my labrador has a cut on the bottom of each ear, any tips on how to help them heal quickly without distress?

Question

We don't know how these cuts happened but he's had one ear stitched which started to heal well until he shook his head. We've checked his ear canals and there's no sign of infection but he's a dog that's always shaken his head. The stitches stayed in but the wound re-opened and the vet ended up bandaging his ear to his head. We noticed a week later that a small cut appeared at the bottom of his other ear and grew larger every time he shook his head. This has resulted in both his ears being bandaged to his head and one very unhappy boy. We've had to get sedatives from the vet to keep him from scratching his ears and shaking his head. The cuts are healing but I'd like any advice anyone can offer that doesn't involve having to bandage the poor dog up.

Answer 1

hi there i have owned a labrador for the last 5 years who has had nothing but trouble with his ears ( he has a narrow ear canal which makes him prone to wax in his ears), your dog could have got the cuts from scratching his ears which could be due to wax, tics, fleas etc. You say he s always shook his head which says to me that he has problems with wax go to the vets and get it checked out. As for the wounds that are currently on his ears bathe them in salt water and try giving him some arnica tablets (available from any good health food store) they worked a treat after i gave birth to my daughter. Arnica is a herbal remedy which helps to heal wounds and bruises a lot quicker - it really works too!! Also try asking your vet for an elizabethan collar which will stop 'rover' from scratching or playing with his ears, he wont like it one bit, but it will be better for him in the longrun for his ears to heal. I hope his ears are better soon and this info is of some help to you.

Answer 2

This probably won't help at all, but hydrogen peroxide can help heal a cut, without the harsh sting of alcohol. Some people pour it into their dogs ears to clean them out, so it's relatively harmless in that area. It may relieve the itching too. Have you asked your vet about topical lidocaine (it's found in neosporin plus)? Since I don't know the injury I can't say that this would work. Maybe somebody else has a better suggestion.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It is quite disconcerting, isnt it? Do you have no inclination as to what is causing the cuts. They do sound serious if they need stitching by the vet.

When my own dog tore a 2" long wound in the middle of her chest, while passing through a barbed wire fence, I treated the wound myself.

I washed it out the wound, twice daily, with a "Savlon" solution. Surtured it and applied a generous dollop of Vetzyme Antiseptic Ointment. Also administering antibiotic tablets.

Within 10 days the wound had closed completely. Doing this personally saved a great deal of vets expenses.

Answer 4

I used liquid band-aid from the store, it is basically super glue with a better name. My dog likes to shake his head as well, so when he got a cut on his ear we used the liquid band-aids. I told my vet this and he said it was a great way to fix the problem. Just make sure you clean the cut before you seal the cut with the liquid band-aids.

Answer 5

Try one of those silly cone things you can put round your dogs neck, It sounds like he may be scratching his ear with his claws, so keep his claws short may be a good idea, not all ear infections are noticible, I would get the vet to make sure.

Answer 6

Make sure his toenails are clipped and blunt. Get some bag balm salve and put that on his ears for healing. If this is not your only dog another dog may be chewing on him.

Answer 7

Betadine spray! I It's the best but only as long as you know for sure that your dog's clean of infection!

Answer 8

TRY PUTTING NAPPY RASH CREAMLIKE SUDACREM ON THEM.