If the dog has hot ears and is breathing. Hot ears in dogs

Causes

The organ of hearing, due to its specific structure and large accumulation of blood vessels and nerve endings, is one of the first to respond to internal and external stimuli. You can often tell that something is wrong with an animal by looking at the ear or just by touching it.

The main reasons are:

Overheating or heatstroke. After a good run in the hot sun, the dog will not only throw out his energy and get tired, but will also warm up. And the hottest part of it will be the ears. To find out the degree of danger of overheating, monitor your dog's behavior. If it continues to be active or just sleeps for a while, then nothing bad has happened. But if lethargy lasts for several hours, breathing becomes rapid and heavy, followed by refusal to eat or even vomiting, then you should worry.

Emotions are the safest reason for changes in the state of the auditory organ. Dogs are very sensitive to changes in the world around them. They can easily become stressed by moving, traveling to an unfamiliar place, or meeting a new person or animal. At the same time, emotions do not have to be exactly negative, just strong enough. Joy is physically reflected on them in the same way as sadness. This is not dangerous for the body as a whole, so that the signs disappear simply by calming the pet.

Allergy. In this case, not only the ears will suffer. In parallel with their warming, the muzzle swells, the eyes begin to water, pain appears in certain parts of the body, inflammation and redness develop. The dog is constantly itching. The reason for such a violent reaction can be many things: new food, medicine, vaccine, a piece of furniture, clothing, even plant pollen

It is extremely important to remember that your dog should not be given human antihistamines as they are more likely to harm than help due to the inappropriate dosage.

Ear diseases of varying severity. The most common in this case are skin mites and otitis (inflammation of the middle part of the ear)

Both diseases are accompanied by changes in the appearance and behavior of the animal. The dog experiences constant discomfort: pain and itching. He may shake his head, try to scratch himself on every possible object, shake his head, and whine. Discharge will appear from the auricle, it will swell and become covered with wounds and excess unusual dirt. The nose will become dry and hot. Only a qualified veterinarian can help in this case. It is not recommended to treat such symptoms yourself at home, since if you make a mistake with an accurate diagnosis, you can only make things worse.

General infection or serious illness. In this case, not only the ears will become hot, but the temperature of the whole body will increase. In addition, dogs often become lethargic, lose their appetite, do not drink and begin to hide from others. Even a simple increase in body temperature in a dog is already a symptom of a serious illness that requires immediate contact with a veterinary clinic, since in some cases such manifestations indicate a fatal condition.

Steps

Part 1

Assessing a Dog's Body Temperature

Touch the dog's ears and paws.

A dog with a fever will usually have very hot ears and paws. You can assess its temperature by touching your pet's ears and paws with sensitive areas of your body - the cheek or the back of your hand. Is your dog's skin warmer than yours? A healthy dog's body temperature is only slightly higher than that of a human.

• A dog's ears and paws have many blood vessels, and when he has a fever, these parts of the body become hot due to the movement of immune system cells to areas where there is an infection. Increased circulation of these cells in the blood leads to the release of additional heat in the blood vessels.
• If the right and left ears have different temperatures, this is a deviation from the norm. Typically, if one ear is warmer than the other, this is a sign of local inflammation of the ear rather than a general fever.

• Touch the dog's nose.

  If she has greenish or yellowish nasal discharge, the dog likely has a fever and an infection. This type of discharge may indicate that your dog's body is fighting a respiratory infection, although this only becomes clear in more severe cases. Certain diseases, such as canine distemper and adenovirus (called kennel cough), also have similar clinical signs. Therefore, if you notice greenish or yellowish nasal discharge in your dog, take him to the vet immediately.

• Temperature and humidity in the body of a healthy dog ​​vary within certain limits. It is a myth that dogs always have a cold and wet nose. In fact, the nose can be dry for several reasons: for example, if the dog lies in the sun, after sleeping near a radiator or after exercise, or when its body is dehydrated. What kind of nose does your dog usually have? Has she done any of the above that may have caused her nose to become dry and hot?

