We’ve all had our ears pop at some point in our lives. It’s upsetting to some people to hear this sound. Others are used to it.
It’s a natural phenomenon that dogs are uninformed of, but it’s annoying and sometimes irritating to their ears.
The short answer is that dogs’ ears do pop on airplanes, but not always; this is not always the case. This is concluded on a case-by-case premise, so the result depends on the particular dog.
I’ve covered a few reasons why this is happening and how you can comfort your dog while it is happening.
Contents
5 Reasons Why Dogs’ Ears Pop on Airplanes
1: Inner Ear
Depending on the amount of pressure in the ear’s atmosphere, air is trapped within the inner ear.
Because the air pressure in an airplane changes so dramatically, the air itself changes; discomfort can begin to manifest when this happens.
This is characterized by a popping noise, which is a common but not painful symptom. It’s completely normal, and in most cases, it will stop as soon as the plane touches down.
This sound may cause your dog to tuck its tail under its legs.
2: The Type of Plane
Depending on the dimension of the aircraft being flown, the likelihood of your dog’s ears popping in an airplane increases or decreases.
As a result, pressure changes are much more likely to occur and at much faster rates. Larger planes also have oxygen, which can be useful in some situations but not all.
Small planes can also cause ear-popping due to pressure changes caused by the difference between the pressure.
3: Pressure Changes
To gain a greater perception of the topic, let us discuss the importance of pressure in airplanes.
To prevent pressure loss during flight, aircraft are equipped with sophisticated pressure systems.
Pressure loss can result in a variety of symptoms, including motion sickness, severe ear-popping, oxygen deprivation, and other problems.
The onboard pressure system adjusts the number of pressure points based on the plane’s altitude and weather conditions in response to the plane’s changing altitude.
This can cause ear popping in dogs and other living things with ear canals.
4: Ear Problems
Some dogs are born with thin eardrums, which can cause them to pop when they are in a moving carrier such as an airplane.
Various other issues, such as ear infections in dogs, can make a pre-existing problem ten times worse by itself.
The pressure changes that cause the ears to pop, fortunately, are not life-threatening. However, if your dog has an ear infection, it may cause severe discomfort.
Before taking to the skies, dogs with ear infections or other ear problems should be cleared by their veterinarian.
5: Allergies
It may surprise you, but it’s quite common for people to fly and experience mild allergy symptoms while doing so.
This is due primarily to the air that circulates throughout the aircraft. This condition can affect both dogs and humans.
If your pup is allergic to anything, you should speak to our veterinarian about giving them allergy medication during the flight.
As an added bonus, this may reduce your dog’s anxiety during the flight.
3 Things To Combat Ear Popping
1: Earmuffs
Earmuffs are a simple way to help your dog deal with any ear popping that may occur while flying.
It is unlikely to be effective in every situation, but it may help those who only have minor ear pops. If you need to sleep, make sure to wear noise-canceling earmuffs.
This can help regulate pressure in the dog’s ear and keep the dog calm when exposed to noises in the airplane.
2: Chew Toys
Chew toys are an exceptional approach to help dogs who suffer from ear popping.
If you’re like most people, you’ve heard doctors advise you to blow out while blocking air from leaving your lungs in order to regulate ear pressure.
This is similar to how chewing gum works in conjunction with ear pressure. When dogs chew, it only takes a few seconds to adjust the pressure in their ears.
As a result, a chew toy may be all that is needed to keep your dog’s ears from popping during an airplane flight.
3: Medication
Benadryl is a common medication used to calm down dogs during flights.
Fortunately, Benadryl, also known as diphenhydramine, affects the ear canals, allowing for more precise pressure control.
However, it’s critical to ensure that the correct dosage is used.
Before giving your dog any medication, consult with a veterinarian to determine the proper dosage, as giving too much can be fatal.
Takeaway
When traveling by plane, dogs, like humans, may experience ear popping. This is common and, in the vast majority of cases, poses no danger.
However, it can be extremely irritating and, in some cases, even painful at times. As a result, I recommend that you first contact your veterinarian and ask for personalized recommendations.
He may advise you to give your dog medication or to provide him with something as simple as a chew toy to keep him entertained. Whatever the case may be, it’s usually not a major concern.
