[linz06]

Last night I was rubbing Layla's ears (for any who don't know, she's paraplegic so she can't scratch her own) and I noticed even higher up on her ears, they seemed to be dry and flakey. She kept pushing her head at me so I could scratch down into her ears. Even just at the base of the ear, there was chunks of dry crusties coming out. I try to keep her ears plucked every few weeks at bathtime, and I've noticed even then, there is tons of almost dandruff type stuff that comes out stuck to the roots of the hairs.

I'm not sure if it's the dry winter air up here (even I get extremely dry skin in the winter - I have to moisturize my hands every couple of hours during the day or they dry and crack!), or if this is something I should have checked out. She seems to be much better after I rub them and get the bigger chunks out. Maybe it's normal but it builds up in her because she can't scratch them like she used to?

Is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable, without making her prone to ear infections?