Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Advanced nutrition to support hip & joint health from day 1
Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Small & Mini dry dog food is tailored nutrition for Small & Mini dogs while being gentle on stomachs. Nourishes skin & promotes a lustrous coat.
Over 70% of cats lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition
Gourmet daily nutrition, carefully made. Tasty chunks with chicken & beef in a decadent gravy. Supports digestive health, nourishes skin and promotes a lustrous fur.
Supports brain health and beautiful fur in mature cats
Discover how and where to store your dry, as well as canned, dog and cat food. Learn how to find the "best before" dates on all Hill's pet food packaging.
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
Discover why water is the most important nutrient for your dog or cat to live a healthy life. Find out how much water your pet should consume each day.
The ear is divided into four parts:
Ear inflammations are common in dogs and have many causes. Dogs, like bloodhounds, with droopy ears and/or a great deal of hair, like the English sheepdog, in the ear canal seem to have the most problems with ear inflammations. These characteristics plus the warm and enclosed nature of the ear canal provide an excellent environment for infectious agents that cause inflammation.
Causes
Bacteria, fungi and ear mites are common causes of ear inflammation in dogs. Allergies, seborrhea, an underactive thyroid gland, trauma, foreign objects (such as plant seeds) and tumors also cause ear inflammation.
Most cases of middle ear and inner ear inflammation are caused by bacteria that pass through a ruptured eardrum. One cause of a ruptured eardrum is overzealous cleaning of the ear canal. Throat infections may also cause middle ear inflammations.
Diagnosis by your Veterinarian
Examination of your dog’s ear canal and eardrum by your veterinarian with an instrument called an otoscope helps determine the cause. If the ear is very painful, your dog may need to be sedated for a thorough exam. Other tests include: microscopic examination of earwax; ear cultures; thyroid hormone studies; X-rays; surgical biopsy.
Most ear inflammations can be treated successfully once appropriate diagnostic tests are completed by your veterinarian.
Treatment and Home Care
Ear issues must be treated persistently and specifically, depending on the diagnosis. In some cases, treatment may need to be continued for six weeks or longer.
In most cases your veterinarian will need to clean your dog's ear and remove the hair from the ear canal before treatment will be effective. The use of medications to dry your dog’s ears can be helpful. More aggressive treatment, such as surgery, may be recommended for severe cases.
Home care usually includes administering medications directly into your dog’s ear canal according to your veterinarian’s instructions. Failure to properly administer ear preparations could lead to chronic inflammation, so be sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations.
Nutrition
If your dog has an ear issue, your veterinarian may suggest a change in your dog’s food. In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend a therapeutic hypoallergenic dog food to help limit exposure to potential allergens. Such dog foods may include Hill’s® Prescription Diet® brand dog foods.
Unless recommended otherwise by your veterinarian, gradually introduce any new dog food over a seven-day period. Learn how to transition your dog gradually to a new dog food.
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Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Small & Mini dry dog food is tailored nutrition for Small & Mini dogs while being gentle on stomachs. Nourishes skin & promotes a lustrous coat.
For the unique nutritional needs of mature Small & Mini dogs
Advanced nutrition to support hip & joint health from day 1
Your dog's coat and skin are a big part of your dog's overall health. Ensure you keep your dog's coat healthy, by following these simple tips.
Discover how the field of dog science is giving us more and more insights into the inner workings of our furry best friends.
Learn basic steps & precautions for treating a cut on your dog, including what you can put on the cut, and when you should take them to the vet.
Learn how dogs with sensitive skin can have special dietary needs, how they can develop over time in a healthy dog, and how Hill's dog food can help.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.