Ear infections are a common medical condition for a wide variety of different dogs. In fact, it's unusual for any dog owner to not have a pet that experiences an ear infection at some point over the course of its life. Still, poodles are generally known to be free of ear trouble. Poodles with larger and floppier ears will be more likely to come down with ear infections than other types of dogs or miniature poodles. This is because the ear canal is more closed off and more difficult to clean or expose to the open air. Read on for a brief overview of poodle ear infections.
Recognizing a Poodle Ear Infection
The symptoms of a poodle ear infection are similar to those of ear infections in most other breeds of dogs. These infections occur when bacteria is able to get into your dog's ear canal and grows without control. As the bacteria continues to spread in the ear passageways, an infection is the body's reaction to the foreign invader. The physical symptoms of a poodle ear infection include the following:
- Redness or inflammation around the ears
- Unusual smell or heat coming from one or both ears
- Abnormal shaking of the head or rubbing at the ears with paws
- Pressing ears against furniture or the floor
- Discharge from the ear
If you notice any of these symptoms, it's a good idea to take your poodle in to the vet. Before you go, take note of all of the symptoms that you've seen, as well as when they started and whether they've gotten worse.
Diagnosing and Treating a Poodle Ear Infection
Your vet will begin his analysis of your poodle by conducting a physical examination. He will take into account the various symptoms that you've noted and will use those as the basis of his diagnosis. He may examine the ear canal with special instruments for signs of inflammation. Finally, a swab of the ear canal may be helpful in testing for the presence of bacteria in the ear.
When you and your vet have confirmed that your poodle does in fact have an ear infection, you'll be able to begin treating your pet with an antibiotic drug. These medicines are given by veterinary prescription only. You should continue to follow your vet's instructions for giving your pet the medicine until the end of the treatment program, even if your dog's symptoms seem to improve. This is because the bacteria may not be fully eliminated, and the bacteria that remains may reproduce and cause another infection.
While most ear infection treatments are completely safe for your pet, there are likely to be a few potential side effects. Be sure that you go over these effects with your vet before you begin to treat your poodle's ear infection, and report any side effects to your vet immediately. You may need to reevaluate the method that you're using for treatment.