Ear Care for Shih Tzu – A Guide to Healthy Hearing

Ears can be a primary area of infection or disease in dogs including ear mites. The Shih Tzu breed has a long haired coat which requires frequent cleaning and grooming and is an ideal time for pet owners to look for signs of infection.

The long coat found in the Shih Tzu breed, often leads it to be known as the "living toy." The coat can block the ear opening, creating a damp environment and an ideal place for ear mites to breed. In addition, it can trap dirt within ear and ear mites can multiply and grow. There are some simple steps to follow when cleaning your pet's ear. Begin by ensuring that you have the right equipment, in particular cotton balls, cotton swabs, a damp cloth, a pair of tweezers, and ear solution which you can buy from local pet shop. Alternatively, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water can be used as a cleaning solution. A pair of round tipped scissors may also be needed as these prevent damage to the inner ear canal as you work with the hairs inside the ears.

1. Start from the outside of the ears using the cotton balls and cleaning solution.
2. Make your way to the inner region.
3. Fill the ear canal with the cleaning mixture.
4. Massage the dog's ears for about 20 seconds.
5. Wash it properly.
6. Use cotton balls to dry the excess water.

Ensuring thorough cleaning of your pet's ears is important as it can prevent a variety of ear conditions such as Otitis Media an infection of the ear canal or the middle ear. This infection can be caused by ulcers, a foreign body, and debris within the ear canal. Symptoms include tilting of the head, ear discharge, odor and scratching. Otitis Externa is caused by the buildup of bacteria, fungi, earwax, left over cleaning solution and water amongst other causes. It can lead to infection and typically begins on the outside of the ear moving towards the inner ear canal, causing inflammation, if left untreated.

Hematoma of the Ear Flap is a blood filled mass. Signs that your pet may have this include, shaking of the head, or if they frequently scratch their ears. It can be caused by infection which causes an increase in blood pressure and causes blood vessels to rupture. Another ear condition that the Shih Tzu is prone to is an ear mite infestation. Symptoms include behavior such as shaking or scratching the head and you may see visible signs of ear mites within the ear.

Check the ears of your Shih Tzu at least once a week. Once you notice redness, swelling, discharge, crustiness, or a foul odor, or if your dog often shakes his head, tilts to one side, or scratches his ears schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.