What usually comes into some people's minds when talking about Shih Tzu care is the caring and grooming of that long beautiful coat. As part of the caring regimen, dog owners must always remember to clean other parts of the body such as their ears. Keeping it clean prevents your dog from ear mites and allergies.

Before cleaning your dog's ears, get the necessary cleaning implements such as cotton balls, cotton swab, damp wash cloth or ear cleaning solution. Your veterinarian or local pet supply store can provide this ear wash or ear cleaning solution. Some use mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide as substitute for ear cleaning solution.
The best way to clean the ears is to start from the outer area first. removing the dirt in this area can be done with the use of cotton ball dampened with cleaning solution. Then proceed to the inner ear by filling the ear canal with cleaning solution. Massaging the ear for about 20 seconds is enough to help loosen the dirt and ear wax. Using dry cotton balls, carefully wipe off the dirt and excess fluid.

A Shih Tzu will less likely contract the following diseases if proper cleaning of the ear is regularly done:

Otitis Media

Otits Media or infection of the middle ear occurs when the infection of the external ear canal spreads into the middle ear. Dog owners should be careful of foreign bodies, debris and ulceration and even when cleaning to prevent rupturing the eardrum, allowing bacteria to reach the middle ear. Middle ear infection exhibits odor, discharge, ear scratching, head shaking and head tilt.

Otitis Externa

An inflammation of the ear canal is called Otitis Externa or outer ear infection. The inflammation travels from the outside opening of the ear moving inward to the eardrum. Causes of Otitis Externa are bacteria, fungi, ear mites, accumulation of wax, thick or matted hair in the canal, debris, impaired drainage of the ear and infections from other parts of the body.

Hematoma of the Ear Flap

This condition occurs when the blood is accumulated between the cartilage and skin of the ear flap. This ear problem is due to too much head shaking or scratching at the ears.

Ear Mite Infestation

Ear mites infest animals like dogs and cats. These small white creatures are highly contagious, infecting the whole litter even if only one dog is infested initially. Your dog will exhibit head shaking and ear scratching when infested with ear mites.

Shih Tzu care is not only limited to making your dog look beautiful. Keeping him clean matters the most.