Dog Ear Care ..

Ear Care is an often overlooked aspect of dog care. This is unfortunate as dog's amazing hearing often serves as an asset in the form of police dogs, bomb sniffing, and security canines. Dogs are even able to hear noise that is undetectable to humans.

Without proper ear care, dogs' ears will not perform at their best. Dust and other particles can enter into a dog's ears and if not cleaned, can lead to problems even indirectly connected to that ear.

Ear mites are another problem often overlooked. These are parasites that actually can be physically seen by a dog owner. They develop on the outer ear, causing irritation and itching for the dog. That is why you will sometimes see a dog shaking their head vigorously, scratching or rubbing one side on the floor.

Since dogs sometimes curl up in a ball when sleeping, ear mites can transfer to their tails. This can lead to a bad smell, as well. If these symptoms occur in your pet, you must take it to a veterinarian right away. Always treat the tail for ear mites, even if you just suspect they are in the ear.

Also, you may mean well - but unless you are properly trained to clean a dog's ear, it is best to leave the cleaning to your vet. The vet may show you methods if he or she is confident you will not damage the dog's ears when cleaning them yourself.