a Senior Pet: Older Dogs Aren't As Good As Younger Dogs
Many people believe that they should only adopt puppies or young dogs. The truth is, many middle age and senior animals need homes, too. My last two adoptions were older dogs, adopted at age 5 and age 8. The eight year old was not housebroken, so I am training him just like I would if he was a puppy. In my house, the oldest dog has more moments of wild puppy, and runs all over the house and yard - often still going when the 3 year old is tired out. Don't discount a dog just because he or she is older. Often (but not always), they are already house trained, leash trained, and know basic commands.
#2 Symptoms Don't Need To Be Checked Out Because It's Just Old Age
Older dogs can be more susceptible for serious and progressive diseases like cancer, arthritis, mental decline, diseases of the heart, kidneys, and liver. Early signs are often attributed by pet owners to "old age", but many of these issues can be treated when caught early. Some of these signs include reduced activity levels, weight loss or gain, changes in appetite (decrease or increase), increased drinking and/or urination, limping or stiffness, decreased vision (sometimes manifests as dogs running into objects or refusing to go outside in the dark), or periods of disorientation/confusion (such as a dog "forgets" where the door to go outside is located, or "forgets" where they sleep.)
#3 Senior Pets Only Need Yearly Checkups
As your dog ages, she will need to see the vet more often. It may be twice a year or more. This is because for every human year, a dog ages 4-10 "dog" years. A lot can happen in that time, and diseases that weren't present six months ago can be caught and treated. Older dogs often also need additional blood work done to test for conditions or to provide a baseline so the vet can tell when changes are happening.
#4 Nothing Can Be Done To Help Older Pets
When caught early, many conditions are treatable, and some can be reversed or cured! Pain management is available for dogs, and it's not that expensive to give your pet relief. Just like with human arthritis, the condition can be managed in dogs. There is treatment for cancer, as well as heart conditions, and so many other conditions. Your pet doesn't have to suffer!
Monday, September 26, 2016
Monday, September 12, 2016
Dog Food Allergies: The Struggle Is Real
Food Allergies. When I hear that, I usually think about human food allergies. You hear stories about kids that are allergic to peanuts or strawberries. I knew that dogs could also have food allergies, but didn't have any personal experience dealing with it.
That was before, and this is now. Now, I have a little experience because my newest adoption, eight year old Lil Bit, is allergic to chicken. When I adopted him, he had a skin condition that appeared to be a fungal infection, but he had also chewed his feet so much that they were infected. He was given prednisone, OTC antihistamines like benedryl and zyrtec (not together!), antibiotics, and an antifungal. He had a small amount of improvement, but the condition and his misery persisted. I took him back to the vet and we discussed his environment and food.
Grains are usually a culprit of food allergies, and when I first adopted him, he was eating a food that contained grains. I had transitioned him over to a food that was grain free though, because my other two dogs eat grain free food. His skin improved a little, but not much. Since he was eating a high quality grain free food, we decided to see if the protein, or meat source was the issue. He was eating a chicken based food. I normally rotate feed different brands and proteins, so my dogs usually get a rotation of beef, chicken, and fish proteins. The vet suggested we switch to a fished based diet.
Wow, did I find there is chicken in EVERYTHING! My vet said to avoid all chicken including chicken meal, chicken fats, chicken organs (liver), and eggs. I did a lot of research and tried to find a fish based kibble that wasn't terribly high in fat (under 12% is ideal since I have an overweight dog). I compared reviews on sites like www.chewy.com (where I tend to buy dog food) and also reviews on DogFoodAdvisor. To make my life easier for a few weeks, I decided to switch all of my dogs to the same fish based food. it would help to make sure my chicken-allergic dog wasn't accidentally fed food with chicken.
Ultimately, I chose a food that contained 8% fat, 26% protein, and 394 calories per cup. Since this food is much higher in calories than my dogs normally eat (they are usually 320-345 per cup), I reduced the amount of kibble, but did add in some extra veggies to help them feel full and get some extra nutrition. I posted about the kind of veggies I use as food toppers, but pretty much any fruit or vegetable that is safe for them to eat works pretty well. In order to find a food with no chicken that met my other requirements, I ended up getting a limited ingredient kibble, so the extra veggies help supply some important nutrients.
