• Dogs' ears have been causing pet owners time and trouble for many years. A dog's ears need constant care and attention to keep them clean and healthy. Certain breeds are just naturally prone to getting ear infections, especially the breeds that have long drooping ears. There are several safeguards the owner can take to ward off these painful infections.
  
  

Bathing

• Dogs must have baths to keep them clean and odor free. But if the pet owner is not careful, or if the dog wiggles and is uncooperative, excess water can get into the ear canal. When this happens, the extra amount of moisture sits deep in the darkness of the ear canal. We all know that dark, moist spots can breed unhealthy bacteria.
  
  Dogs with short, stand-up ears can get air movement into the ear canal that dries up excess moisture. A dog that has long ears is especially susceptible to excess moisture causing an infection because his ear flap keeps the canal closed off and dark. Pet owners need to be careful about getting water in the dog's ears.
  
  If water does get down into the ear canal, dry the ear out by swabbing inside the ear with cotton balls. An ear wash solution that can be purchased at any pet store, works much like the human version of swimmer's ear medication. Applying this to the cotton ball and cleaning out the ear will also help the ear to stay dry.
  
  

Flea and Ear Mite Infestation

• Fleas and ear mites leave dirt and contamination everywhere on the pet. Severe infestations are visible by excess dirt, redness or swelling in the ears. If the fleas or mites are not controlled and the ears cleaned and treated for irritation, this could lead to a severe infection.
  
  To avoid this problem, keep your pet treated for fleas and ear mites, in whatever fashion works for you. Giving the dog a once a week general ear cleaning with the store bought ear wash solution keeps the ears fresh and clean. Follow up every couple of days by wiping the inside of the ear with a doggie wipe that has aloe vera and Vitamin E added to it.
  
  

Allergies and Illness

• Yes, dogs have allergies just like humans. Sneezing and sniffling leads to fluid backup in the ear drum. This can lead to an ear infection and be quite painful. If your dog shows symptoms of allergies, you might have to change or modify the food she is eating. If the allergies appear severe, and food changes are not working, a veterinarian can do allergy testing on your pet to find out the cause. It may even be environmental.
  
  Dogs also suffer from "unexplainable" ear infections, just like humans do. Sometimes it is a cold- or flu-like infection. Checking the dog's ears will give you a good indication of an infection. Get close to the dog's ear opening and smell it. If it has a bad odor, there is probably an infection brewing and the pet needs to be treated for an ear infection. The vet will prescribe an antibiotic ear drop solution or pills for the dog to take.
  
  Severe ear infections can make the pet very ill and can lead to deafness. If you notice any signs of ear infection, have your pet checked out by a vet as soon as possible.