Last Updated on August 22, 2022 by Pets Feed
Those who live with dogs will have noticed many times that they can easily communicate with us but, even so, sometimes it is difficult to know what may be happening. You may have noticed that your dog scratches his ears nonstop, have you ever wondered why he does it?
The ears are a delicate part of the body of the dogs, for this reason it is very important that you know what problems can occur in them so that you can act soon and solve in time whatever it is that is causing an ear problem your furry friend.
Continue reading this new article from Pets Feed and discover the different reasons that answer the question of why your dog scratches his ears a lot and find out what you can do in each case to help him.
Parasites that keep your dog from scratching its ears
External parasites in dogs are one of the most common causes that answer why your dog scratches his ears a lot. These are easily contagious and make our furry scratch non-stop and rub on the floor. Due to tick, mite, and flea bites, dogs can spend the day trying to relieve itching and pain, some may even have allergic reactions. They are usually in the ears of dogs because in this part of the body they can bite and feed easily. So, if your faithful companion scratches his ears without stopping, he may have one of these parasites, which you must know how to identify and eliminate:
Ticks on dogs
There are many species of ticks in dogs, but they are mainly divided between hard and soft ticks. Some of these species are Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma and Dermacentor. It is important that to remove ticks you do it properly to avoid damage to your dog’s ear. You should use a special product recommended by your veterinarian or, with tweezers and great care, take the parasite as close to its mouth as possible and pull it little by little without turning it or with sudden movements.
Fleas on dogs
Fleas are another of the most common parasites in dogs and they normally spread throughout their body. So, if you notice that your dog scratches his ears a lot but also scratches other parts of his body, he probably has fleas. In this case, check with your vet which product is best to use to eliminate fleas on your dog and be careful with the indicated dose according to the weight of the animal.
Mites on the ears of dogs
Among the ear mites in dogs there are two specific species that prefer to be in the ears, specifically the Otodectes cynotis mites cause odectic mange and Demodex canis mites cause localized demodectic mange. If your dog has mites in the ears, you will see a lot of dark wax in the ear, you will see that in addition to scratching it shakes the head abruptly and you may also see some wound or scab on the ears due to intense scratching. In this case, you should go to your vet to diagnose what type of mite it is and prescribe the best treatment.
Yeast or fungal ear infections in dogs
Another possible cause why your dog scratches his ears a lot is that he may have an ear infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast, which appears easily when there is humidity and heat. One of the best-known fungal/yeast infections in dogs is ringworm, but there are many more species. If you notice that your dog has an ear injury, does not stop scratching, has lost hair in this part and has reddened or darkened the skin, it is likely that it has some type of fungus that causes itching and discomfort.
In this case, you should go to your trusted vet to diagnose which species of fungus is causing the health problems of your dog and prescribe the appropriate treatment that you must follow.
Otitis and infections cause a dog to scratch his ears a lot
Otitis in dogs is one of the main reasons why they can scratch nonstop due to the intense itching they feel. It is the inflammation of the ear canal that can be caused by a foreign body in the ear, parasites or allergies, among other possibilities. Some symptoms that will help you know if your dog has inflammation in the ear are:
- Scratching ears a lot
- Rubbing the head against surfaces like the floor, sofa or bed
- Shake the head a lot
- Ear canal secretions
- Swollen ear inside and out
- Wounds and hair loss
- Loss of balance
Many times, it results in an ear infection and, therefore, you will have to go to the specialist to diagnose otitis and the possible infection before they become too complicated and cause more problems in your dog’s ear and ears.
In addition to all these causes that answer why your dog scratches his ears a lot, there are some simpler and easier solutions if they are treated right away. For example, a blade of grass if it has run through the field, which you should remove immediately to avoid problems that lead to infections, and may also be due to injuries caused by a fight or by playing with other dogs, in which case you should go to the veterinary.
This article is merely informative, at Petsfeed.co we do not have the power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the vet in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles about your pet’s health? We recommend you visit our health problems section.