I also had to check the labels on treats because while many of theirs are homemade, like my three ingredient cookies, some treats like their dental treats, I do buy. I found that even the beef flavored treats had at least chicken broth in them. I finally found a vegetarian dental treat made by Blue Buffalo that didn't have any kind of chicken product.
My tips for finding a food and/or treats for food allergic dogs:
Sources:
Pet Education
DFA
That was before, and this is now. Now, I have a little experience because my newest adoption, eight year old Lil Bit, is allergic to chicken. When I adopted him, he had a skin condition that appeared to be a fungal infection, but he had also chewed his feet so much that they were infected. He was given prednisone, OTC antihistamines like benedryl and zyrtec (not together!), antibiotics, and an antifungal. He had a small amount of improvement, but the condition and his misery persisted. I took him back to the vet and we discussed his environment and food.
Grains are usually a culprit of food allergies, and when I first adopted him, he was eating a food that contained grains. I had transitioned him over to a food that was grain free though, because my other two dogs eat grain free food. His skin improved a little, but not much. Since he was eating a high quality grain free food, we decided to see if the protein, or meat source was the issue. He was eating a chicken based food. I normally rotate feed different brands and proteins, so my dogs usually get a rotation of beef, chicken, and fish proteins. The vet suggested we switch to a fished based diet.
Wow, did I find there is chicken in EVERYTHING! My vet said to avoid all chicken including chicken meal, chicken fats, chicken organs (liver), and eggs. I did a lot of research and tried to find a fish based kibble that wasn't terribly high in fat (under 12% is ideal since I have an overweight dog). I compared reviews on sites like www.chewy.com (where I tend to buy dog food) and also reviews on DogFoodAdvisor. To make my life easier for a few weeks, I decided to switch all of my dogs to the same fish based food. it would help to make sure my chicken-allergic dog wasn't accidentally fed food with chicken.
Ultimately, I chose a food that contained 8% fat, 26% protein, and 394 calories per cup. Since this food is much higher in calories than my dogs normally eat (they are usually 320-345 per cup), I reduced the amount of kibble, but did add in some extra veggies to help them feel full and get some extra nutrition. I posted about the kind of veggies I use as food toppers, but pretty much any fruit or vegetable that is safe for them to eat works pretty well. In order to find a food with no chicken that met my other requirements, I ended up getting a limited ingredient kibble, so the extra veggies help supply some important nutrients.
I also had to check the labels on treats because while many of theirs are homemade, like my three ingredient cookies, some treats like their dental treats, I do buy. I found that even the beef flavored treats had at least chicken broth in them. I finally found a vegetarian dental treat made by Blue Buffalo that didn't have any kind of chicken product.
My tips for finding a food and/or treats for food allergic dogs:
- The most common ingredients for dogs to be allergic to (in order of likelihood) are beef, dairy products, chicken, lamb, fish, chicken eggs, corn, wheat, and soy.
- Check the ingredients! Even if the main protein is different, you may find the many foods will use more than one, especially in the form of meal (i.e. chicken meal).
- Consider Grain Free, since many allergies are related to grains.
- You may need to even consider vegetarian, if your dog is allergic to multiple proteins.
- Consider an unusual protein source, like rabbit or kangaroo. Dogs seem to be allergic to the most common proteins, chicken and beef.
- You have to keep your dog on the new food and avoid the suspected allergy for several weeks to see real improvement.
- Common signs of allergy are itchy skin, recurrent ear infections, hair loss, paw biting, and excessive licking. Keep an eye on your dog whenever switching foods and watch for these symptoms.
- Keep in mind, medicines like heartworm preventatives may contain the ingredient your pet is allergic to.
- If you end up feeding a limited ingredient diet, you may also need to supplement with a variety of fruits and veggies, and/or with a canine vitamin supplement to ensure proper nutrition.
Share your struggles with dog food allergies - and share how you found relief for your dog!
