If your dog has picked up an ear infection and you can’t make it to the vet right away, there are a few things you can do to help your poor dog out and ease its suffering. One thing is to visually check the ear for any obstructions.
While most dogs won’t especially enjoy having you look into their ears, especially if it’s already infected, you can get a better look to see if anything is blocking the ear canal. Remember not to stick anything sharp into your dog’s ear, as it could cause severe damage if your dog moves suddenly.
If there is something blocking your dog’s ear canal, you should take it to the vet immediately so they can remove it. If all you see is ear wax build up or liquid draining from your dog’s ear, you can clean it out with a plain cotton ball. Never stick a Q-tip in your dog’s ear as they will respond by turning their head and you could cause more damage than help. Roll the cotton ball so that it will fit down into your dog’s ear and twist it in the ear canal. But do not push it in too far.
Once you get the chance to take it to the vet, they will check to see how bad the infection is and what has caused it. If it is something that has blocked the dog’s ear canal, they will have the right tools to remove the blockage. If it is caused by ear mites or bacteria, they can give your dog ear drops to help kill off the infection. They will also give you some ear drops to take home to give to your dog as well. Make sure you follow all the directions.
Some ear infections will require an antibiotic to be given to your dog. These will more than likely come as a pill that you have to give your dog once or twice a day. If your dog has a difficult time taking these pills, you can give them in a soft dog treat or wrap them in a small piece of cheese. This will allow your dog to easily swallow the pill so that it can get rid of its ear infection. By taking the ear drops and the antibiotics, your dog will be back to normal in no time at all.
You should also refrain from giving your dog a bath while it has an ear infection as the water sitting in its ear can cause the infection to spread to other parts of its body, causing even more problems. Make sure you follow the prescribed directions to the letter so your dog can easily shake off this ear infection.