Ear care
Ears can become quite a problem for dogs. They provide nice warm environments for nasty things to grow in. Some of the nasties include ear mites, yeasts and bacteria. Upstanding ears like a Westie's can also catch foreign objects. (The upstanding ears can also be an advantage -ears that fold over the ear canals can also be damper and make better incubators for yeast, mites and bacteria.) In addition, dogs' ears normally - just like a humans’ - produce a dark waxy material. Just like your own ears, a Westie's ears need regular cleaning. If your Westie has any ear problems, those cleanings may need to be more frequent and may require medications as well.
How to know when ears need cleaning
A regular ear cleaning should happen whenever your dog gets a grooming, or about every month or six weeks. If the hair around your dog's ears looks dark and a little greasy, then your dog is definitely ready to have his or her ears done.
Getting rid of the hair
Because Westies grow hair in their ears, and that hair may help to hold matter in the ear, the ear hair should be removed. Take a small tuft of the hair, roll it between your fingers and gently pull. Don't try to grab it all at once and yank it out, for this could cause your Westie a great deal of pain. If you take only a bit at a time, it will be less uncomfortable for the dog. Some people like to use forceps or tweezers to hold the hair with. For dogs who have a tendency to ear infection, it is better not to pull the hair as it may cause tiny wounds which can be a door to bacteria or harmful pathogens. In this case, you can use blunt scissors and cut the hair as much as you can to clear the air canal. Pay attention when you cut that the dog doesn't move and never go deep in the ear. You should always see the tip of the scissors.
What if there’s earwax?
If the ear is relatively, clean, you need do nothing else. If the dog's ear contains reddish-brown guk (notice the highly technical language here!) then you will need to get it out. Whatever you do, don't just stick a cotton swab down the dog's ear canal! Make sure that you always see the cotton end, being careful not to push debris back in the ear canal. I find that a swab makes a better job in the little folds. Foreign objects should be used only with very great care! Instead, you should choose to use an ear-cleaning solution.
The safest method for cleaning ears
There is a range of solutions for cleaning ears, from medicated liquids you can buy from a vet, to some simple home based materials. Baby oil or warm water can be used on dogs that have no particular history of ear problems. (Baby oil is better if the skin inside the ear looks dry.) Another solution that is recommended is a mixture of half water and half vinegar (the acidity has an astringent effect and makes it hard for the bacteria and yeast to grow). If the ear is a little inflamed, use 3% hydrogen peroxide mixed with an equal quantity of water. If there is a history of chronic ear problems, or if the dog is under care, use one of the products recommended by your veterinarian. There is usually an underlying cause for recurrent ear infections. For Westies, it is often allergies. If the ear is infected, a thorough cleaning is necessary before you put the medication in the ear. Afterwards, a regular cleaning (once a week) with the water/vinegar mix will often prevent the infection from recurring.
The technique for solution-based cleaning requires that you gently insert a small amount of the liquid into the dog's ear using a dropper or syringe with no needle on it. Hold the ear and at the same time, put the dog’s head down and away from you. In this position, you will be able see the ear canal. Then massage the ear thoroughly. Dogs often enjoy this process immensely. Then cover the ear opening with a cotton ball and tip the dog's head downward so gravity can help the goo drip out. If the dog's ears are particularly dirty, you may want to do this several times to get them completely clean. Discard the cotton ball after each time, and use a fresh one for the next.
Finally, using another cotton ball or the corner of a dry soft towel, dry out the ear as far down as you can reasonably reach without hurting your dog. Don't go too far or you won't be able to get a cotton ball out. Repeat the process until the cotton ball comes out clean. When you let go of the dog, he or she will certainly want to shake his or her head, and may go into a head-rubbing routine. Let him or her. You may even want to help with the towel. Then do the other ear.
Why should I go to the bother?
Chronic ear problems can be quite uncomfortable, and may lead to a great deal of trouble as your dog ages. It is always worthwhile to check with your vet if you are not certain whether there is a problem or not. One of the first hints that a dog has ear problems is if he or she shakes his or her head frequently, or rubs and scratches at his or her ears. However, dogs who do this have developed a problem so far that it is physically uncomfortable, and should be taken to a vet. A better solution is to catch the problem before it gets severe.
Cleaning ears on a regular basis can help you to detect when a problem is in the beginning stages. Another way to prevent problems is to keep the ears as dry as possible. Dry the dog’s ears when you bathe him or her and whenever he or she gets wet. This will help to keep the ears unfriendly to bacteria and fungi. If you smell a kind of yeasty smell in Pup's ears, she or he likely has a yeast infection. If the skin looks red and raw, there may be a bacterial problem, and if you notice that Pup is producing lots of earwax, or if it seems very dark, there may be some other difficulty such as mites, and again, take Pup to the vet!
When in doubt, go to the vet!
Please remember that the information in this article is meant to help you in maintaining your dog in a state of good health. It cannot replace the advice of a medical professional who has your own particular dog in mind. If you have any doubts - go to the vet!
Author: Yvonne Lord
Tiarna Kennel