Quite often, dog owners, especially long-eared breeds, are faced with the problem of redness of the inside of the pet’s ear.

The hearing organs of pets are unique indicators that signal the owner about possible increases in body temperature, allergic reactions or other pathological conditions.

Dog breeds with long ears are susceptible to poor ventilation in the ear area. Therefore, excess accumulated moisture and dirt (with untimely and irregular cleaning of the ear canal) become an excellent place for the growth and reproduction of pathogenic bacterial and fungal microorganisms. As a result of the inflammatory process, the dog's ear turns red and causes significant discomfort.

Only a specialist can accurately determine the cause of inflammation and prescribe adequate treatment.

At the slightest manifestation of a pathological condition of the dog’s ears, it is necessary to contact a veterinary clinic.

It is not difficult to notice that a pet has ear problems, since the animal, feeling constant discomfort, becomes nervous, tense, constantly scratches its ears, and refuses to eat. Normal sleep is disrupted due to itching, and in some cases, with fungal or bacterial infections, an unpleasant odor and discharge appears from the ear canal.

You should not delay a visit to the veterinarian, since untimely treated ear disease can lead to serious complications and consequences, including sepsis and inflammation of the membranes of the brain (due to the anatomical proximity of the ear and brain).

What to do if your dog has hot ears

Touch your pet's fluffy velvet ear. If it is hot, but the dog behaves as usual, is cheerful, cheerful, plays with pleasure and absorbs food, then most likely the reason for the increase in ear temperature is due to overexcitation or the fact that it is simply hot in the house (outside). Provide your dog with drinking water and a cool place to rest in the shade, and monitor his condition. If no negative symptoms appear, there is nothing to worry about - the dog is healthy and no treatment is required.

If hot ears are accompanied by the above dangerous signs, then the best thing a loving owner can do is to call a veterinarian at home or go to the clinic. Sometimes only quick action can save an animal's life.

Red ears in a dog are not uncommon. The hearing organs of a pet are quite vulnerable. Owners often notice that their pets scratch their ears from the inside. Looking there, you can see redness, and the ears, in most cases, are hot to the touch. It is not always possible to immediately take your dog to a veterinary hospital, so it is advisable to know the reasons for this phenomenon, and also how to provide first aid to your beloved pet.

Teeth, gums and mouth

Healthy gums may be pink or stained (spotty or black). The gums feel dense to the touch. The teeth are covered by the edges of the gums. Healthy teeth do not have hard or soft plaque, white, brown or yellowish.

To examine your dog's mouth, hold his head with one hand and pull his lower jaw down with the other hand. The dog's breath should not be foul-smelling. Young dogs have white, smooth teeth, which darken over time.

Puppies do not have molars, the total number of milk teeth is 23. An adult dog has 42 teeth, these are molars (permanent) teeth. Some breeds have fewer teeth, which is due to the structural features of the jaws. When replacing baby teeth, permanent baby teeth should not remain; sometimes they are removed.

Dogs have a scissor bite: the upper front teeth protrude beyond the lower teeth. There may be overshot or undershot. The type of bite is determined according to the breed standard.

Treatment with medications

Let's look at several effective schemes for treating otitis media in a dog. The proposed life examples will help you navigate and build the right treatment for your pet.

Option 1

Patient: large dog, weight 40 kg, age 4 years. Owner's complaints: does not allow petting on the head, the dog's ear hurts. Diagnosis: exudative otitis externa.

Local processing:

1. Hydrogen peroxide. Using a damp swab, wipe the inside of the ear and the passage. Cleansing from crusts, pus and excess sulfur.
2. Chlorhexidine. Wipe the ear treated with peroxide twice a day for half a month.
3. Bepanten. Apply the ointment to the inside of the ear 2 times every 24 hours, for a course of two weeks. In severe situations, it is allowed to use Fluorocort or Lorinden.
4. Sofradex - inject 3-5 drops into both ears twice a day for 14 days.

