Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

206 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
Also found in the middle ear is the opening of the auditory tube. The auditory
tube connects the middle ear cavity to the nasopharynx. The purpose of
the auditory tube is to equalize air pressure on each side of the eardrum.
Basic Ear Care
AVOIDING EAR PROBLEMS
Ear problems are the second most common reason dog owners take their dog
to the veterinarian, according to a survey by Veterinary Pet Insurance.
Wet ear canals can predispose a dog to ear infections. When bathing your
dog, keep water out of her ears by inserting cotton wadding into the ear
canals. Similarly, it is important to dry your dog’s ears after she has been swimming.
If water gets into an ear, wipe the opening gently with a cotton ball. If
you know from prior visits to your veterinarian that your dog’s eardrums are
intact, you can instill an ear solution that contains a drying agent (see How to
Apply Ear Medicines, page 208). Commonly used drying solutions include
ClearX, Panodry, and Vet Solutions Swimmers Ear Astringent. A drop of
white vinegar will also help prevent “swimmer’s ear.”
Foreign material in the ears causes irritation and, later, infection. Grass
seeds and awns frequently cling to the hair surrounding the ear openings and
then drop into the canals. Because the ear canal has an L shape, foreign bodies
can become lodged down in the canal and it can be difficult to thoroughly
clean the ear without sedation. To avoid this, always groom under the ear
flaps, especially after your dog has been running in tall grass, weeds, and
brush.