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Dog ear crusts and cracks on the edge

Dog ear crusts may be caused by various reasons such as mite infections, fungal or bacterial infections, and fights. Mite infections usually require topical applications or sprays of mite medications, along with mite bath treatments, and regular external parasite prevention for dogs. Crusts caused by fungal infections require the application of fungal ointments, usually treated with weekly injections. For wounds, it's necessary to clean the wound promptly and apply healing medications.

1. Dog ear crusts caused by mite infections

Dog ear crusts may be caused by mite infections, such as ear mites and demodex mites. Typically, mite infections cause itching, leading dogs to scratch their ears frequently, causing ulcers and bleeding, thereby forming crusts.

Treatment for ear mites involves first cleaning the dog's ear canal with ear cleaning solution, then applying medications specifically targeting ear mites, such as those containing compound nystatin. The treatment for demodex mites is longer and can involve using drugs containing ivermectin, milbemycin, etc. It's also essential to keep the infected skin clean, clear excess secretions, and implement relevant disinfection measures.

2. Dog ear crusts caused by fungal or bacterial infections

Fungal or bacterial infections in a dog's ears can also cause itching, leading to crust formation after the dog scratches its ears. You can take your dog to the pet hospital for a skin scraping examination under a microscope to confirm the infection type and treat it accordingly. Alternatively, you can initially treat your dog with broad-spectrum antibacterial topical sprays and observe their response. During treatment, dogs should wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent further scratching and exacerbating the infection.

3. Dog fights causing ear crusts and cracks

It's possible that a dog's ear became wounded during a fight, resulting in crust formation. For minor wounds, owners should first clean the affected area with warm water and apply iodine for disinfection. For more severe wounds, owners should clean and disinfect the area before taking the dog to the pet hospital for stitching. daily iodine disinfection of the wound is necessary, and dog wounds can be applied with healing medications such as Baoling Jinfang ointment. If the wound becomes inflamed, owners should apply anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment.