2006-09-20 09:57:11 · 17 answers · asked by labuto7774 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Ear infections, mites, grass seeds or other object in the ears, dirty ears, food allergies, are all reasons for ear 'flapping'..
2006-09-20 10:14:23 · answer #1 · answered by Chetco 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
More than likely it has ear mites which is very common for animals to get, but it could be an ear infection or just dirty ears. Take a q-tip and clean out the ears really well. If there is a foul odor it is an ear infection, and if it is black crusty looking it is ear mites. You can get some ear mite medicine at a pet supply store, but if left untreated if it is mites it can make the dog loose the hearing and if it is an infection it will cause this also but the ear infection will get worse it does not go away on its own.
2006-09-20 17:06:45 · answer #2 · answered by badgirl41 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be mites. A good test fro mites is if the dog has excessive amounts of brown chunky gunk in it's ear. You can even scrape some of this out of the dogs ear and put it on a white envelope. You can actually see the mites. You can get mite medicine at your vet or even walmart. In my experience, the Hartz brand from Walmart works the best. It is a little more work than the stuff from the vet, but it works way better.. If you don't think that it has mites,(no gunk in ears) it could also be fleas. Sometimes, fleas can actually get into the ear. For that you just put a couple drops of rubbing alchohol in the dogs ear. If it's neither of these, I reccomend seeing a vet because it may be due to hearing loss.
2006-09-20 17:04:58 · answer #3 · answered by glitz_and_glitter 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It could be ear mites, but it also could be an ear infection.
Ear infections cause head shaking and ear scratching as well.
The dog should probably see a vet for an exam- if it is an ear infection, the dog will need medication.
Thorough ear cleaning will help make the pet more comfortable, but the infection will not resolve completely without meds.
This web site has some tips on ear cleaning:
http://www.cybercanine.com/earcare.htm
If you do not have a commercial ear cleaner you can use a mixture of 1 part water and 1 part white vinegar.
2006-09-20 17:03:07 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cats are more prone to ear mites than dogs. although it is possible. It is also quite possible that he has an ear infection. Dogs have allergies just like humans, and instead of sneezing like humans, they have skin problems. And the ears are just an extension of the skin. Your neighbor may want to have his ears checked out. Because shaking his head so much could give him a hemotoma, which has to be repaired by surgery. A hemotoma occurs when a dog/cat shakes his head so much that blood vesseles rupture and fill the ear up with fluid/blood. SO he needs to have those ears looked at soon.
2006-09-20 20:00:45 · answer #5 · answered by lilbit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be mites, or just very dirty ears. However it is most likely to be mites. I work at a rescue and treat a number of dogs that come in to us with mites. If your neighbours don't mind, you should just point them in the vet's direction, and tell them that there is a very good product known as Specicare. They do one for dog's ears called Leo Dog Ear Cleaner, however if the vet thinks the problem is more serious then he will recommend a stronger product.
2006-09-20 17:08:28 · answer #6 · answered by Little Red Riding Hood 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could very well be due to mites, but if they feel the problem is serious enough, I'd recommend scheduling a visit with a vet just to be sure. Ear mites cause a lot of itching and discomfort, therefore making the dog (or cat, as it's happened in my case) shake its head often as they try to ease the sensation. If the mite infestation is bad enough, it can also be rather painful for the animal since scratching with toe nails or claws will irritate the area and even lead to open sores.
Over-the-counter treatments are available at most grocery or department stores, but sometimes aren't strong enough to take care of tough infestations. If in doubt, check with your vet.
Good luck!
2006-09-20 17:02:01 · answer #7 · answered by Maranda 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My guess would be mites, ticks, or a yeast infection of the inner ear...especially if the dog is a floppy eared dog. There are plenty of over the counter treatments for mites. Ticks in the ear would require an earwash of sorts that you can get from a vet, treatment would be once a day for three days I think...not very expensive either.
Good luck!
RDLS
2006-09-20 17:05:56 · answer #8 · answered by RainaDeLaSol 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im not sure its mites, but it could be an ear infection. When my dog got a foxtail in her ear she would flop her head to one side and whine. Your neighbor's gotta go to the vet. Its the only way to find out what it truly is.
2006-09-20 17:09:07 · answer #9 · answered by PuppyPower 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The dog may have ear mites. Go to any store that sell dog supplies and buy some ear mite drops. Apply them by what the directions say. They are inexpensive and they work really well. If the problem persists take the dog to the vet.
2006-09-20 17:03:58 · answer #10 · answered by lem 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It could be mites, an infection or just dirt irritating the dog. It definitely should be checked out though. If the dog is constantly shaking his head then something obviously is amiss, most likely in his ears.
2006-09-20 16:59:11 · answer #11 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