Click here to view a general index of all nutritional health, natural remedies and skin care products
Pet Product Index
1 Year Money Back
Guarantee


    Ear ablation in dogs - The last resort for
    chronic ear infections
      
    The treatment that is most effective for ear infections in dogs depends upon the severity
    of the condition. Home remedies for dog ear mites and regular grooming are effective
    methods to treat and prevent mild ear infections. Chronic and recurrent ear infections
    that do not respond to treatment may even require surgery. Vertical Canal Ablation and
    Lateral Wall Resection are designed to modify the anatomy of the dog’s ear to facilitate
    easy exit of fluids, much like as it is done in the human ear.

    Total Ear Canal Ablation involves removal of the vertical and horizontal ear canal, the
    ear drum and part of the middle ear. It is the ultimate treatment when nothing else works.
    It removes the infected ear and allows fluid to be drained from the middle ear. The
    process involves removing the entire amplification system of the body and if this surgery
    is performed on both ears, the dog becomes deaf. To understand ear ablation, it is
    necessary to know the significant role that the structure of a dog ear plays in
    ear infections.

    The anatomy of a dog ear is one of the major reasons behind chronic inflammation
    of the external ear, including externally visible cartilaginous structure and the ear canal.
    Unlike the human ear that has a short, straight and a horizontal passage leading to
    the ear drum, dog ear has an L-shaped passage. The vertical ear canal is shaped
    like a funnel and takes a 90 degree horizontal turn to end up at the ear drum. Any fluid
    that gets trapped in a dog’s ear cannot come out easily. The typical shape also makes
    it difficult for any medication to reach the ear drum.

    The retained fluid and external parasites like dog ear mites lead to infection. A long
    standing infection triggers excess production of wax and other infectious fluids making
    the ear a welcome residence for ear mites and yeast. The resultant inflammation causes
    thickening of the skin that lines the external ear creating further problems in treatment.

    Chronic ear infections often lead to injury in the middle ear cavity and can thicken the ear
    canal to such an extent that it becomes akin to a bone. Malignant tumors in the ear that
    have not metastasized through the cartilage or into the middle ear cavity too should
    undergo surgery.

    Prognosis of Total Ear Canal Ablation is encouraging as long as the procedure is
    performed by an experienced veterinarian surgeon. This helps in avoiding any
    complications during this delicate procedure. Like all surgeries, the Total Ear Canal
    Ablation procedure needs to be followed up so that any post surgical complications
    can be addressed quickly. After an ear ablation, total or partial, your dog may live
    long but he may never be the same as before.

    Your pet is your responsibility and when you bring a pet home, it is incumbent upon you
    to take proper care of its health. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you
    get down to thinking about it, whether it is dog or cat ear mites, the infection is initiated by
    poor grooming. Dogs and cats require help from owners. Regular and proper ear cleaning
    can save you a lot of expense and your pets from a great deal of discomfort.

    References:

    http://www.southpaws.com/topics/ears.htm

    http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/ear_ablation.htm  
herbal pet remedies,pet remedies