ePetDrugs Blog

Does your dog dig more at his ears than he does at the dirt? Does your cat shake her head even when there’s no reason for you to be having a disagreement? You may have a pet with dirty ears! Just like people, our pets occasionally need their ears cleaned out to clear them of build-up and debris. This is especially true for dogs with cropped ears or very short ear flaps, as they have little protection to keep dirt or other debris from entering the ear canal. While your veterinarian will often offer to clean your pet’s ears during checkups, it’s a good idea to maintain your pet’s ears with weekly or bi-weekly cleaning. Just as you probably wouldn’t put something in your own ears without ensuring that it was safe or helpful, you should never use anything other than a veterinary approved product to cleanse your pet’s ears. For gentle, basic cleaning, consider purchasing a nontoxic ear cleanser meant specifically for dogs or cats. Oti-Clens is one such product that has proven effective at helping you maintain a no-fuss ear cleaning regimen for your pet.

Before you start making a habit of cleaning your pet’s ears, you should ensure, first of all, that your pet does not have a pre-existing ear problem that needs to be taken care of. If your dog or cat is digging at his ears, use a penlight or small flashlight to take a peek into the ear canal. If you see a lot of black debris and build-up and there is a foul odor to the ear, your pet may have ear mites, a very common, but extremely uncomfortable parasitic infestation. Ear mites cannot be treated at home without the proper medications, so a trip to the vet will be in order. If there seems to be a lot of white or yellowish build-up and, again, a foul odor accompanied by lots of itching, your pet may have a yeast infection. Yeast infections of the ears are especially common in dogs with very long ear flaps and ear canals. As with ear mites, a yeast infection is easily treated, but requires veterinary intervention. If you have any doubts as to whether or not your pet’s ears are simply dirty or if there’s something more serious going on, don’t hesitate to contact your vet. Once you’ve established that your pet’s ear issues are really just an issue of maintaining cleanliness, you can begin using a cleansing product such as Oti-Clens.

To use Oti-Clense or any other liquid ear cleaner on a dog or cat, insert the tip of the bottle into the ear canal and squirt a good amount of the liquid into the ear. Immediately remove the bottle and lightly massage the base of the ear (where it attaches to your pet’s head) for about a minute. Then, using a cotton ball, or, if your vet has shown you how, a safety Q-tip, swab the ear out. For particularly dirty ears, this process may need repeating a few times initially. Most pets won’t exactly appreciate having their ears cleaned, so be sure that you have a way to gently restrain your pet during the process, and, if you’re dealing with dirtier-than-normal ears, consider doing it outside or in an easily cleaned area, as pets will often sling debris from their ears as they shake their heads. With consistent cleaning and positive reinforcement (such as a treat after each cleaning), your pet will learn to remain well-behaved during his ear cleaning sessions. However, if your pet whimpers, cries out, or gives other indications that he is in pain during the process, stop immediately and contact the vet. Your companion may have an ear infection, obstruction, or other matter that needs looking into!

While cleaning your pet’s ears may not be as delightful a process as playing fetch or going for a walk, it’s one of those necessary chores you agree to undertake when welcoming an animal companion into your life, and it’s made infinitely better by the availability of products like Oti-Clens. Cleaning your pet’s ears takes only minutes a week, keeps him healthy and happy, and helps you on your way to enjoying your animal companion for many, many years to come.

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It’s not a topic we’d want to discuss at the dinner table, nor is it something you want to think about while drifting off to sleep at night, but given that you’re probably doing neither as you read this article, now seems as good a time as any to mention tapeworms. Contrary to what you may have heard, tapeworm infestations (as with any dog or cat parasite) are not limited to neglected pets living in dirty, abusive environments. Tapeworms are everywhere and are very easily transmitted from one host to another. In the instance of our dog and cat companions, tapeworms are most often contracted from fleas. Adult fleas are often infected with tapeworms and, if your dog or cat has fleas and bites at them seeking relief from scratching, he may ingest a flea and thus become infected with tapeworms. To get rid of tapeworms, then, you’ll need two weapons on hand—a good flea preventative such as Advantage, Frontline, Capstar, or Program and a simple de-worming pill made with praziquantel. So how do you know if your dog or cat has tapeworms? The only definite answer can be had via a fecal test performed by your veterinarian, however, tapeworms often manifest and prove themselves without the need for veterinary bills or lab work. Some dogs or cats will chew at their hind ends or “scoot” along the floor to relieve the itching caused by segments of the tapeworm being expelled from the body. Others will vomit, have a swollen belly, and be generally lethargic. The most obvious way people discover the unlucky surprise of a tapeworm infestation is by noticing the moving segments of the worm either in the animal’s feces or stuck to the hairs around the anus. Both are unpleasant discoveries, to say the least! If you find evidence of tapeworms in your dog or cat, take what comfort you can in knowing that at least you caught the situation before it worsened and that you can now treat the problem with a dose of Tapeworm Tabs. But what if your pet doesn’t want to take his medicine? Sometimes, the pill can be crumbled or powdered and mixed into a dollop of canned food your pet loves. Many times, however (especially with cats), your pet will turn up his nose at such an offering. It’s best, then, to simply “pill” your pet rather than waste a pill attempting to sneak it into his food. To pill a dog, simply ask your dog to “sit” (or have someone hold his collar), open up his jaws with both hands, and, with a free couple of fingers, drop the pill to the back of his throat. Hold his mouth closed just above the nose and gently stroke his throat area with your free hand to encourage him to swallow the pill. It should go down easily, but take a moment after you think he’s swallowed to make sure that he doesn’t spit it back out! Pilling a cat can be a bit more difficult, but your best bet is to do it much the same way you would pill a dog. It helps to have someone hold the cat firmly for you, and sometimes, it helps to gently hold the cat by the scruff of his neck, as this encourages the sides of the jaws to open up so that you can pry the mouth open and quickly toss the pill inside. Once again, massage the throat and make sure the pill stays down. Cats are notorious for spitting out pills even minutes after you’re sure they’ve swallowed! Yes, tapeworms may be unappetizing and perhaps downright nauseating to consider, but it’s even more nauseating to consider the facts that a tapeworm can grow up to 20” inside of a dog or cat and up to 20 feet (or more!) inside the human body. While it’s rare for a human to contract a tapeworm from their dog or cat, it is possible. Even if you don’t suspect your pet of being infested with tapeworms, always wash your hands thoroughly (especially under the nails) after scooping your pet’s feces, keep a few Tapeworm Tabs on hand should the need arise, and try not to think too hard about this topic as you join your family for some holiday feasting this festive season!

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