Parallel treatment:

1. Sinulox or Clamoxil. Inject into the thigh once in the morning, 5-7 days, 4 ml.
2. Suprastin. In the withers - inject 1 ml in the morning and evening - a weekly course.
3. Serrata. It is necessary to inject 1 pill twice with an interval of 12 hours - 10 days.

Option 2

Patient: male, age - 7 years, weight - 12 kg. Owner's complaints: the dog is restless, his ear is leaking. Diagnosis: purulent otitis media in the chronic stage.

In a difficult situation, the following mixture of drops is acceptable:

Ceftriaxone 1 bottle + Dioxidin 10 ml + 5 ml Novocaine 0.5% + Suprastin 2 ml + Dexomethasone 3 ml + vitamin B12 2 ml + Dimexide 0.5-1 ml. This suspension should be administered 3-5 drops into both ears with a 12-hour interval. The course of treatment lasts 14 days.

At night, you need to apply a gauze swab soaked in the mixture: 2 ml of Lincomycin, 1 ml of Dexamethasone, Suprastin 1 ml and Novocaine 2% 3 ml. Treatment should continue for 10 nights.

A blockade with novocaine at the root of the ear may also be useful. For this, novocaine 05% is used, 7 ml twice a day. Treatment duration is 1 week.

Antibiotics for otitis in dogs should be taken with caution, for example, if the eardrum is damaged, drops containing an ototoxic antibiotic are contraindicated

Normal temperature in dogs of different breeds

The norm depends on the breed of the dog, as well as on age. The table below shows acceptable values:

These indicators are averaged, minor deviations are allowed, taking into account the individual characteristics of the dog. Not every change is a sign of health problems, so in addition to normal indicators, you need to pay attention to other signs of the animal’s condition.

Causes

Hemorrhage on any part of a pet’s body can be caused either by injuries of varying severity or by serious systemic disorders. If the tips of a dog’s ears bleed, the reason most often lies in their injury.

Dogs can get damaged in their ears:

• in fights with their relatives, cats or other animals;
• when overcoming various obstacles;
• from fly bites, ear mites, demodex mites (demodex), fleas (flea dermatitis) or other parasitic insects that cause severe itching and lead to severe scratching to wounds.

In addition to mechanical injury, there are cases when the tips of a dog’s ears bleed without any external influence. In these situations, the reasons may be as follows:

• drying out of the skin, leading to coarsening and thickening of the tips of the ears, on which crusts then form, and the animal constantly tears them off, causing bleeding;
• vasculitis – immunopathological inflammation of blood vessels with destruction of their walls and damage to nearby tissues;
• breaking the tips of the ears into blood on the head or nearby objects when the dog shakes its head to relieve pain in various ear diseases (primarily in acute otitis media);
• allergic reaction to care products, household chemicals, medications or food.

Given the variety of these reasons, identifying the specific factor that caused bleeding at the tips of a dog’s ears requires a qualified medical examination. In its course, a completely unexpected disease may be discovered, since the ears of animals are much more sensitive than those of humans, and their condition is a reflection of the general health of the pet.

The appearance of such symptoms can result, for example, from dysfunction of the thyroid gland or any pathology that worsens the immune status. In a number of cases in which the tips of a dog’s ears bleed, the pathology is considered idiopathic, since it is not possible to establish the objective causes of such manifestations.

In this case, the development of hemorrhage can also be caused by the environment. Thus, similar phenomena are often observed in dogs in winter due to severe frostbite of the auricle. And during the heat, the same consequences are possible if you stay under the scorching rays of the sun for too long.

The characteristics of the breed are also of great importance. Those of them who have ears with thick fur are much less likely to suffer from such disorders than those who have large ears with thin skin.

How to measure temperature with a thermometer

To measure a dog's temperature with a regular thermometer, careful handling of the pet is enough. The procedure is not particularly pleasant, since the device is inserted rectally, but the correct approach will allow it to be performed painlessly. The easiest way to do this is with a mercury thermometer, which is widely used for measurements in humans.

