does my dog have swimmers ear?

Question

i took my dog to the lake last week and to my surprise he loved swimming! (i hear shar pei's are notorious water haters and its impossible to get this dog in the bath.) however since then hes been pawing at his ears. should i be concerned? i remember getting swimmers ear when i was a kid and i remember how painful it was and i don't want my poochie to go through the same discomfort. how do i resolve the issue and how might i go about preventing it in the future?

ZotsRule · Accepted Answer

Is there a discharge from the ear?  My dog has gotten bacterial infections from swimming in lakes/rivers before.  The discharge tends to be a smelly brownish substance.  If there's no discharge - yes - possible water got inside the ear.  Either way, get him to the vet.  

As for preventing it avoiding letting them swim in lakes is best as bacteria is pretty prevalent in that sort of water.  The other thing you can do is put cotton inside the dog's ears before letting get in the water but if he submerges his head completely that may not be enough to block the water getting in.

Why do you have so many pets - and asking about buying MORE - and then email me that you can't afford to treat your ferret with Insulinoma?  Pets are a RESPONSIBILITY - not a right.  Don't have more than you can afford to care for properly.

Rocket · Answer

If your dog has an ear infection, the ear will be brown/black and smell. It happens when water gets in the ear. You would have to get ear medication and apply it everyday. In order to prevent it, you must put cotton balls in the ear and if water does get in the ear, you must take a towel and shake it out. It is so enjoyable watching animals play in the water, but it does have it's consequences. Be careful.

does my dog have swimmers ear?

2 Answers