Basset Hound Yeast Ear Infection

Long, floppy dog ears! Let's keep them healthy because a Basset Hound yeast ear infection is no fun for the dog.

My Experience with Ear Infections

Healthy Ears for 6 Years

My Basset Hound, Hunter, had healthy ears fo 6 years. I had been inspecting and cleaning his ears weekly as my vet advised to prevent ear problems. This routine was doing the trick. His ears were nice and healthy. All good, no problems.

Then one day I noticed... Hunter seemed uncomfortable. He would frequently shake his head as though his ears were bothering him. So, I took a look. I pulled his ears up and noticed what looked like dark brown dirt on the outside of both ears.



My husband cleaned his ears and I thought everything would be fine. When I checked under his ears the next day, the brown stuff was back. It was as though his ears hadn't been cleaned at all.

The Winning Streak is Broken!

Hunter, not happy. I took Hunter to the vet. The vet took a swab of the brown stuff from way down inside his ears. She then looked at it under a microscope and informed me that he had a yeast ear infection. Ugh!

The vet told me... When you see the brown stuff come back so quickly then there is most likely a problem. She prescribed ear drops which I gave to him twice daily for two weeks. After two weeks, I took him back to the vet and she informed me that his ears were healthy again. Yay!

Basset Hounds are Prone to Ear Infections

Dogs with long, floppy ears are prone to having ear problems.

A Basset Hound's long and heavy ears tend to retain moisture. This creates a perfect environment for bacteria or yeast infections to develop.

Continue reading to learn about what to look for and prevention.

Signs of Basset Hound Yeast Ear Infection

What to look for...

The specific signs of a yeast ear infection include:



a brown discharge

a bad odor.

Additional signs indicating ear problems include:

lots of ear scratching or rubbing

head shaking

tilting the head to one side

pain around the ear area.

If you suspect that your dog has an ear infection, then get him to the vet. Prompt diagnosis and treatment by a veterinarian are necessary because yeast and / or bacteria can cause severe ear problems.



Chronic Ear Infections

Chronic ear infections are often the result of an underlying condition. For example, allergies to either something inhaled or eaten may result in ear infections.

Sometimes it's difficult to determine why a dog may be suffering from chronic ear infections. A proper diagnosis by a veterinarian is necessary. If an underlying condition is identified, then the vet will most likely treat the condition as well as the ear infection.



Prevention

To prevent your dog from having ear problems including a Basset Hound yeast ear infection...

Keep those cute ears clean and dry. Clean and dry is the key (assuming your dog does not have an underlying condition that contributes to the problem). Inspect and clean the ears on a regular basis. I do this with Hunter about every week or 2.

Read Basset Hound Ear Care to learn about routine ear care including a video demonstrating how to clean your dogs ears.

Final Tips

Routinely inspect and clean your Basset Hound's ears.

Promptly consult with a veterinarian if you notice signs of ear problems.

Make sure that your veterinarian identifies and treats any underlying conditions that may be the root cause of chronic ear problems.

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