The disadvantage of this option is the duration of the procedure. To measure accurate readings, you need to hold the mercury thermometer for at least five minutes. Therefore, many owners, when deciding how to measure their dog’s temperature, choose electronic equipment. This thermometer shows the result faster - it is usually recommended to hold it for 30 seconds.

The measurement method is the same for a mercury, electronic thermometer:

1. The dog's body should be relaxed. To do this, pet your pet, talk to him, and give him something tasty to eat.
2. Carefully lay it on its side.
3. Lift the tail slightly, opening access to the anus, and insert the thermometer. The duration of the measurement depends on the type of thermometer.
4. Carefully remove the thermometer, after viewing the result, wash it well and disinfect it.

It is recommended to wash the thermometer with warm water and soap or detergent. For disinfection purposes, you need to treat it with alcohol, it must be ready for the next use.

Determining the insertion depth of the thermometer is easy. For representatives of small breeds it is no more than 1-1.5 cm, for large ones - up to 2.5 cm.

Description of the most common reasons

If your dog has flaking inside after adding a new product to his diet, there is a high probability that this is a manifestation of a food allergy. Foul discharge and a foul odor from the ear canal may also be present.

If there are no accompanying symptoms, then you can observe your pet for several days. A substance (detergent, medication, etc.) may have come into contact with the skin and caused irritation. Also, the reason may lie in the weather, since chapping and frostbite of the skin in many cases manifests itself in the form of peeling.

The veterinarian will consider the following possible options, depending on the clinical picture.

Lichen

Very often localized in the ear area and accompanied by peeling of the skin. Redness and crusting are also present. All of these symptoms are in most cases accompanied by severe itching.

It can be excluded or confirmed only by laboratory microscopic examination of fur and peeling taken from the spots where the spots are located, the glow of the lesions under a Wood's lamp (fungal spores glow with emerald light), and sowing to determine the culture. And only after this is treatment prescribed, depending on the pathogen (microsporia or trichophytosis).

The most commonly prescribed are suspensions, tablets, ointments and medicated shampoos. The most effective drugs are Itraconazole, Fungin, sulfur-salicylic ointment and Nizoral shampoo.

Much attention is paid to disinfecting the animal’s premises and sleeping place, since fungal spores can survive in the environment for more than a year. Therefore, all surfaces where wool can get in are treated with special disinfectants against dermatophytes.

You can also use any chlorine-containing antiseptic.

Finally, I would like to draw attention to the lichen vaccine, which, unfortunately, is still administered in many domestic veterinary clinics. Foreign colleagues have long abandoned this practice and recognized that it is ineffective either in the treatment of lichen or in its prevention

Allergy

The most common cause of flaking in a dog's ear. There is also almost always redness and severe itching. Such a reaction can be provoked by incorrectly selected food, introducing a new product into the diet, flowering plants, flea bites, helminthic infestation, house dust or mold. And many other substances that can be potentially allergenic to the animal.

If there is severe itching, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to prevent scratching the affected areas until they bleed and cause a secondary infection.

First of all, veterinarians recommend antiparasitic treatment, then they try changing the food. And if this does not help, then a biochemical blood test is performed to determine the possible allergen.

You need to understand that in some breeds an allergy can be triggered by one apple or the bite of one flea. We are talking about Yorkies, English bulldogs and pugs. Owners of these breeds know firsthand many of the symptoms of food allergies and atopic dermatitis.

Otitis

An inflammatory disease that can be caused by a number of reasons. Most often these are allergies, bacterial infections, foreign bodies, ear mites and tumor processes.

With allergic otitis media, the dog develops peeling inside the ear and an unpleasant odor. The animal constantly shakes its head, and squelching sounds are heard. To make a diagnosis, discharge from the ear canal is sent for cytology and microscopic examination (necessarily from both ears) to exclude or confirm a bacterial infection and ear mites.

Treatment for otitis media is standard - drops and ointments. The main thing is to choose them correctly, and this can only be done by determining the root cause.

