Food allergies are a frequent cause of chronic ear infections.
The thyroid hormone is essential for regulating your dog’s metabolism, so when your dog doesn’t produce enough of it your dog usually starts to exhibit some noticeable symptoms: Your dog may become lethargic Your dog will probably gain weight without a change in appetite Your dog may develop bacterial infections on his skin His skin may become dry There may be hair loss, especially on your dog’s trunk and tail There may be a darkening and thickening of the skin where your dog has lost hair Your dog may not be able to tolerate the cole and may look for warm places His heart rate may slow He may become aggressive He may become depressed He may develop chronic ear infections Some of these symptoms, such as hair loss, bacterial infections and chronic ear infections, are similar to those found when a dog has allergic reactions If your dog suffers from chronic ear infections it can sometimes be difficult for an owner to determine the cause. Chronic Ear Infections and Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism in dogs occurs when your dog’s thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. Some breeds, such as Golden Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers are more likely to be hypothyroid than other breeds. Cleaning the ear will also remove debris that can trigger infections. And, all chronic ear infections and other symptoms should disappear. Hypothyroidism can be inherited but it can also be triggered by pollutants, allergies and other environmental factors. In the meantime you can treat your dog’s dry and irritated skin with a good oatmeal shampoo and conditioner that will ease the itchiness and add moisture back to the skin and coat and your dog’s ear infections with an all around product like Ear Aid , that will cleanse and moisturize, heal and protect. Let your vet decide If your dog does have chronic ear infections and you suspect either hypothyroidism or aller gies, your best course of action is to take your dog to your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis. Treating the cause of the smell will not only have you snuggling up to your dog again, but will have him feeling more comfortable. You can see improvement in your dog’s condition in just two to three weeks.