Please either share here by posting a comment or on our facebook page!
Sources:
Pet Education
DFA
Friday, September 9, 2016
Food Toppers: What are they and why use them?
So, what is a food topper anyway? Food toppers are either homemade or commercially prepared concoctions that you add to your dog's dry kibble. It can be anything from warm water, to fruits/veggies, homemade or commercially prepared gravies, or canned dog food. Sometimes they are called "mixers" or "additions".
Why bother using them? There are about as many reasons to use food toppers as there are different kinds of food toppers. Some people use them on their dog's kibble to enhance the flavor, to change things up to keep the dog from getting bored by the kibble, to add missing nutrients, to boost protein levels, as a supplement for a dog that maybe doesn't eat enough kibble, to provide a lower-calorie or lower fat replacement for some of the kibble, etc.
I can't tell you what the best toppers are or why you should use them, but I can tell you what I use, and why I choose not to use commercially prepared toppers except for occasionally store bought canned dog food (though they are definitely time savers).
I have three dogs that are prone to weight gain (hello, beagles!), and one of those, Otis, was noticeably obese when I adopted him. I discussed some of the reasons this is a serious health issue in my post about Obesity in Dogs. One of the things I am doing to help him lose weight is I switched to a lower calorie and lower fat kibble, and also cut back on the amount of kibble I give him. I don't want the adjustment to be hard on him, or for him to always be hungry and looking for food. I've dieted before, and being hungry is miserable. So, I started replacing some of the kibble with a food topper, and in his case, it's fresh or steamed fruits and veggies. It's super easy to make, and I usually steam up the veggies while I'm catching up on reading news articles or checking Facebook.
But food toppers can be a nice change of pace even for dogs who don't need to watch their weight. Using different kinds of toppers can help keep food interesting and can also help fill any gaps in nutrition. For example, my basset has decided she doesn't like the salmon food that my smallest beagle must eat due to an allergy to chicken. To help make her food more palatable, I add some steamed or fresh veggies and fruits and she gobbles up all of the food.
Homemade vs. Commercial toppers
There is nothing inherently wrong with using commercial toppers, and I have been known to occasionally use canned dog food to make a slurry (more on that below!). As a rule, though, I prefer to make my own because then I know exactly what's in it (no chemicals or questionable ingredients) and it's less expensive. I tend to use vegetables that are in season (and sometimes no salt added canned vegetables) and just buy a little extra to use for the pups. Some vegetables, like butternut squash, produce way more food than what the humans need, so the pups get some, too.
I don't want to endorse any of the commercially made toppers because I just don't have a ton of experience with them, other than some canned foods. I have found that "stew" type canned foods work better than "casserole" type, and it really only takes a spoonful or two - just enough to cover the kibble or be mixed with it. If you have the casserole type, you can add water to make a slurry - which will result in fewer extra calories and the can lasting longer since it will take less caned food to cover the kibble.
For commercial toppers, I suggest looking for brands and flavors that have ingredients you recognize and can pronounce., and make sure meat or veggies are the first ingredients. I've not used any the the available gravies or other toppers, so feel free to let me know in the comments (either on this blog or on FB) about what you think of any that you try.
Homemade toppers are easier and less time consuming than you think. I frequently add either a single ingredient or a medley of ingredients to my pup's food, including beets, green beans, carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato, green pepper, apples, and strawberries. Sometimes, if I have bits or scraps of uncooked meat, I will throw it in, too.
Several days ago, I roasted some butternut squash and sweet potatoes for my family. I like to cut them both up into chunks for quicker roasting, so I just cut extra and set aside for the dogs. We only eat half of the squash, and the other half becomes a food topper. I chopped up the half of a butternut squash and a small sweet potato and steamed them together for maybe 10 minutes. Once it cooled, I put it in a container in the fridge. Sometimes I warm a few tablespoons of vegetables with a little water before adding it to their food, but sometimes I just add it cold (especially on hot days!).
