Dog Ear Hair Loss"Dog Ear Hair Loss can be caused by excessive scratching or an underlying condition such as mange. The condition is easy to diagnose and treat." Dog ear hair loss can be caused by several things. Probably the most common cause is excessive scratching. Your dog may scratch his ears excessively due to a build up of excess ear wax, ear mites (Otodectes cynotis), or other ear infection. Infections can also cause hair loss. Sarcoptic mange (scabies) is a common infection on the ear flaps that can cause hair loss. Dermatophytosis (ringworm) is another infection that can cause hair loss, although it is less common on the ears. Canine Ear Hair Loss SymptomsThe skin may appear red, inflamed, irritated, or even crusty. Your dog may also scratch his ears excessively, which may be the cause of the hair loss in the first place.Other symptoms of ear problems may include a discharge from the ears, a bad smell, and dirty looking ears. One or both ears may be affected. Canine Ear Hair Loss DiagnosisYour vet may be able to diagnose the cause of your dog ear hair loss just by looking into your dog’s ears. If there is any discharge coming from the ear, the vet may take some of that on a swab and examine it under a microscope. If the skin is crusty or scaly, the vet may take a scraping of the skin to be examined. Diagnosis tends to be easy to do.Canine Ear Hair Loss TreatmentYour vet will have to treat the cause of the dog ear hair loss, not the hair loss itself. Once the cause of the hair loss has been treated, the hair will regrow.Treatment may be as simple as cleaning your dog’s ears so they don’t itch. It is recommended that you clean your dog’s ears once a week. Your vet can recommend a cleaning solution for you to use. If your dog has ear mites, your vet will clean his ears with a medicated solution. Usually one cleaning is all it takes. If further cleanings are necessary, your vet will show you how to do it and provide you with the medicated solution. If your dog has an ear infection, he will probably need antibiotics. He may also need medicated ear drops. If he has a fungal infection, such as ringworm, he will need a medicated cream to put on the infected area. As the infection clears up, the hair will regrow. If your dog frequently gets ear infections consider herbal drops such as those available from Pet Alive.
Sourceswww.thepetcenter.comwww.healthypet.com Diseases of the Outer Ear From Dog Ear Hair Loss to More on Canine Ear Problems To Dog Health Guide Home |
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