The dog ear is one of the most important parts of our four-legged friends when it comes to body language - that is, it is a very peculiar way that your dog finds to communicate with you. In addition, it is in the dog's ear that canine hearing is formed: a powerful sense that sharpens dogs' instincts. This region is full of curiosities and requires some careWith this in mind, we have prepared an article full of information about the anatomy, function, care and curiosities about the dog's ear and ear.

Canine anatomy: dog ear is divided into three parts

One of the main things that catches the eye in a puppy are the ears. Depending on the breed, they can be long or small, droopy or raised, furry or sparsely furred. But regardless of physical characteristics, the structure is responsible for balance and canine hearing. The dog's ear is divided into three parts:

- External ear: this part includes the pinna - a region we call the ear that is made of cartilage and covered by hair - and the ear canal. The first has the function of capturing sound waves and transporting them to the eardrum through the ear canal. In this case, the size and structure of the pinna may vary according to the breed of dog. As for the canine ear canal, it has the shape of a funnel forUnlike humans, dogs have this deeper region, which allows them to hear higher sound frequencies;

- Middle ear: This region is made up of the eardrum and a small air chamber with three small bones - the malleus, incus and stapes. In addition to these, there are also two muscles, the oval window and the Eustachian tube, which is a small tube that connects the middle ear to the nasal cavity. This allows air to pass through, facilitating the balance of atmospheric pressure;

- Inner ear: Last but not least, the inner ear is composed of the cochlea, which is the organ responsible for canine hearing, and the vestibular system, which has the function of maintaining the animal's balance. Precisely for this reason, it is the most complex structure of the dog's ear.

The different types of dog ear

You only have to walk around the streets to notice that the ears of our four-legged friends have different shapes. In general, they can be large or small, varying according to the breed of the animal. Learn how to identify them below:

- Small, erect dog ear: his type of dog ear is part of the anatomy of dogs such as Yorkshire and Chow Chow. It means that the ears of these dogs point upwards, which can create the feeling that the animal is always on alert.

- Small and semi erect dog ear: eldogs of the Bulldog, Fox Terrier and Pit Bull breeds have their ears in a slightly downward position, which results in that cute little fold in the area.

- Large, erect dog ear: Common in German Shepherd, Siberian Husky and Pinscher puppies, large, upright dog ears are almost always associated with more active dogs. This is because they tend to provide broader canine hearing.

- Large, droopy dog ear: some dogs are born with very long ears that fall to the side of the face, such as the Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, Dachshund and Basset Hound breeds. In these cases, communication can be a little impaired, but it does not mean that it is impossible to understand what the dog wants to say. For this, it is important that the guardian is attentive to each sign of his pet and, thus, can know the position and behavior of the dog.of the ears in each situation.

Canine hearing: how do dogs hear?

One of the main doubts related to dog ears has to do with canine hearing. After all, who has never seen their doggie go on alert when hearing a noise miles away and wondered about it, right? Unlike humans, dogs have an extremely sharp hearing system and, therefore, can hear sounds imperceptible to our ears. While therange of human hearing is between 20 and 20,000 hertz, our four-legged friends can pick up between 15 and 40,000 hertz. In other words: while humans stop hearing from 20,000 Hz, dogs can be quite disturbed by the same noise. Precisely for this reason, it is very common to find a dog afraid of fireworks. In this case, it is important that the guardian looks for ways to mitigate the fear of fireworks.and avoid noise, as regular or sudden exposure to very loud noises can contribute to the gradual loss of the animal's hearing.

Ears: dogs use this part of the body to communicate

A good way to learn how to interpret a dog's behavior is by analyzing the movements of its ears, which are one of the main ways your puppy finds to communicate with its humans. Canine body language can make all the difference in getting along with the animal and, depending on the position and movement of the dog's ear, it is possible to know if your friend ishappy, afraid or even paying attention to what's going on around you. So, how about understanding a little more about the meaning behind these movements? Check it out:

- Ears raised and slightly tilted forward: this position indicates that the dog is paying attention, either to what is happening or to what you are saying. When very concentrated, the pet also tends to tilt its head, which can vary the direction;

- Ears upright and stationary: this attitude is typical of a dominant dog, ready to prove its authority in the environment, whether with other dogs or even humans;

- Ears pointed forward: this is a sign that the dog is ready to attack. If this movement is accompanied by gaping teeth and eyes fixed on the target, it may indicate that the animal is about to invest in something it considers a threat;

- Ears down: this movement is common when the dog is tense or afraid. In this case, your friend is also likely to have his tail between his feathers, his head and his eyes down;

- Ears relaxed: Relaxed ears, a straight tail, and an open mouth with the tongue sticking out are all signs that your pet is happy and comfortable.

Cleaning dog's ears frequently prevents discomfort and illnesses

Keeping the dog's ears clean is essential to ensure the animal's health. This is because poor hygiene can facilitate the proliferation of fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms that cause infections in the region. Canine otitis, for example, is one of the most common diseases that affect dogs' ears and manifests itself with a lot of itching, excess wax and redness. In addition to this, theotodectic mange is another serious problem that can compromise the well-being of your puppy. Caused by specific mites, it can present symptoms such as earache in dogs, excess reddish or brown wax, sores and bad smell. In such cases, when you notice these symptoms in your dog's ear, do not hesitate to seek help from a veterinarian. It is worth remembering thatit is also important not to try to clean the site yourself or use home remedies, as this can aggravate the condition.

Learn how to clean dog ears

If you have the habit of cleaning your dog's ear with alcohol or saline solution, it's time to change! Some components present in these solutions can damage your dog's ear canal and skin. To perform this task, the ideal is to invest in the product to clean dog ears. Composed of substances indicated to care for the region, it helps to soften excess wax,dirt and possible cell debris present in the animal's ear, which prevents the development of infections. In this case, you should start by moistening the cotton with the product and passing it over the entire outer area of the dog's ear. Ideally, clean as far as your finger can reach, without forcing it to avoid hurting the animal.

As for the frequency of cleaning, in the case of a dog with drooping ears, such as Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund or Basset Hound, the process should be done weekly, since the shape of their ears contributes to the muffling that allows the proliferation of microorganisms. Dogs with erect or semi-erect ears, on the other hand, should have their ears sanitized every ten days. In addition, it is necessary tokeep the dog's ear dry at all times, as dampness can also trigger infections.