24 July 2023

Ear infection in dogs in summer: allergy or swimmer's ear?

Nextmune

Just as we all like to dive into the water when the weather is hot, so do dogs. Of course, it's always a good idea to let your dog cool off in warm seasons, but there are some risks involved. For example, dogs can get a so-called 'swimmer's ear' just like people. However, this diagnosis is often made incorrectly, because the dog actually is allergic to pollen, insects or something else. In this article we tell you more about ear infections in dogs that have been swimming and what you can do about them.

Perfect breeding ground for bacteria

If your dog likes to swim, there is a chance that bacteria, yeast or fungi will enter the ear canal. Normally this does no harm, because the dog's ear is protected by benign bacteria that are already present in the ear. If the water stays in the ear canal a little longer, however, it can irritate and inflame the ear.

When water remains in the ear canal for longer, there is a risk of swimmer's ear. This condition is also known as otitis externa or outer ear infection. Over time, the bacteria in the water affect the acid balance in the ear, causing it to become inflamed. Bacteria like warm, dark places. Therefore, dogs with large, droopy ears are more likely to develop ear infections after swimming.

Symptoms of swimmer's ear in dogs

A dog with an ear infection will shake its head, scratch its ears or rub its head against objects. The inflamed ear is itchy. Furthermore, the ears can smell unpleasant, the skin can bleed from scratching and the hair around the ears can become matted.

Dogs swimming in chlorinated water

You have to be extra careful with chlorinated water. Chlorine is used to kill unwanted organisms in a swimming pool. Unfortunately, it also kills the good bacteria in the dog's ears. This puts an extra dent in the dogs' natural defenses and makes them even more susceptible to ear infections.

Dogs with an allergy that like to swim

Dogs with an ear infection often suffer from an allergy, which is the main reason that the ear’s immune defenses are down. Therefore, it is important to make sure your dog isn’t allergic to food, weeds or something else. Allergic dogs will be more likely to suffer from the bacteria present in the water and will also react more extremely to them.

dog-ear

How do you prevent ear infections in dogs?

The simplest solution is not to let your dog swim. If your dog loves to swim, it makes sense that you don't want to deprive the animal of that pleasure. In any case, make sure that your dog shakes its ears well after swimming. You can also dry the dog's ears with a cloth and ensure that the hair in the ears does not grow too long. Be careful not to cut too deep into the ears and use scissors without sharp points.

Treatment of ear infections in dogs

Depending on the type of inflammation, professional help is required. That's why it's always wise to call a vet if you think your dog has an ear infection. The vet will check whether the dog solely has a swimmer's ear or whether the primary problem is an allergy and that the immune system is not working properly. The vet determines this with a serum test from Nextmune. If your dog appears to have an allergy, the vet will look into tailor-made immunotherapy, for example with Artuvetrin. The vet can also advise you to use an ear cleaner such as Otodine.