If you own a dog, ear infections are something you certainly need to be careful of, since they are one of the most dangerous as well as troubling ailments of canines. In fact, it is the most frequent reason for pet owners to visit the vet.
However, it is actually very logical to understand that a dog that has an ear-flap covering the ear opening in particular can be at a higher risk of infection due to yeast. The ear canal is actually very habitual of remaining moist and retaining wax while the ear is covered. In simple words, dog ear infections occurring due to yeast are more likely to happen in dogs having ear-flaps compared to those who have upright ears. However, the latter are more prone to infections resulting due to mites or bacteria. For dogs, the ear infection may cause constant shaking of head, severe pain, as well as scratching of the ears until they bleed. As you can see, this is quite a serious problem, and needs to be addressed seriously.
The most common reason of dog ear infections, ear mites, can also lead to secondary infections, which can lead to temporary or permanent damage of the ear, depending on its severity. The mites actually survive by feeding on ear wax, and can cause inflammation of the skin. This can best be treated with antibiotics after consultation with a good vet. Further, a miticide is also be very effective in killing off mites. These could be in the form of a liquid or powder.
The second kind of infections are of the bacterial and fungal kinds. Your dog might also have both of these present in his ear at the same time. Further, owners of Golden Retrievers as well as Cocker Spaniels need to keep the ears of their dogs clean and dry, since these, along with Rottweilers, Weimeraners and Shar Peis are the most prone to this kind of infections.