Maltese Ear Care
Without a doubt, one of the most common problems that crosses the veterinarian's exam table is otitis externa (infection or inflammation of the external ear canal). Surprisingly, most ear infections can be forestalled by proper preventative care by the pet's owner. Often pet owners unknowingly make the problem worse by inappropriately treating the ear with improper medication or by traumatizing the ear during cleaning. The best way of preventing this is to take your Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) to your veterinarian once you notice any ear problems and learn proper ear cleaning techniques.
Now HEAR This!
I once had a pet owner complain that she had been treating her Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) for what she thought were ear mites (a parasite found in the ear) for weeks and had not been successful at resolving the problem. Upon examination of her Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies ear canal, I found several pieces of spear grass embedded near the ear drum and gently extracted them. All the ear mite medication in the world would not have re-solved the problem.
To understand the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies ear problems better, we must initially understand that the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies ear canal is anatomically different than that of the human ear. Unlike the human ear, the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies ear has two compartments. Beginning at the opening of the ear canal, the vertical canal travels downward towards the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies jaw. Then it makes a 45 degree turn and travels horizontally towards the ear drum. This makes visualization and treatment of the entire canal more difficult. Also, as a rule, most breeds have a much longer ear canal than humans. These differences predispose the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies ear to infection as well as make treatment more difficult.
Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies with long, pendulous ears,
such as Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, Basset Hounds and Irish Setters,
certainly are more predisposed to ear problems than those breeds with short,
erect ears. As the ear folds, it covers the ear canal and prohibits air from
entering and drying the canal.
The result is a moist, warm ear canal that is a perfect environment for
organisms to grow.
Parasitic Problems
Inflammation of the ear canal, or otitis external, can be
caused by a number of factors, such as parasites, microorganisms, foreign
bodies, tumors, and underlying dermatological (skin) disease.
Ear mites are parasites that often can cause otitis externa. However, the
incidence is much lower than often thought. In my experience, less than 10
percent of all ear problems in Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies that I have
treated are the result of ear mites. Ticks and fleas are other examples of
parasites commonly found in canine ear canals.
Ear mites can be problematic, however. An elderly gentleman once explained that he thought his Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) was "going crazy." He said his old setter would sleep by the fireplace. Suddenly it would jump up yelping and begin to run around the room in circles. After several minutes of hysterical commotion, the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) would lie down again and go back to sleep.
After pondering the situation, I examined the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies)'s ears and found a heavy infestation of ear mites. It appeared that as the heat from the fire warmed the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies)'s ear canals, the mites would became agitated and began to move around. As the old setter would run around the room, the ears would cool down and the mites would stop their activity. Then the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) would return to the fireside.
An important point to remember is that ear mites are parasites. Therefore, for your Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) to have ear mites, it must have had direct contact with another pet infested with ear mites. So if your veterinarian diagnoses one animal in your house with ear mites, it is best to have all of your animals examined for possible infestations.
Dastardly Yeast Infections
The most common cause of canine ear problems that I see is
caused by microorganisms,
particularly yeasts. Malassezia pachydermatitis usually is the culprit, and it
loves to proliferate in warm, moist environments such as the Maltese Puppy
(Maltese Puppies ear canal.
Owners will notice the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) shaking its head or scratching at its ears. A good sniff near the ears usually verifies a problem, as most infectious otitis ears are quite pungent. Certain bacteria such as Staphylococci, Streptococci, E coli, and Pseudomonas spp also can cause infections in the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies ear, and in many cases both bacteria and yeast are present. If the infection persists, the ear canal will become inflamed and often discharge a purulent exudate, a pussy substance.
Your veterinarian usually will take an ear swab and examine
it under a microscope to determine the exact cause of the infection. This will
enable a specific treatment plan to resolve the problem.
Often, treatment will include flushing the ear canal with an ant microbial
solution and drying agent.
An anti-inflammatory injection is then administered to reduce swelling and
relieve the pain. The appropriate topical medication also will be dispensed for
further treatment by the pet owner.
Remember, all ear infections are not caused by the same microorganism;
therefore, treatment without proper examination is strictly guessing.
As a pet owner, it is important to know that persistent or
recurring ear infections in a Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies)
commonly are manifestations of other concurring disease processes. Allergies and
hypothyroidism are good examples. Systemic allergies often cause dermatitis and
itching in the ear canal, which predispose self-trauma and subsequent ear
infection. Hypothyroidism may manifest itself as increased thickness of the skin
and continual release of exudate in the ear canal, which favors an environment
for otitis externa.
Practicing Proper Ear Care
Proper ear care for the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) can often prevent recurring infection. Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies with a history of ear disease require routine cleaning of the canals. I recommend plucking all hair that grows in the canal. Hair impedes air flow into the canal that tends to keep the canal dry. Common household tweezers or forceps work well and usually are well tolerated by the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies). Be careful not to grasp the skin of the canal. After hair removal, flush the ear canals with a commercial ear cleaner. These products can be found at most veterinarian clinics or pet shops. After flushing, gently massage the base of the ears to distribute the solution around the normal ear folds.
Most ear cleaners have several functions. They not only clean
the ear canal but also have an agent for liquefying exudate, drying the ear
canal, and changing the pH (acidity) in the canals. Most microorganisms prefer
an environment that is alkaline; therefore, most ear preparations have an acid
base. Frequency of treatment will vary among individuals, but once a week during
the warm months is a good rule of thumb for those Maltese Puppy (Maltese
Puppies)s that have had problems with infected ears. Also, any time your Maltese
Puppy (Maltese Puppies) is bathed or enters the water, an ear cleaning solution
should be administered immediately afterward. This preventative is similar to
what humans do to ward off "swimmer's ear."
Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies)s without a history of ear problems may be
treated with an ear cleanser after bathing.
It is not wise to use cotton tip applicators in the ear
canal. This can be quite painful to the Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies).
Also, I don't recommend using alcohol in a Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies)'s
ear. Alcohol will dry the ear, but if there is inflammation or small scratches
in the canal, the alcohol will burn and cause tremendous pain and further
inflammation. If you must use a product from the shelf at home, use white
vinegar diluted50:50 with water.
Good preventative ear care can eliminate needless trips to
your veterinarian and save a lot of discomfort for your Maltese Puppy (Maltese
Puppies). Watch your Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) carefully for scratching
at its ears or shaking its head.
Have your groomer check for an ear problem each time you take your Maltese
Puppy (Maltese Puppies) in, and at home take the time to check your Maltese
Puppy (Maltese Puppies)'s ears for redness, odor or the presence of exudate. If
you determine there is a problem with your pet's ears, don't wait. Let your
veterinarian do a thorough examination and direct specific treatment before the
problem worsens.
Canine Ear Checklist
You may need to take your Maltese Puppy (Maltese Puppies) to the vet for a thorough examination if it:
Shakes its head or scratches its ears
Lives with other pets with parasitic infestations
Exudes a pungent odor from its ears
Has long, pendulous ears
Lives in a humid environment
Loves to swim or bathe
Has a history of recurring ear infections
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