Fuzzy or floppy, perky or petite, a dog’s ears don’t just contribute to their cute factor—they’re also a crucial part of your dog’s anatomy, playing an important role in functions like hearing and balance. As such, protecting your dog’s ears year-round is integral to maintaining their overall health and wellness.
But what does effective dog ear protection look like?
Below, we break down everything you need to know about dog ear protection, including common causes of ear issues in dogs and five essential tips to protect your dog’s ear from loud noise, environmental factors, infections, and more.
Why Is Ear Protection Important?
Your pup’s ears are a complex combination of muscles, sensory organs, and cartilage.1 In fact, most dogs have up to eighteen muscles in their outer ear alone, as well as multiple compartments in the inner ear, each with their own essential purpose.1
This helps explain how dog ears are responsible for more than just hearing. Essentially, by protecting your dog’s ears, you help them maintain core functions like communication, balance, navigation, tracking, and even emotional expression.2
Let’s explore each of these functions in more detail.
Hearing and Communication
A dog’s outer ear, or pinna, captures sound waves and funnels them through the ear canal to the eardrum.3 When your dog’s ear perks at the familiar crinkle of their kibble bag, this is the pinna at work.
A healthy ear will easily recognize sounds in its environment, including verbal cues from owners, animals, and other dogs.4 This can help your pooch respond appropriately to their surroundings with barks or body language and even help them avoid danger. Without proper noise protection, the dog’s hearing damage can occur over time, leading to short-term hearing loss or even lasting harm.
Balance and Navigation
The inner ear includes the cochlea and the vestibular system, which controls balance and keeps your dog upright.3 Balance also assists in changing speed and direction, so it’s especially important during play and regular exercise.2
Additionally, balance plays an important role in general safety and injury protection by preventing your pup from frequent falls.2
Emotional Expression
Your dog may do a lot of barking, but their primary method of communication is through body language and posturing—and that includes their ears.4
Dogs’ ears act as translators for their emotional states and intentions. For example, if your dog’s ears are perked, they may be feeling eager, attentive, and ready to play. On the other hand, downturned ears can indicate caution or fear.4
Scent Tracking
Certain breeds, like Basset hounds, use their floppy ears to pick up scent particles in their environment by lifting the particles with their ears and bringing them toward their nose.5
For these breeds, the nose also acts as a second ear. This is because longer ears can muffle noise, so these dogs may not pick up far-off sounds as quickly as their perky-eared counterparts. As such, they rely on their sense of smell to familiarize themselves with their surrounding environment.5
Causes of Ear Issues in Dogs
Ear issues in dogs are common, and several factors can affect your pup’s ear health, like breed and seasonality. In fact, studies show that 20% of dogs are affected by ear disease, with a 10-15% spike in ear infections during warm weather months.6 Studies also show that dogs with floppy ears are more likely to develop infections and other ear-related issues due to trapped moisture or debris. Additionally, cold winter months can lead to complications, as dogs and cold weather exposure may also have the risk of ear conditions and infections.
While these statistics may sound worrying, the key to dog ear protection starts with understanding the potential causes of dog ear issues so that you can work to prevent them.
- Environmental allergens – Your outdoor-loving pooch may be especially prone to environmental allergens, like pollen, that can irritate the ear.7
- External parasites – Another common cause of ear issues in dogs is external parasites like fleas or ear lice in dogs—a highly contagious microscopic parasite that feeds on the wax and oil in your dog’s ear.8 The presence of these pesky parasites can cause itching, inflammation, and reddish brown ear discharge that resembles coffee grounds.
- Ear wax or dirt buildup – Wax, debris, or dirt buildup is a common culprit of ear issues, too. Not only is this buildup painful for your pup, but it can also lead to ear infections.
- Breed – Dogs with long or floppy ears, like Beagles or Cocker Spaniels, are more likely to trap moisture or debris in their ears which can lead to infection later on.9
- Excessive ear cleaning – While regular cleaning is recommended for pups of all breeds, excessive dog ear cleaning can lead to increased itching or irritation. Products that include alcohol or drying agents can be especially harsh on your dog’s sensitive ears.
That’s why we recommend Vetericyn’s Triple Action Ear Treatment. Our triple-action blend of Hydrocortisone, Otizyme, and Botaniplex™ offers three modes of action to treat ear infections, reduce inflammation and irritation, and address year-round ear concerns.
Seasonal Factors
As mentioned, seasonal factors can also impact your pup’s ear health. Exposure to elements during increased outdoor play (like grass and pollen during the summer) can exacerbate allergies and lead to wax buildup.9
Plus, just like humans are prone to ear infections in the winter, dogs are too! Frigid winter winds can limit circulation in the ear, which can increase your pup’s chance of developing an ear infection.10
The Issue with Untreated Issues
If left untreated, ear issues can lead to an increase in the symptoms mentioned above, as well as more serious problems such as11:
- Increased head shaking
- Increased itching
- Redness
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Debris buildup
- Brown, yellow, or blood discharge
- Hair loss in and around the ear
- Ear infection
- Ear pain
- Scabbing and scarring in the outer and inner ear
- Balance issues and loss of coordination
- Abnormal eye movements
- Canine hearing loss
Fortunately, most ear issues in dogs can be quickly diagnosed and treated by a visit to the vet. Even better? If you follow the five simple dog ear protection practices below, you can reduce the likelihood of ear issues happening in the first place.
