EAR CARE FOR BICHONS
Vickie Halstead RN, CVNS, CCRN, CEN, LNC
|
The goal of ear care is to keep the ear canals clean and dry, which
is difficult for Bichons whose ears fall over the ear canals leading
to build up of moisture and debris, plus hair grows in their ear
canals. Yeast, bacteria, and ear mites thrive in areas that are
moist, alkaline and dirty, and flourish in areas that contain hair.
All of these factors make Bichons more susceptible to ear infections
and/or inflammation. Proper ear care can reduce the incidence of ear
infections.
Ear care includes inspecting the ear canals frequently for signs of
irritation; preferably each time you brush your Bichon. A healthy
ear is light pink in color, clean except for small amounts of wax,
and is odor-free. Signs of infection/inflammation include frequent
scratching the ears and shaking the head, reddened ear canal, odors,
and exudates (yellow, brown, or black discharge) from the ear canal.
Bichon ears need to be cleaned weekly with a liquid ear solution
that contains soothing herbs in an acidic solution. You can ask your
veterinarian to advise you on which brand to chose. See this web
site for ear diagrams and instructions on how to clean ears and
instill drops:
http://www.mvol.co.uk/elmhousevets/doginfo/ear/main.vm
In addition to cleaning and inspecting the ears, the hair needs to
be plucked from the ear canal monthly to prevent excessive growth of
bacteria or yeast. This can be done with a tweezers or a forceps,
being careful not to grasp the skin and removing the hair a little
at a time. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, a dog groomer
should include this with their service. Some groomers use forceps
and grab all the hair in it, twist it, and pull it all out with one
yank. This causes major irritation in the ear canal and may lead to
infection and/or inflammation. If your groomer will not change this
practice, this author recommends that you find another groomer. Even
when the hair is pulled out a little at a time, the ears can become
irritated. Also, groomers and owners need to avoid getting soap and
excessive water in the ears during the bath.
In my experience, even with proper removal of hair from the ear
canal, your Bichon’s ears may become temporarily inflamed. My
practice is to instill eardrops that contain a steroid for 2 days
after hair is removed. My preference is Tresaderm Otic that is
prescribed by veterinarians.
If your Bichon exhibits signs of ear infection/inflammation, which
persists despite cleaning the ears, consult your veterinarian since
antibiotics may be required.
For more detailed information on canine ears and ear care see this
web site:
http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0079.htm
|
| this page has been viewed |
 |
times |
|
