Ears
Ears are the extensions of the skin and organs of hearing and balance. The ear in dogs consists of three different sections.
The dog’s ear canal is divided into 3 sections:
1) The outer section or external ear is designed to capture sound waves and extends to the ear canal. The size and shape of the external ear vary with the breed of the dog.
2) Eardrum leads to the middle layer which has a tympanic membrane
3) Next to the middle ear is the inner ear which includes the cochlea and has a complex structure
As opposed to humans, the external ear of dogs is most prone to inflammation and diseases. The most common diseases are bacterial or yeast infections which are caused by allergies. When infections in the external ear are left untreated, they may spread to the middle ear and inner ear part which may result in hearing impairment and disequilibrium.