How to Treat German Shepherd Ear Inflammation

German Shepherds are very healthy and happy animals. Yet all dogs are prone to get some disease, year after year. There are some conditions that are more likely to appear in German Shepherds than in other dogs. Ear inflammations are one of their likely adversaries.

One of the versions of ear inflammation that can afflict German Shepherds is Otitis Externa. These are typically found in long-eared breeds. Otitis Externa is an inflammation of the outer ear canal and affects about 20% of the breed. This disease is on-again, off-again and there can be a dozen different reasons for it to appear.

Since the German Shepherd is typically sensitive to wheat and corn, they can often have allergic reactions to their dog food, since these two products are often in commercial dog food. The allergic reaction can manifest itself in another form, producing Otitis Externa.

Water from a bath can also inflame the ear. Even though your dog will vigorously shake its head after a bath, some water can still remain in the ear canal, causing inflammation. Typically, a mixture of vinegar and water can help, but ask your vet for additional recommendations.

Hair can also cause ear inflammation. If hair gets trapped in the ear canal due to shedding or scratching, it can cause problems for your pet. It will create a blockage and encourage bacterial growth. Wax can also become a problem. Be sure to keep your dog’s ear canal as free from material as possible to encourage good air flow throughout the ear. This will help to keep the ears dry and germ-free.

Ear infections can also be caused by fungus, parasites and bacteria. The parasites themselves don’t do any damage, but the bacteria and viruses that ride with the parasites get injected into the dogs as the parasites feed. These parasites are called ear mites and are typically responsible for 10% of ear inflammation cases.

Sometimes, ear inflammation is a genetic issue. If the dog has a poor autoimmune system due to poor breeding, they can suffer from ear disease. If the dog has been bred by animals that were too closely related in their blood line, they can have endocrine or hormonal imbalances, agitated allergy reactions and ear inflammations.

An overactive sebaceous gland can also be the cause behind ear inflammations. If the material excreted (the exudate) clogs pores, this can lead to an inflammation.

Only a vet can tell you whether or not you have a serious ear inflammation situation on your hands. Through a cytology, which is a cell examination under a microscope, the vet can identify bacteria, yeast, parasites and more that is too small for the naked eye to detect.

If you notice that your dog is frequently scratching their ears and scraping their heads against the ground, carpet or grass, you might have a possible ear infection in your dog. The behavior will be constant and you need to take your animal into the vet soon because otherwise, they could be making the problem worse as the dirt and ground present additional bacterial problems.

Keep your dog’s ears clean through a cleaning solution to eliminate most of their ear inflammation problems. You can trim their hair as well to keep up with good preventative techniques.

         

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