After eating this for a couple of days, my pups had gone through a bit of it, and I added a can of no salt added green beans. After another couple of days, there wasn't much left, so I chopped up some apples, carrots, and fresh green beans and lightly steamed them while I checked Facebook and ate my breakfast. Once cooled, I mixed these in with the sweet potato and squash. Once that mixture got low, I added in a can of no salt added beets - which turned everything in the bowl pink, but my dogs didn't mind! In another day or so, I will likely add in some raw fruits and veggies like chopped strawberries, chopped raw carrots, and chopped green pepper. I like to use up the last of something that would otherwise probably not get used. I also sometimes add raw chopped apples.
Just make sure the foods you are using as toppers are safe for dogs. This means NO grapes or raisins! Dogs can have fruits that have a pit like peaches, but the pit itself is toxic. Apples are a great choice, but be aware that the seeds are toxic to dogs.
(Dangerous Foods graphic courtesy thatpetplace.com)
(Healthy Dog Snacks graphic courtesy Enlightened By A Dog)
SOURCES:
Personal Experience :)
Why bother using them? There are about as many reasons to use food toppers as there are different kinds of food toppers. Some people use them on their dog's kibble to enhance the flavor, to change things up to keep the dog from getting bored by the kibble, to add missing nutrients, to boost protein levels, as a supplement for a dog that maybe doesn't eat enough kibble, to provide a lower-calorie or lower fat replacement for some of the kibble, etc.
I can't tell you what the best toppers are or why you should use them, but I can tell you what I use, and why I choose not to use commercially prepared toppers except for occasionally store bought canned dog food (though they are definitely time savers).
I have three dogs that are prone to weight gain (hello, beagles!), and one of those, Otis, was noticeably obese when I adopted him. I discussed some of the reasons this is a serious health issue in my post about Obesity in Dogs. One of the things I am doing to help him lose weight is I switched to a lower calorie and lower fat kibble, and also cut back on the amount of kibble I give him. I don't want the adjustment to be hard on him, or for him to always be hungry and looking for food. I've dieted before, and being hungry is miserable. So, I started replacing some of the kibble with a food topper, and in his case, it's fresh or steamed fruits and veggies. It's super easy to make, and I usually steam up the veggies while I'm catching up on reading news articles or checking Facebook.
But food toppers can be a nice change of pace even for dogs who don't need to watch their weight. Using different kinds of toppers can help keep food interesting and can also help fill any gaps in nutrition. For example, my basset has decided she doesn't like the salmon food that my smallest beagle must eat due to an allergy to chicken. To help make her food more palatable, I add some steamed or fresh veggies and fruits and she gobbles up all of the food.
Homemade vs. Commercial toppers
There is nothing inherently wrong with using commercial toppers, and I have been known to occasionally use canned dog food to make a slurry (more on that below!). As a rule, though, I prefer to make my own because then I know exactly what's in it (no chemicals or questionable ingredients) and it's less expensive. I tend to use vegetables that are in season (and sometimes no salt added canned vegetables) and just buy a little extra to use for the pups. Some vegetables, like butternut squash, produce way more food than what the humans need, so the pups get some, too.
I don't want to endorse any of the commercially made toppers because I just don't have a ton of experience with them, other than some canned foods. I have found that "stew" type canned foods work better than "casserole" type, and it really only takes a spoonful or two - just enough to cover the kibble or be mixed with it. If you have the casserole type, you can add water to make a slurry - which will result in fewer extra calories and the can lasting longer since it will take less caned food to cover the kibble.
For commercial toppers, I suggest looking for brands and flavors that have ingredients you recognize and can pronounce., and make sure meat or veggies are the first ingredients. I've not used any the the available gravies or other toppers, so feel free to let me know in the comments (either on this blog or on FB) about what you think of any that you try.
Homemade toppers are easier and less time consuming than you think. I frequently add either a single ingredient or a medley of ingredients to my pup's food, including beets, green beans, carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato, green pepper, apples, and strawberries. Sometimes, if I have bits or scraps of uncooked meat, I will throw it in, too.