Ear mite

Characteristic signs of a dog having ear mites are scratching their ears until they bleed. Peeling and redness also appear inside the ear canal. To make a diagnosis, deep plucks of skin are taken from the lesions and sent for cytological and microscopic examination.

If a tick is detected, it is recommended to treat all animals living in the house with Stronghold (dripped onto the withers) or Advocate.

If otodectosis provokes the appearance of otitis (which happens very often), then you can use cleaning lotions (Oti Free, 8 in 1), which are poured inside the ear. After this, they massage it near the temples and allow the pet to shake out the contents.

Make sure your dog's ear doesn't turn red

The most effective countermeasure when the question arises - a dog has a red ear inside and how to treat it is prevention. The owner is required to provide a systematic examination and, if necessary, clean the pet’s ears with cotton swabs or special drops when black fungal deposits appear. Do not be overzealous when cleaning the ear opening from wax. This way you will prevent the natural removal of dirt accumulated inside. Earwax acts like mucous in the eyes. Active production of sulfur deposits indicates the need for a visit to the veterinarian. A specialist will determine why your dog’s ear is red and smells. Depending on the criticality of the situation, he will rinse the ear on the spot or prescribe medications to help remove dirt from the ears.

Ear diseases in dogs

Most often, if a dog starts shaking its head, its ear hurts. In this case, the shaking is caused by the desire to stop the discomfort. Moving your head partially helps relieve pain, since large nerve fibers are irritated, and pain is transmitted through small ones.

Ear pain is not always otitis media. There are more than a dozen diseases that affect the dog's ears and head in general. Let's look at the symptoms of the most common of them.

Ear mites or otodectosis is a parasitic disease caused by the microscopic mite Otodectes. An acceptable environment for the parasite to live and reproduce is the ear canal, since it is warm and humid. When in an acceptable environment, ticks multiply quickly. Parasites feed on blood, lymph, skin particles and secretions, and earwax.

It is important to remember that ear mites are highly contagious and can quickly spread from a host to a healthy dog. Note that most often the carriers are cats

A guaranteed infection will occur if a nursing bitch is sick with ear mites. In this case, puppies can quickly die, but an adult dog will fight the disease for a long time.

The main symptoms of ear mites are:

• Frequent shaking of the head.
• Ear scratching.
• Ear pinching.
• The appearance of scratches on the face and back of the head in a short period of time.
• Severe pain - the dog whines if you touch the ear.
• Severe itching – the pet scratches the ear with its paw, on furniture and other surfaces.
• Formation of brown, plasticine-like ear plaque. In advanced cases, these secretions clog the ear canal.
• Discharge from the ear canals - at first the discharge looks like ichor; in the advanced stage, green pus is released.
• The characteristic odor from the ears is the waste products of mites, earwax and blood mixing, forming crusts that emit a putrid odor.

Have you examined your pet and his ears are clean, pink and smell normal? What could be the reason? The first thing to rule out is ear or head injury. When a concussion occurs, your pet may feel dizzy and nauseous. Shaking his head, the dog is literally trying to come to his senses and not lose his balance.

Ear injuries are quite common in some breeds. Be careful and examine your pet after every walk if it has drooping, long, or sensitive ears.

Another common cause is water getting into the ear canals. The reason may be:

• Violation of bathing rules.
• Incomplete drying after swimming.
• Walking in the rain.
• Swimming in the sea or bodies of water.

Disastrous consequences cannot be avoided if water gets into the dog’s ear:

A stagnant body of water is a very rich source of bacteria, which will begin to multiply quickly in the warmth.

From the sea or ocean - not only is the water salty and will burn delicate skin, there is a high probability of microscopic mollusks getting into the ear canal. It is known that some mollusks can live in the ears for years, not only in dogs, but also in people.

With detergent (shampoo, foam, soap, conditioner).

If water gets into your dog's ear, you need immediate help. Wipe the ear with a paper towel to keep it as dry as possible and repeat this procedure every time the dog shakes its head. There is a high probability that the dog will get rid of the water on its own, but carefully monitor the symptoms, since if the ear canal becomes infected or bacterial, symptoms may appear within 3-10 days.

