Last Updated on January 6, 2022 by Griselda M.
Chihuahua infections may be quite painful for your dog, so it’s good to know how to properly evaluate and prevent Chihuahua ear problems. It’s critical to keep your Chihuahua’s ears healthy for his overall wellness. Whining, itching, or any random head movement are all signs of an ear infection.
This condition is most common in dogs with floppy ears. However, this does not rule out the possibility of infections in Chihuahua. The majority of chihuahuas are not tolerating cleaning their ears. That is typical with dogs, so attempt to find a method of restricting that they will like.
Ear Anatomy
Understanding ear anatomy is essential for you to be able to assist your Chihuahua. The external ear, middle ear, and internal ear are the three major components of the ear.
In-ear infections perform a distinct function. There is a specific type of infection and corresponding symptoms for each ear component.
- The ear flap and the ear canal are the two sections of the outer ear. The purpose of the ear flap is to tunnel sound into the ear canal. Dogs, unlike humans, have a longer ear canal that extends further into the ear.
- The middle ear, on the other hand, is divided into three sections. The eardrum, a thin membrane that separates the outer and middle ear, is the first portion. This membrane is quite delicate, and because of that, we must be cautious while cleaning the Chihuahua ears.
- Finally, there’s the inner ear. It’s linked to the brain and includes nerves whose function is to maintain balance and hearing.
Your capacity to clean it depends on the severity of the ear infection. We recommend sending your Chihuahua to a veterinarian for an ear examination so you can be sure from which type of infection your Chihuahua is suffering.
Types Of Chihuahua Ear Problems/Infections
As an owner, a good thing to know is what types of ear infections there are because some of the ear infections you can treat at home by yourself. If you’re not sure how to treat the ear infection on your own, the best thing to do is visit a veterinarian.
Here are three types of infections that you might recognize:
- Otitis Interna – Infections in the outer ear can occur, although they are less prevalent than the other forms.
- External Otitis – This illness can cause inflammation in the ear canal. This type of infection is prevalent in dogs, and it usually occurs in the outer ear.
- Otitis Media – These infections start in the middle ear, but they can spread to the outer ear if left untreated.
All of these illnesses have a variety of symptoms that are easy to identify. You must keep an eye on and understand your dog.
Read more about Dog Hacking When Excited – Why It Occurs?.
What Is Causing Chihuahua Ear Problems?
A lot of factors can cause ear infections in dogs. Bacteria in the ear is the most common cause of ear infections, although yeast, fungus, and ear mites can also infect and cause pain in your pup’s ears.
Foreign items stuck in the ear, trauma, and tumors or polyps are possible causes of dog ear infections. Hair growth within and outside the ear canal is another factor. It’s critical to keep the hair density surrounding these locations under control to avoid ear infections.
If your Chihuahua likes water and you live near water, we recommend that you examine your Chihuahua’s ears after bathing.
Chihuahua Ear Problems/Infection Treatment
While home methods for cleaning the ears, as stated above, may help to resolve minor difficulties, a Chihuahua with a full-fledged, raging infection would require the attention of a reputable, knowledgeable veterinarian.
Swelling, redness, discharge, and irritation will all be checked for by the veterinarian. A foreign body, such as grass seeds, tiny blades of grass, a sandstone, or other elements that may have slipped down into the ear while playtime outside, should be checked.
The veterinarian should take a sample swipe of the outer canal to check for bacteria, yeast
infection, and parasites, as well as clean your dog’s ears. That will comprise both oral and topical treatment for the majority of Chi patients.
To maintain them clear enough to absorb the medicine, you should cleanse them daily. Even if your Chihuahua looks to be doing better, make sure you finish all of the dosages. Even a small amount of germs left in the ear might spread and cause an infection.
If You Suspect A Food Allergy
If you feel a food allergy is causing your persistent infections (which can lead to additional problems like dry skin, coat loss, and so on), you should consider switching to a hypoallergenic diet.
However, a significant number of dogs with food intolerances have an issue with the chemical components in that commercial brands. Chemical preservatives, artificial coloring, and artificial coloring are all examples of this.
If this is the case, it is nice to cook at home since this gives you control over the food ingredients.
What Does A Dog Ear Infection Look Like?
Ear infections are excruciatingly unpleasant. Many dogs will scratch their ears and shake their heads in an attempt to ease the pain. The ears become hot and irritated, and an unpleasant odor develops. It’s typical to see a black or greenish discharge.
Chronic inflammation can cause the ears to become crusty or thicker, and the ear canals constricted (stenotic).
Can An Infection Go Away On Its Own?
A dog ear infection does not usually go away on its own. A veterinarian must examine the ear infection and the eardrum in all cases of otitis. Some ear cleaners and drugs might be hazardous to the middle ear if the eardrum is punctured.
Can You Clean It Yourself?
If required, your veterinarian can instruct you on how to clean your dog’s ears correctly. As a preventative maintenance process, cleaning frequency reduces with time from daily to once or twice weekly.
It is good to keep the ear canals dry and adequately aired. Using drying agents in the ears of swimming dogs and preventing water from entering the ear canals during bathing could reduce ear canal softening and the occurrence of bacterial or fungal infections in wet ear canals.
Conclusion
Your Chihuahuas health is under heavy influence by ear infections. They shouldn’t take light treatment, and they require special care for the benefit of your Chihuahua’s happiness. If you see some of the signs and symptoms of an ear infection, try cleaning it yourself first if you are confident.
Otherwise, make an appointment with your veterinarian for ear cleaning.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions or views on this topic.
Read more about: When Do Chihuahua Puppies Ears Stand Up; Bye-Bye To Floppy Ears
