Ear Infections
By Soojin Um
Another common condition is ear infections. This ailment can range from the simple to very serious, so it’s important to diagnose an infection early. Dogs’ ears tend to hold onto moisture more than human ears, and this moisture can cause microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeast, to grow. Dog breeds with long, floppy ears can be especially prone to infections. If your dog has been in the water, or you live in a particularly humid climate, that can increase the chances of ear infections. So too if the pooch has allergies.
The symptoms are fairly straightforward to identify: your dog will most likely scratch and paw at his ears. In addition to that, dogs will often tilt or shake their heads. A shake of the head may just be there was a fly buzzing around, but if you see your dog doing that frequently, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Also, be on the lookout for fluid discharge or odor coming from the ears, as those are clear signs that an infection is present.