5 Essential Tips To Keep Your Dog’s Ears Safe Year-Round
By preventing the most common causes of ear issues in dogs, these five tips can help you protect your dog’s ears year-round.
#1 Conduct Regular Cleanings
Regular ear cleanings are an effective preventative practice to ensure your dog’s ears stay healthy.6 We recommend conducting regular cleanings with a gentle ear wash to remove wax buildup, flush out debris, and address any irritation.
While a once-a-month cleaning is sufficient for most breeds, there’s no harm in consulting your vet if you think your dog may need extra cleanings.6
#2 Check For Debris
In between cleanings, check for debris that may be stuck or lodged in your dog’s ear. Frequent check-ins can be especially helpful during seasons when your pup insists on more outdoor adventures. Look for things like ticks, dirt, leaves, cuts, or scratches.6
#3 Keep Ears Dry
Dogs have long, L-shaped ear canals that can easily trap water.9 This means you have to take care to prevent waterlogged ears, which can lead to an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria.9
After a dip in the pool or local lake, ensure your dog’s ears are sufficiently dry by using a towel to pat down their head and ears. Then, place a cotton ball in each ear and press gently to absorb any excess water.
#4 Use Ear Protection
Your pup’s hearing is exceptional—better than most animals. In fact, dogs have a frequency range of about 40-60,000 Hz, which means they can hear sounds at much higher and lower pitches than humans can.12
While their hearing acuity is certainly a superpower, it can make their ears more susceptible to damage. Ear protection like ear muffs or ear plugs can protect your dog’s ears from exposure to loud noises. What’s more, ear protection is a helpful tool for those seasonal irritants we mentioned earlier:
- Ear muffs can be used in winter to keep your pup’s ears warm and prevent infection.
- During summertime swims, ear plugs can help keep the ear canal extra dry.
#5 Use Gentle Cleaning Products
Your pup’s ears can be easily irritated by harsh chemicals. That’s why we recommend using a mild, specially formulated ear cleaner to remove wax and debris without causing harm to tissue or cartilage. This is especially important for dogs that are prone to ear issues, like our floppy-eared friends or frequent swimmers.
Fortunately, with Vetericyn’s Antimicrobial Ear Rinse, you can rest assured that your pup’s ears are in good hands. Free from alcohol, steroids, and antibiotics, our formula is non-toxic, non-irritating, and safe for all skin types at any stage of life or activity.
Choose Vetericyn to Protect Your Dog’s Ears from Irritation
Protecting your dog’s ears year-round can help prevent discomfort and protect them from more serious issues like infection and dog’s hearing damage. By following the best dog ear protection practices, like using ear muffs during winter and conducting regular cleanings, you can keep your pup’s ears healthy and ensure they’re play-ready every single day.
And Vetericyn is here to help. Our ear care products for dogs are specially designed to help relieve itch, soothe inflammation, and remove debris that can cause irritation and infection, all while supporting healthy tissue by aiding natural healing.
Whether you’re conducting a routine cleaning or rinsing your dog’s ears after an outdoor adventure, Vetericyn is your trusted source for maintaining your dog’s health and wellness.
Reviewed by C. Scott Van Winkle
Scott has been with Innovacyn for the past 11 years and has been working within the Burlingame portfolio of companies for the past 23 years. Scott brings a diverse background to Innovacyn. With an upbringing as the 5th generation on his families cattle ranch, Scott has a passion for animal health and the continuous improvement surrounding agricultural practices. Scott earned marketing and business management degrees from the University of Idaho and holds an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University.
Sources:
- National Library of Medicine. Anatomy and physiology of the canine ear. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20230592/
- The Moving Canine. Balance. Surprisingly way less static than you thought! https://themovingcanine.com/balance/balance-surprisingly-way-less-static-than-you-thought/
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Ear Structure and Function in Dogs. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/ear-disorders-of-dogs/ear-structure-and-function-in-dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Canine Communication – Interpreting Dog Language. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/canine-communication—interpreting-dog-language
- How Stuff Works. Why Do Scent Hounds Have Long Floppy Ears? https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/why-do-scent-hounds-have-long-floppy-ears
- American Kennel Club. How to Help Prevent Dog Ear Infections. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/tips-preventing-ear-infections/
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Atopic Dermatitis (Atopy) in Dogs. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/inhalant-allergies-atopy-in-dogs
- Beyond Pets Animal Hospital. What are External Parasites in Dogs? https://beyondpets.com/pet-health-plus/external-parasites-in-dogs/#mites
- Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. Ear Infections in Pets: Causes and Treatments. https://www.amcny.org/pet_health_library/ear-infections-causes-and-treatments/
- Top Dog Health. 8 Ways Cold Weather Can Affect Your Dog: What to Watch For and How to Help. https://topdoghealth.com/8-ways-cold-weather-can-affect-your-dog-what-to-watch-for-and-how-to-help/
- Ferguson Animal Hospital. Ear Infections in Dogs. https://www.fergusonanimalhospital.com/site/blog/2023/06/15/ear-indection-dogs
- American Kennel Club. Dogs Don’t Have a Sixth Sense, They Just Have Incredible Hearing. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/sounds-only-dogs-can-hear/
