Ears-hot to the touch, very red

OUCH

My 6 month old pit bull puppy has very red, hot to the touch ears. He is constantly scratching them and cutting them with his nails.

His nails are kept trim, however he just digs at his ears sooo much. What could the cause be?





Hi
My first guess would be that your puppy is suffering from dog allergies of some sort.

As it's Spring time and it sounds as though is a recent habit, it could be seasonal allergies. Dog food allergies are also fairly common.

Itchy ears and irritated ears are a classic sign of canine allergies. Other itchy areas can include legs and paws, belly and tail area.

If you've used a different shampoo on him, treated him with any sort of chemical treatment (such as a flea produce), shampooed the carpets, used a carpet freshener, washed his bedding etc. etc. - then any one of these could be the trigger. With dog food allergies it's more likely that a dog reacts to a familiar food than a new one, but if you've given him different food or treats recently that could also be the problem.

You can give Benadryl to a pup/dog and that sometimes helps subdue the symptoms if it is an allergy. But it's a short-term fix, and you should have your vet examine your pup even if it helps. The normal dosage is 1/2 mg per pound of body weight, given every 8 hours. However, it's always best to consult your vet before giving a pup, or dog, ANY type of medication that hasn't been prescribed for him/her.

Of course, allergies are just one possibility, an ear infection, ear mites or other problems could be behind his symptoms. I'd recommend that you have your vet examine your pup to make sure that there aren't any underlying health issues as well.

I hope this helps, best of luck with your puppy. I hope he's feeling much better soon.