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I can't afford to go to the vet until I get paid on Tuesday. Is there anything I can do in the mean time to help his discomfort? Ear disease is one of the most common conditions we see in pets. The medical name for inflammation of the outer ear canal is 'otitis externa.' It is estimated that up to 20% of the dog population is affected by this disease. If you have never cleaned your dog’s ears before, consult with your vet and ask for a demonstration to prevent unconsciously harming your pooch. Allergies can cause ear infections, but also, allergies can cause the ears to be itchy without an ear infection.
Small red raised bumps may also indicate a parasitic infection with scabies or Demodex mites. Hives can develop if your dog was stung by a bee or exposed to something that they were extremely sensitive to. You can even take OTC pain relievers if you’re on antibiotics. You can also alternate between a cold and warm compress every 10 minutes. Dr. Nguyen-Huynh explains how some of these at-home remedies work, what to avoid and when to see a doctor. Don’t forget to praise your pooch – and maybe offer a treat!
How Often Should You Clean Your Boston Terrier’s Ears?
Many of these home remedies are unsafe for Boston Terriers. Over the course of a week, if any bacteria grow in the culture, these will be tested for their resistance or susceptibility to certain antibiotics. They will then monitor the tube over the next 2-3 weeks to watch for fungal growth. If any colonies of organisms grow in the tube, they can look at these under the microscope to determine what type of fungal organism is causing issues.
Because Bostons have such heavy, floppy ears, it’s easy to see why a symptom like this is difficult to treat. If your dog experiences pain or discomfort, he may shake his head or tilt it to one side, shake his head often, or scratch its ears. If these symptoms persist, you should visit your vet immediately. If you don’t see any other symptoms, the condition may be an ear infection or something else entirely. In some cases, an ear infection can lead to deafness in your dog.
Boston Terrier Allergies
Plus, if your pooch has skin allergies, he is probably prone to frequent ear infections. Your dog’s ears, as your veterinarian may want to see the discharge. Infections cannot be treated with ear cleaning alone, you will need a prescription from the vet.
If you notice scratching of the ears or other symptoms of ear infections or allergies, I recommend scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian. Ear infections can develop in one or both ears, so it’s essential to check both ears for signs of infection. If you notice your Boston Terrier scratching at her ears or rubbing one or both ears on the floor or furniture, she may have an ear infection. You may also notice a strong odor coming from her ear, or discharge near the ear canal. Routine cleaning is vital to the overall health of your Boston Terrier’s ears. Over time, wax and oils build up inside your pooch’s ears.
Dry Scaly Skin
As the organisms increase in numbers, their presence causes further inflammation and damage to the skin, leading to a vicious cycle of deterioration. Water-based solutions or homemade ones have a disadvantage too. Unlike a cleaner, water is hard to completely remove from your dog’s ears. If your dog’s ear canal stays moist, i.e., there’s some stagnant water left there, this creates a breeding ground for bacteria. The most common treatment for ear infections is a medicated ear ointment with a combination of ingredients. Typically, these medications have an antibiotic and an antifungal to treat the underlying infection.
"Typically, when it gets to the point of infection, you need prescription medication," Grant says. It's best to see your veterinarian as soon as you notice symptoms because ear infections won't go away on their own. Ear mites are microscopic bugs that can infest your dog's ears.
They often require years of exposure to an allergen before a sensitivity develops, particularly with food allergens. Owner of a Boston who has had a few ear infection here. I'm no vet but I've been dealing with this for a while now. I cannot over stress the importance of staying on top of ear infection and ear health – with this one Boston boy it was literally life or death. Regardless of the cause of the ear disease, we must always keep the ear canal clean.
First, get your pooch to sit in front of you in the chosen spot (step #1 above). Then, gently tilt your dog’s head to one side with your hand and fill your dog’s ear with the cleaning solution. Your Boston Terrier’s ears can get itchy and/or dry after being cleaned. That’s why you might want to consider purchasing a talc-free baby powder or use some natural oil such as coconut oil .
The inside of the ear is straight whereas the outside has a slight outward curve that runs back to the neck. Since puppies are born blind and deaf they must develop the most critical aspects of their bodies first. Veterinarians can diagnose hypothyroidism by checking a blood test called a total T4. The treatment for low thyroid is administering thyroid pills. My favorite allergy medications for Boston Terriers are Cytopoint injections and Apoquel. To improve excessive shedding from stress, you must identify what is causing your Boston to be stressed then address the underlying cause of the stress.
First of all, you want to keep the affected area clean. Then, you want to choose the right shampoo to avoid further irritation. This is a medication focused therapy that uses drugs such as corticosteroids (which is an anti-inflammatory drug). Also known as Hyposensitizationor Desensitization Therapy, it uses specific allergens to desensitize a dog to the proteins. Once you know what your Boston is allergic to, you can start eliminating or reducing his exposure to allergens. As you have read, all allergies can cause similar symptoms.
Without neutralizing the allergen causing Yeast growth in his body, the other ear which had remained healthy would surely be affected. This is, in fact what started to happen shortly after the successful TECA surgery. Yeast happily live on most normal skin as well as in ears and anal glands. These are the most common signs that your Boston has allergies. Rub and massage the base of the ear to ensure the cleaner penetrates deeply into the canal. Boston Terriers are one of the most lovable dog breeds on the planet.
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