Changes in the weather can mean changes in your dog’s health. A common thing to look out for is an ear infection.
The most common symptom you may find your dog having is tilting their head. If you see this, they aren’t being silly – something feels imbalanced and they’re trying to shake it out. You may also notice your dog rubbing its ear on the furniture or scratching around its ear. If you look inside their ear after this, you may see a red or brown discharge, redness, swelling, crusts or scabs, or even smell a sweet odor – these are all signs of an infection.
Another sign of imbalance in your dog is if they have unusual eye movements or are walking in circles – any of these signs indicate a good excuse to go visit the veterinarian immediately!
Ear infections in dogs are caused by natural bacteria, yeasts, allergies, or sometimes hormone imbalances. In the spring time especially, there are extra allergens around, so it’s a pretty common time for them to develop, although bacterial infections are the most common type of ear infection in dogs.
Although a veterinarian may prescribe something for your dog, you could always try an at home remedy to see if it eases the infection at all – it may be cheaper and work just the same.
Apple cider vinegar is known to remove dirt and debris from ears, as well as kills yeast and bacteria. If your dog has red or sore ears, don’t use this, as it may be painful, but if you’re just noticing odors or the dog itching more frequently at its ears, they may just have excess bacteria that needs to be cleaned out.
Coconut oil is also known to be anti-fungal, so putting a few tablespoons in a dropper and washing out a dog’s ears with it may be the extra flush they need to get over any forming infection.
If your dog is frequently suffering from ear infections, it could be due to an immune system issue, in which poor diet and and other possible bodily functions may be the cause. If you know that your dog has suffered through more than one ear infection recently and feel it has become a more chronic issue, visit your veterinarian for recommendations in possible diet changes and other preventatives!
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local pet store if you have questions on this or any pet related topic.