Several days ago, I roasted some butternut squash and sweet potatoes for my family. I like to cut them both up into chunks for quicker roasting, so I just cut extra and set aside for the dogs. We only eat half of the squash, and the other half becomes a food topper. I chopped up the half of a butternut squash and a small sweet potato and steamed them together for maybe 10 minutes. Once it cooled, I put it in a container in the fridge. Sometimes I warm a few tablespoons of vegetables with a little water before adding it to their food, but sometimes I just add it cold (especially on hot days!).
After eating this for a couple of days, my pups had gone through a bit of it, and I added a can of no salt added green beans. After another couple of days, there wasn't much left, so I chopped up some apples, carrots, and fresh green beans and lightly steamed them while I checked Facebook and ate my breakfast. Once cooled, I mixed these in with the sweet potato and squash. Once that mixture got low, I added in a can of no salt added beets - which turned everything in the bowl pink, but my dogs didn't mind! In another day or so, I will likely add in some raw fruits and veggies like chopped strawberries, chopped raw carrots, and chopped green pepper. I like to use up the last of something that would otherwise probably not get used. I also sometimes add raw chopped apples.
homemade veggie topper: sweet potatoes, butternut squash, canned green beans, steamed green beans, carrots, and steamed grannysmith apple.
I also will sometimes just add warm water, and will stir the kibble in the water to create a gravy. The extra water helps to fill a dieting dog's stomach, and makes the food smell better to your pup, too. Adding water doesn't add any calories, so it's a win-win for those watching their dog's weight.
So, what's a slurry you ask? It's a semi-liquid mixture. In the case of dog food, it's like a runny stew. You can mix stewed or casserole canned food with water to make a slurry, or you can even mash up some sweet potatoes/squash and add water to make that into a slurry. The water helps to thin out the food and will help to cover the kibble with it. It's a great way to stretch a little bit of veggies or a little bit of canned food, but only as a topper and never as a meal replacement.
I have also been known to take one of the 3 Ingredient Cookies and crumble it over a bowl of kibble when I'm in a hurry. I make the cookies in batches and usually end up freezing at least half, since unfortunately, they will mold after a few days left at room temperature. My dogs will eat them either frozen or thawed, and I usually have some at room temp. I just crumbled one (or half of one for the smaller dogs) over the food and Voila! The kibble becomes undeniably tasty to my pups.
If your dog doesn't have allergies to foods like chicken, you can add in a little low sodium chicken broth. Many dogs like a little plain yogurt (greek yogurt seems to work best) or cottage cheese. My dogs love scrambled eggs, though after finding out one of the dogs is allergic to chicken, I have stopped making that. It was great though - I could split one (or sometimes two) scrambled eggs between the three dogs and they were in heaven.
Just make sure the foods you are using as toppers are safe for dogs. This means NO grapes or raisins! Dogs can have fruits that have a pit like peaches, but the pit itself is toxic. Apples are a great choice, but be aware that the seeds are toxic to dogs.
(Dangerous Foods graphic courtesy thatpetplace.com)
(Healthy Dog Snacks graphic courtesy Enlightened By A Dog)
SOURCES:
Personal Experience :)
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Five OTC Medications That You Can Give Your Dogs
You should always consult your vet for the specific dosage for your dog. This post is meant as a guide or reference only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your vet before giving any OTC medication to your dog.
With any of these medications, make sure you are giving a single ingredient formula, and that the medication you are giving does NOT contain a decongestant, tylenol (acetaminophen) or advil (ibuprofen). These are toxic to dogs. Just one Advil (ibuprofen) pill may kill your dog.
- Dosage: 1.5- 1mg/per lb every 8 hrs with food. Just like with people, Benadryl can cause excitability in dogs, or it can cause drowsiness. Do not give more than 2mg per pound unless directed by a vet.
- Side effects include: dry mouth, sedation, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea
- Signs of Overdose include: powerful sedation, seizures, clumsiness, and respiratory issues.
Dramamine is often prescribed to treat motion-sickness. I've used both Dramamine and Benedryl (NOT together!) before a long car trip to help prevent my basset, Remy, from suffering from motion sickness. The backseat of my car suffered several messes until I learned that she could take this. Do not give to a pregnant dog.