Other causes of inflammation

Much less often, inflammation of the inner ear in dogs is caused by the following reasons:

• Malignant tumors in the external auditory canal.

• Foreign bodies in the ears. Hunting dogs constantly get grass, stubble from mown grass, and other debris there. Dachshunds, which are burrowing breeds, also “scrape” the earth not so rarely. The fungi and mold contained in it may well become the culprits of otitis media.

• Otodectosis, that is, damage to the ear canal by ear mites. In principle, this is not so typical for dogs.

Otitis is a very dangerous disease; it is better not to practice “treatment” with folk remedies, but to immediately contact a qualified veterinarian. Pathological changes in it include, in particular, a sharp thickening of the tissues lining the external auditory canal (fibrosis), which leads to narrowing of the external auditory canals, rupture of the eardrums and the accumulation of large amounts of exudate in the inner ear (and this is fraught with meningitis).

Scar tissue can completely block the ear canal, leading not only to the dog being deaf, but also to the inability of medications to pass through it. The closed channels also prevent the natural release of accumulated wax, hair and skin particles. This whole mass is an excellent substrate for the development of pathogenic microflora.

What should the owner do?

Hot ears in a pet are not a disease if there are no other additional signs or poor health. In almost all animals, this condition is normal. It should not bother the owner and does not require treatment, especially if the dogs, among other things, have a wet and cold nose to the touch.

But if, in addition to hot ears, you notice changes in the dog’s behavior, which are characterized by fever, discomfort, apathy, vomiting and other dangerous symptoms, then consult a doctor immediately. After all, only after a thorough examination, test results, direct examination of a sick pet, and microscopy, a veterinarian will be able to determine the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate therapy.

It is up to pet owners to prevent complications that can be signaled by hot ears.

Why do dogs' ears get hot?

This is not a warning sign if the animal has no other signs of distress. We are talking about indifference to everything that is happening, lethargy, refusal to eat, diarrhea and vomiting, fever, scratching in the ear area, swelling in the face.

Hot ears can be caused by:

1. Stress, fear and overexcitement. A strong emotional shock provokes an increase in the pet’s pulse, increased pressure and blood supply to organs and systems, including the ears. This, in turn, can lead to an increase in the temperature of the external auditory canal. This condition does not negatively affect the health of the animal.
2. Allergy. An allergic reaction is not limited to overheating of the ears. It is accompanied by swelling of the pet's muzzle, poor health, and scratching of the skin.
3. Temperature. To determine whether there really are deviations from the norm, body temperature must be measured correctly. After all, hot to the touch surfaces of a dog’s ears and nose, as well as the belly of a dog, are not true indicators of overheating in pets. Temperature is measured rectally using a conventional electronic thermometer. Its normal reading is from 37.5 to 39 degrees. An elevated temperature indicates the presence of a serious illness and is a reason for an urgent visit to a special clinic. Hot ears without the results of measuring a pet's rectal temperature are not evidence of any illness.

• Ear mites, ear inflammation. Both otodectosis and otitis media are characterized by itching and constant scratching of the ears. The dog shakes his head frequently. The ears become red and hot. They produce discharge with an unpleasant specific odor. If the ear is hot, but the listed signs are absent, then the pet owner should not worry.
• Heatstroke. Staying a dog outside for a long time on a hot sunny day or in a very stuffy home can cause an increase in the overall body temperature and the external auditory canal. Heatstroke is a very dangerous condition that threatens the life of an animal and requires urgent measures to be taken to save it. Be sure to take your dog to the clinic if he starts vomiting, has a fever, and is lethargic. If your dog is behaving normally, but you suspect he may be overheating, give him cool liquid, move him out of direct sunlight, or give him a bath in a river.
• Physical activity, intense walks, including in the cold, sports activities. All of these factors can cause hot ears in an animal. If there are no accompanying dangerous symptoms, then there is no reason to fear for your pet’s health.

