The canine ear is a remarkable part of a dog's remarkable anatomy. I learned a lot about it after practically having a standing appointment at the vet’s office to deal with Louis’ chronic ear infections, as a puppy, prior to starting a raw diet.
According to Monika Wegler’s book, Dogs: How to Take Care of Them and Understand Them, “Dogs hear high tones in particular much better than humans do. Humans can pick up an average of 20,000 acoustic vibrations per second (kHz), whereas a dog is able to perceive between 40,000 and 100,000 vibrations.”
I don’t understand much of this hullabaloo about acoustic vibrations and frequencies, but I can garner the essence of the above statement: dogs hear a lot better then we do. So, if you need to yell at your dog in order for him to pay attention, you should probably work on your relationship. He can hear you when you whisper - you don’t need to yell. Think about that…
In addition to hearing better then us, their ears are anatomically different then our. Our ears each have a mere one compartment, theirs have two! The following description comes from Dr. Dennis W. Thomas’s article An Ear Full of Auditory Advice (which you can read in its entirety by clicking here).
Beginning at the opening of the ear canal, the vertical canal travel
s downward towards the dog’s jaw. Then it makes a 45 degree turn and travels horizontally towards the ear drum. This makes visualization and treatment of the entire canal more difficult. Also, as a rule, most breeds have a much longer ear canal than humans. These differences predispose the dog’s ear to infection as well as make treatment more difficult.
Apparently, breeds with pendulous ears, like my little monster, are far more susceptible to ear infections then those breeds with upright ears. This is mostly because those adorable floppy ears act like trap doors for moisture, yeast and other culprits. But before we all run out and crop our dogs ears, problems can happen to any dog (for instance you wrinkly dog lovers should know that your dog’s ear canals are probably wrinkly as well and those beasts with super hairy ears, beware!)
There are a zillion culprits that can affect your dog’s ears. These issues can stem from foreign objects, yeast, mites, oil secretion differences, dermatological issues, allergies - the list goes on and on.
A good habit to get into is a routine ear hygiene regimen. I know what you are thinking - feeding, walking, trips to the vet, baths, playtime, etc. With all the care these guys require, it should be a full time paying job to care for them. The fact is, when we take it upon ourselves to add any members to our household, it is our duty to give them the best care we can. Especially in the case of our family members who cannot speak up for their needs, we must be diligent in the care we provide for them.
This does not mean waiting until there is a problem and running Spot to the vet. Ear cleaning takes all of a minute, once your dog gets used to it, and it can be a nice relaxing and bonding experience. Additionally, even with Louis’ floppy ears, cleaning two times a week, after baths and if its raining out is sufficient. That's about 5 minutes a week, in total. Another benefit of ear cleaning is that you become familiar with your dog’s ear anatomy and what is normal for him as far as color, temperature, texture, etc. You will be aware of any changes and can act before serious issues arise.
Louis chronic ear infections started during his first summer, as the heat and humidity, coupled with a poorly functioning immune system, created a literal yeasty breeding ground in his floppy ears.
This story is from before my journey to holistic health and my previous vet attempted to treat Louis, unsuccessfully and recommended an ear cleaner sold in her office. The treatment dried out his ears, but what made the situation worse was the cleaner. His skin redder then ever and skin was literally peeling off from his ears, inside and outside. Upon closer inspection, I found the cleaner was made from over 50% rubbing alcohol. On a superficial note, the cucumber melon scent was awful and the product made his hair all greasy. I would never apply anything with 50% alcohol to my own body, so I certainly wouldn’t want to do that to Louis.
I decided to try something else. I found Halo’s Natural Herbal Ear Wash at Whole Foods. As things couldn’t get much worse, I decided to give it a go.
According to Halo’s website:
- A full strength blend of herbs in a base of witch hazel
- Can be used for any problem ear condition, heals any kind of infection or abrasion
- Works on contact, is very gentle and is never greasy
Description: The most effective ear solution available today is great for ANY problem ear condition. This soothing blend of herbal extracts (in a witch hazel base)gently eliminates ear wax, odors, prevents infections, heals abrasions, and promotes healthy new cell formation. Natural Herbal Ear Wash is never greasy and always easy to use. Enjoyed by pets and pet lovers everywhere.
My review - it smells nice and fresh, doesn’t affect the texture of his fur and leaves his ears fresh and soothed. I can tell he enjoys cleaning time. (After cleaning he writhes and rolls along the floor, trying to get all the moisture out, but its cute!)
The one caveat: be sure to buy a nasal aspirator (they sell them for babies) with a bulb for application. The bottle recommends ‘pouring 1/2 to a capful’ in the ear. You will get the product all over yourself and your dog’s face. That doesn’t work. The aspirator makes things simple. Be sure to give your dog a nice ear massage to work the product into the canal and relax him. You’ll hear it kind of sloshing around in there if you have done it right. Keep your aspirator clean.
Louis has not had an ear infection in over a year and a half. If you are interested, there are some sites on the Internet that list recipes you can make yourself that are similar to Halo’s product, but I admit that I am searching for a little convenience in the sea of care I give to Louis. Call your vet if you think there is anything wrong with your dog and don’t forget to clean his ears.
Not to totally restate what I write in every other post...(but, its my blog, so I can write what I want too) but ear infections and systemic yeast infections in particular are all to common in our pets due to kibble diets, overvaccination, ect. Yeast infections are the result of a common organism that lives in the gut going into overdrive. Antibiotics, stress and poor diet can throw the system out of balance and cause this fungus to go into overdrive causing systemic yeast infections throughout the body. Paw chewing, irritated underarms, itchy inner thighs and a host of other issues are directly related to an over abundance of yeast. Yeasty bodies have a very distinct smell and many people just think this is a 'doggy odor,' but I can assure you, this is NOT normal and proper nutrition and care go a long way toward eliminating itchies!
Another substantial reason to keep your pet on a diet of raw meaty bones and offal! Stave off the yeast to keep those ears happy!
Visit www.halopets.com for more information on Halo's Natural Herbal Ear Wash.
2 comments:
Hey raw feasting buddies!
Our vet recommended soaking 2 cotton balls with ear solution, then gently pressing them into the initial opening of the ear canal. (Just enough so that they can leak their juices inside the ear.) After placing the cotton balls, have your people massage and squeeze your ears for 30 seconds. This feels SO GOOD! When they're done, you'll shake your head and the cotton balls come flying out. It's a great way to prevent discomfort from pouring liquid in, and it also ensures that the canal doesn't get flooded with the fluid.
I don't mind this process at all. It's super gentle. Plus, there are MEATY TREATS to follow afterwards!
Even Big Pupi doesn't mind this, and he used to shove his body under desks and stuff to hide from the ear cleaning monster. But thanks to the raw diet, we only need our ears done 2-3 times per YEAR!! Last year Big Pupi only had it done once and his floppies are completely odorless. Woohoo!!
Thanks, Stan! We will have to try that cotton ball trick!
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