- Dosage: 2-4mg per pound of body weight, given 30-60 minutes before travel.
- Side Effects include: dry mouth, sedation, difficulty urinating, dehydration, appetite loss, excessive thirst.
- Signs of Overdose include: vomiting, seizures, lethargy, respiratory problems
Zyrtec is the brand name for Cetrizine, and though not forulated for dogs, is commonly prescribed by vets for skin issues or allergies. It seems to be hit or miss - it works miraculously well for some dogs and not at all for others. Make sure to only give your dog regular Zyrtec or it's generic equivelent, and never Zyrtec-D. The "D" stands for decongestant and can very well kill your pooch.
- Dosage: 0.5 mg per pound of body weight, taken either once or twice daily depending on allergy severity.
- Side Effects include: vomiting, salivation (drooling), urine retention, constipation
- Signs of Overdose include: vomiting, lethargy/heavy sedation, excessive drooling.
- Dosage: 0.5 mg per pound of body weight, once every 8 hours.
- Side Effects can include sedation, lack of coordination, weakness, nausea and heightened thirst.
- Signs of Overdose include: heavy sedation, listlessness, restlessness, confusion, tremor, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and difficulty urinating.
- Dosage: Since it wasn't formulated for dogs, there is some disagreement over the dose. I prefer to err on the side of caution and start with a smaller dose and increase if necessary. A good starting point is around 1/4 cup every hour for a few hours, but you may need to dilute or mix it to get your dog to drink it.
- Side Effects: you may notice your dog has to urinate more often, but for a dog that has been even mildly dehydrated, this is a good thing!
- Signs of Overdose: I couldn't find any clearly documented, but I would advise that if your dog appears to dehydrated even after a couple of cups of Pedialyte, you need to get your dog to the vet for them to assess. I personally would not give my dogs more than a cup or two of Pedialyte and not see a vet.
SOURCES:
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
RECALL ALERT: RX EYE DROPS FOR DOGS
Kinetic Technologies and Kinetic Vet located in Lexington, KY has voluntarily recalled Hy-Optic – lot # 10092015, OptiVet – lot # 12032015 and Optimend – lot # 01122015. This voluntary recall is the result of deficiencies in sterility, which may lead to deteriorating eye conditions, irritation and/or infection.
- Hy-Optic Eye Irrigating Solution – NDC # 51031-011-15, Lot # 10092015, Exp. Date 10/2017
- OptiVet Eye Irrigating Solution –- NDC # 51031-011-15, Lot # 12032015, Exp. Date 07/2017
- Optimend Corneal Repair Drops – NDC # 51031-013-10, Lot # 01122015, Exp. Date 10/2017
Each product is packaged in a branded box with the lot number and expiration date printed on the box. Hy-Optic Eye Irrigating Solution and OptiVet Eye Irrigating Solution are packaged in 15 mL oval eye drop containers and labeled prior to packaging. No animal species are listed on the label for use in non-specified animals. Optimend Corneal Repair Drops is packaged in a 10 mL circular eye drop container and labeled prior to packaging for use in dogs, cats and horses for the treatment of corneal ulcers.
FOR MORE INFO, Check the FDA site: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm519174.htm
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Head Shaking: Why does my dog do it?
If your dog shakes his head only very occasionally, it's usually nothing to worry about and your dog may just need his ears cleaned. But if you notice your dog shaking her head a lot, or very hard, or simply more than usual, it may warrant a trip to the vet.
Your dog may have a bacterial or fungal infection, or may even have mites! Any dog can get an ear infection, or Otitis Externa, but those with longer or floppy ears are usually more susceptible. The most noticeable sign of an ear infection is head shaking and ear flapping, or your dog may show off her flexibility and use her feet to rub or scratch at her ears.