Possible diseases

Allergies can also manifest themselves through hot, swollen ears. Moreover, this can happen due to dermatoses, and after food or drug intolerances. This is individual for each animal and depends on the presence of any chronic pathologies. By the way, otitis often develops against the background of atopic allergies. Their appearance also accompanies common infectious diseases, in which the body temperature rises significantly and the mucous membranes are affected.

The temperature of a dog's ears can indeed give an idea of ​​the animal's condition, but it won't always be something dangerous. They heat up not only in the heat and during fever, but also after active games, bathing, and exciting events for the animal. In order to determine whether the hot skin of the temples and ears poses any danger to the health of the pet, it must be carefully examined and its behavior monitored. When no suspicious features are noticed and the temperature measurement gives a normal reading, then you can stop worrying.

At risk are breeds with long floppy ears (dachshund, poodle, spaniel, basset hound, some terriers and more). But from time to time other dogs also suffer from ear sores accompanied by redness of the ear.

Redness is often accompanied by itching, pain and accumulation of fluid with an unpleasant odor.

. The animal shakes its head until it bleeds, loses appetite, sleeps poorly (wanders from place to place). Sometimes your pet's temperature rises. The doctor will tell you what exactly caused the redness of the inner surface of the ear, and the owner’s task is not to delay visiting the veterinary center.

Allergy

Any substance (more often a food ingredient) can act as a provocateur; after it enters the body, the ear turns red, the skin flakes and becomes covered with pimples, and severe itching begins. In severe cases, purulent yellowish-gray discharge appears.

Unnoticed allergic otitis media is often complicated by a secondary infection (fungal or bacterial)

. In this case, the epidermis of the external auditory canal not only turns red, but also thickens (in chronic forms of the disease), and a high concentration of sulfur is observed. If neglected and complicated by infection, otitis media can lead to complete loss of hearing; moreover, a chronic disease is less easily treated and causes noticeable discomfort to the dog.

• demodicosis;
• otodectosis;
• cheyletiellosis.

Foreign body

As a rule, it gets into the ear canal of dogs (especially hunting ones), which often walk in forested areas. A limited area of ​​redness will indicate that a foreign body, for example, a seed or a blade of grass, has entered the ear. In this case, you can do it yourself - remove the irritant from the dog's ear.

Ear injury

Dogs with large ears sometimes injure them during active play, resulting in bruises. With a hematoma, the ear not only turns red, but also becomes noticeably hot, which indicates a ruptured blood vessel.

With this damage, blood often accumulates between the skin and cartilage, which leads to severe swelling of the auricle.

Poor ventilation

A wide ear blocks the passage of air, causing moisture to accumulate in the inner ear canals, which allows pathogenic bacteria to multiply easily. The solution is early ear cropping

. This operation is necessary not so much for the pet’s appearance as for its health.

Vestibular disease (peripheral)

Redness can be a sign of damage to the middle or inner ear, in which the dog loses balance and orientation. This means that the vestibular apparatus of the animal is affected.

Symptoms to watch out for:

• the head is unnaturally tilted to one side;
• the ear turns red and hurts;
• the dog spins/falls towards the head tilt;
• nausea and vomiting;
• It hurts the dog to open its mouth and chew;
• loss of appetite.

Bathing

Ears often turn red after an unsuccessful bath, when water gets into the ear canal and causes inflammation. When washing in the bathroom, always plug your pet's ears with cotton balls, and when outdoors, remove moisture with a swab.

Also, the inner surface of the ear may change color to red after.

Dry nose – when to pay special attention

If the nasal mirror is not wet and warm for a long time (from several hours to several days), then the pet needs increased attention from its owner. Usually this condition is additionally accompanied by other signs of health problems.

