Mishaps to these parts of the dog’s anatomy are fairly frequent. The three main causes of trouble are:

1.       Torn ears (from fighting or by barbed wire).

2.       Haematoma (a haemorrhage under the skin of the ear flap).

3.       Foreign bodies in the outer ear canal (e.g., grass seeds).

1.    Torn ears

Dogs do not, however, bleed to death from bitten ears, and the bleeding will cease within a few minutes if pieces of cotton wool soaked in cold water are held firmly over the wounded area, one each side of the injured flap. If the wound is extensive, i.e., more than 2″ long, it is advisable to have the injury attended by a veterinary surgeon, but before taking him to the surgery bandage the ear upwards over the head, the bandage going right round the neck and thus enveloping the whole ear and neck region. This will stop the dog shaking his head during the journey and so starting a fresh flow of blood. If the wound is small, clean it with a little cold water containing a suitable antiseptic, and with a pad of cotton wool or gauze each side of the ear flap, bandage the ear over the head as described. This may be removed one or two days later, and the wound kept clean until it has healed. In spaniels, and long-coated dogs, it will be necessary to clip some of the hair away to ensure a clean wound.

2.    Haematoma

A dog’s ear consists in section of a layer of skin, then a thin layer of cartilage, then a further layer of skin.

Occasionally, especially in large-eared dogs, a violent shaking of the head causes a rupture of one of the many small blood vessels supplying the skin and the tissues below. This results in the ear flap becoming suddenly hard and balloon-like. The condition is not serious but may need surgical measures to return the ear to normal size. This, of course, will have to be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. As this condition is usually the result of violent head shaking or ear scratching it is as well to have the ears examined to make sure there is nothing producing an irritation in the ear canal itself. Such an irritation can result from a local infection, or can be produced by:

3. Foreign bodies in the ear

Grass seeds occasionally work their way down the ear, into the external canal of this organ, resulting in an acute irritation. The animal holds its head on one side, whimpers, and is in obvious discomfort. It should be promptly seen by a veterinary surgeon who, by means of a special instrument, will be able to see the seed, and with special forceps remove it. Some cases will require an anaesthetic. The earlier this is attended to the better, as presence of the grass seed will result in a sore ear, and maybe a secondary infection.

Do not pour oil or any other liquid into the ear. This will make the veterinary surgeon’s job more difficult, by obscuring his range of vision when he examines the ear with the auriscope.

Do not probe or poke about in the ear with forceps or pieces of cotton wool. This will push the grass seed further down.

If an ear is damaged in a fight, or by sharp wire, it will bleed fairly profusely. In addition, the irritation caused often makes the animal shake his head violently, which adds to the bleeding and also spatters blood in all directions. Blood is a good example of a little going a long way; within a few moments of the injury the dog appears to have lost at least half its total amount. 

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The handling of a dog should start when he is a puppy, and simple lessons in obedience are good for the daily management of a dog, just as some degree of discipline is good for his owner. The properly trained and handled dog is not a cowed dog, but one who is a credit to his owner, and not a constant nuisance and irritation to others. Therefore simple obedience training, which the animal enjoys learning, is an important part of his education. Answering to plain commands such as coming when called, sitting when told, and coming to heel at a word, are simple orders which should be impressed upon every dog.

To own a dog is not only to care for it but to control it as well. If this truth were more widely recognised dogs would be less frequently subjected to criticism that should properly fall upon the owner. More important, accidents would be reduced, as it is usually the undisciplined dog which causes, or is involved in, accidents.

Control of a dog in an emergency is even more important than in the daily run of life. Control is essential; the ability to apply any first-aid measures rapidly depends upon it. Many dogs, especially when in pain or shocked, resent efforts to help them. It is therefore important to be able to apply, quickly, efficiently and firmly, methods of control as and when required. These measures are best carried out by the owner, as even the most frightened dog will usually heed a person he knows. Even the most disciplined dog will, if in pain, be inclined to snap, often unintentionally. Some control of the biting end can be obtained with a lead, tape, or bandage. Obviously any restraint should be carried out with minimum disturbance of.

Few dogs pass through life with at least one illness during which the owner must give nursing care, and very often the animal’s recovery or the reverse depends to a large extent on the quality of the attention he receives. Canine patients differ from humans in that they cannot be kept in bed unless they are too weak to get out, and their co-operation has to be obtained by persuasion rather than by request.

A human patient will submit to the unpleasantness of constant intramuscular injections of penicillin, for instance, because he knows it is for his own good, but a dog cannot be expected to reason in this way. As some treatments given to sick dogs (inhalations, for example) are not welcomed by the patient, the attendant may have a difficult time. On the whole, however, dogs— even very young ones—make good patients provided they have confidence in their nurse and less important, in the veterinary surgeon. If a dog trusts his attendant he submits with quite good grace and often astonishing resignation and stoicism to many unpleasant measures, and even shows gratitude in a touching fashion.

When an animal is sufficiently ill to require nursing he should be put in a separate room or kennel, even if the malady is not infectious. The general hubbub of the kitchen or living-room is not restful, and every sick animal needs plenty of sleep and peace. This is particularly the case with distemper and hard-pad. Some dogs spend most of their time sleeping during the early stages of the former and, in addition, the nervous system is often affected in both diseases and a noisy, restless environment may result in the dreaded distemper or hard-pad fits.

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