The first thing you should do is clean your dogs ears. I like to use a cleanser such as Virbac Epi-Otic or Zymox Ear Cleaner. There are two ways most people clean their dog's ears. You can soak a cotton ball with the cleaner, then gently wipe inside your dog's ear. Use a fresh cotton ball for each ear, and you may need a dry cotton ball to get all of the debris out. Their ear canal is "L" shaped, so you can feel pretty comfortable cleaning their ears without worrying about going too deep. The other method is to squirt a little bit of the cleaner in each ear, then massage the ear with your fingers to work the cleanser in and help break up debris. Then you wipe out the ear with a tissue or cotton ball. My vet has told me that it's safe to clean my dog's ears everyday as long as I am getting debris (or have a dirty cotton ball after wiping out the ear). You may need to clean your dogs ears daily until the head shaking subsides, then less often such every other day, once a week, once every two weeks - whatever works and keeps your dog's ears from being dirty and getting infected.
Your dog may have a bacterial or fungal infection and need to see the vet for diagnosis and treatment. Usually, the vet will swab the ears to determine the cause, then prescribe ear drops. Your dog may moan with relief when you rub her ears, or he may cry or wince/pull away in pain. You may notice dark discharge in the ear or when you clean your dog's ears, and your pup's ears may have a less than pleasant odor. Moderate to severe cases may require an oral medication like the steroid prednisone to help with the itching and reduce inflammation.
Other causes may be foreign body in the ear (bugs, grass clippings, etc), ear mites (small parasites), or allergies to the environment or an ingredient in her food. I recently discovered that one of my dogs may be allergic to chicken, and it wasn't until I switched him to fish-based food and treats with zero chicken, chicken meal, eggs, or chicken fat that his ears finally started to clear up!
When in doubt, see your vet. If your dog is uncomfortable, itching, scratching, and shaking his head, it's time to be checked out by a vet to determine the true cause and treat it.
SOURCES:
VetStreet
Pet WebMD
MedicineNet
Your dog may have a bacterial or fungal infection, or may even have mites! Any dog can get an ear infection, or Otitis Externa, but those with longer or floppy ears are usually more susceptible. The most noticeable sign of an ear infection is head shaking and ear flapping, or your dog may show off her flexibility and use her feet to rub or scratch at her ears.
The first thing you should do is clean your dogs ears. I like to use a cleanser such as Virbac Epi-Otic or Zymox Ear Cleaner. There are two ways most people clean their dog's ears. You can soak a cotton ball with the cleaner, then gently wipe inside your dog's ear. Use a fresh cotton ball for each ear, and you may need a dry cotton ball to get all of the debris out. Their ear canal is "L" shaped, so you can feel pretty comfortable cleaning their ears without worrying about going too deep. The other method is to squirt a little bit of the cleaner in each ear, then massage the ear with your fingers to work the cleanser in and help break up debris. Then you wipe out the ear with a tissue or cotton ball. My vet has told me that it's safe to clean my dog's ears everyday as long as I am getting debris (or have a dirty cotton ball after wiping out the ear). You may need to clean your dogs ears daily until the head shaking subsides, then less often such every other day, once a week, once every two weeks - whatever works and keeps your dog's ears from being dirty and getting infected.
Your dog may have a bacterial or fungal infection and need to see the vet for diagnosis and treatment. Usually, the vet will swab the ears to determine the cause, then prescribe ear drops. Your dog may moan with relief when you rub her ears, or he may cry or wince/pull away in pain. You may notice dark discharge in the ear or when you clean your dog's ears, and your pup's ears may have a less than pleasant odor. Moderate to severe cases may require an oral medication like the steroid prednisone to help with the itching and reduce inflammation.
Other causes may be foreign body in the ear (bugs, grass clippings, etc), ear mites (small parasites), or allergies to the environment or an ingredient in her food. I recently discovered that one of my dogs may be allergic to chicken, and it wasn't until I switched him to fish-based food and treats with zero chicken, chicken meal, eggs, or chicken fat that his ears finally started to clear up!
When in doubt, see your vet. If your dog is uncomfortable, itching, scratching, and shaking his head, it's time to be checked out by a vet to determine the true cause and treat it.
SOURCES:
VetStreet
Pet WebMD
MedicineNet
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