Pay attention to your dog if, along with a dry nose, the following is noted:

• lethargy, apathy, lack of desire to walk and play, no reaction to a nickname;
• desire to hide – animals that feel unwell very often try to hide in a secluded place;
• decreased or complete lack of appetite; one may also refuse water, or there may be increased thirst (due to dehydration, dryness is observed, because the secretion that makes the surface moist ceases to be produced);
• with rectal measurement, an increase in body temperature (normal body temperature in a dog: 37.7-39 ° C);
• hot ears to the touch (a sign of not only ear disease, but also an increase in the temperature of the whole body);
• signs of a cold: nasal discharge, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing;
• changes in breathing rate and heartbeat, both towards faster and slower (normally a dog makes 15-30 breathing movements/min, and its heart beats at a frequency of 70-100 beats/min).

Possible complications

There are several types of complications during the period of teeth change.

Malocclusion

To avoid the formation of an incorrect bite, it is not advisable to take away toys that the dog clenches in its jaws, and it is not advisable to feed it soft food. You need to take care of those teeth that are in no hurry to fall out.

Gum inflammation

Symptoms: severely reddened, swollen gums, drooling, poor appetite. In case of inflammation, too rough foods are excluded from the diet. If the inflammation does not go away, the veterinarian may prescribe a course of Stomadex.

It might be useful to read:

• List of mandatory medications in Russian pharmacies;
• Malignant neoplasm of the large intestine;
• Glucose solution: instructions for use for intravenous infusion;
• Novocaine - instructions for use Novocaine mixture injections;
• "Valsartan": analogues, instructions for use Valsartan maximum daily dose;
• Hyperinsulinism - description, causes, treatment Leave a review or comment;
• Causes of acute pyelonephritis: symptoms, treatment and prevention Pyelonephritis ICD code 10 84;
• Medicinal reference book geotar Analogues and other information;

What is fever in dogs? Pet is hot to the touch

The normal body temperature for dogs is between 38 and 39.0 degrees Celsius, which is higher than that of humans. This means that your dog may be hot to the touch, even if his temperature is completely normal. There is also a temperature limit from 39 to 39.5 degrees, when it is impossible to reliably estimate the temperature. Within this limit, it can be normal or increased. Therefore, you need to pay attention to additional symptoms - activity and appetite. In rare cases, temperatures of 40 and above occur in healthy dogs after intense exercise or stress. After resting and calming down, you need to measure your temperature (after 30 minutes).

The word fever is commonly used to describe increased body temperature caused by infection or inflammation. A temperature exceeding 39.5 degrees is considered elevated, although it can also be 40 if the dog is very excited or under stress. You need to let it breathe and re-measure after 30 minutes. If the temperature drops, everything is fine; if not, you need to show your pet to the veterinarian.

When dogs have a high fever, which is the result of heat or excessive exercise in humid conditions, the condition is called hyperthermia or heatstroke. When the temperature reaches 40.5 degrees, serious and fatal complications can occur.

How to determine temperature without a thermometer

Using a thermometer is a 100% way to find out accurate readings. When at home, it is better to always have a thermometer for your animal in your first aid kit. If you are not at home, you may need to determine the temperature without a thermometer in order to understand the reasons for the change in the animal’s condition. It’s possible to do this, but you shouldn’t count on 100% accuracy of the result.

It is important to know what temperature the ears and paws of a healthy dog ​​should be. Feel these organs of your pet occasionally to remember their normal state. There are many blood vessels in the ears and paws, so when the body temperature is high, they generate additional heat, which is felt when touched.

A common folk way to understand if there is a high temperature is to touch your nose. It is a mistake to believe that this organ in a healthy dog ​​is necessarily cold and wet. You need to observe not a specific condition, but changes. If your nose becomes excessively dry or hot, this may be a sign of increased performance.

Another sign that requires attention is inflammation of the lymph nodes located in the groin area and armpits. When the inflammatory process begins, their size increases so that they can be felt. This is explained by the fact that when an infection enters an animal’s body, they are filled with cells of the immune system, performing a protective function. In the area of ​​the groin and armpits, the coat of hair in many breeds is usually insignificant; it is easy to feel enlarged, hot lymph nodes.

Too low a temperature is less common, but also requires attention. It can be determined without a thermometer by symptoms such as lethargy, loss of strength, and trembling in the body.