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Dog Inner Ear Infection
The symptoms of dog inner ear infection
are dramatic and sudden and are often mistakenly thought to be the
result of a stroke or poisoning. Some times even vets who may have
had little experience with the illness will identify a dog inner ear
infection as a stroke or poisoning. The fact is, a dog inner ear
infection has nothing to do with malfunctions of the brain or the
ingestion of a poison, but is caused by inflammation of the inner
ear.
Usually there is little sign of any build up to a dog inner ear
infection and one of its characteristics is its habit of striking
out of the blue. The dog appears perfectly well and happy, eating
its meals and taking its usual exercise when for no apparent reason
it falls over. When it tries to regain its feet, it staggers in
drunken circles, bangs into objects and tumbles down steps. The dog
will vomit and the vomit will look yellow and frothy. The dog's eyes
will shoot rapidly from side to side and the head will be cocked to
one side. It's easy to see why owners would think the dog had either
had a stroke or had been poisoned.
A dog inner ear infection can be difficult to clear up. Diagnosis
and treatment may include lab tests, X-rays and even surgery.
Treatment prescribed by the veterinarian usually includes
administering medication to and cleaning the ears daily for one to
two weeks. Remember, the longer infection is present, the harder it
is to get rid of it. If an ear infection goes untreated, the dog
will continue to be in pain. It is important to get the dog to the
vet as quickly as possible so that treatment for dog inner ear
infection can begin promptly.
Four to six weeks may pass before the infection disappears, and
often during this time the owner will be instructed to restrict the
activity of the dog. If the vet has instructes ear washes and
medications to be done at home, remember that the ears are painful,
and Fido might not appreciate what has to be done, so use caution.
Ask the veterinarian for a demonstration on how to treat the ears
properly.
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