Dog Ear Infections: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Allergens are a common cause of ear infections and are especially troublesome for dogs with allergies. Food, pollen, and other allergens can cause inflammation and swelling in the ear. The result? Wax buildup and an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast can lead to infection in the ear canal.

Are you looking for obvious dog ear infection symptoms? First, let’s do a side-by-side of a normal, healthy ear and a dog ear infection picture for reference:

In the early stages of a dog’s ear infection, your pet will do their best to resolve the issue on their own. One common behavior is pawing at the ear, which means they’re attempting to remove the irritant and stop the discomfort. The ear is made of delicate tissue and cartilage, so pawing and scratching at the ear may cause unnecessary pain and injury to your dog–which is why some dogs may whine while scratching.

Redness is a sign of inflammation, which is your dog’s body’s way of signaling that something is wrong–it’s also one of the easiest symptoms for a pet parent to spot! Redness inside the flap of your dog’s ear or around the ear canal is a clear sign of irritation and potentially infection.

A healthy dog ear won’t have any noticeable odor; with an ear infection, the smell will be obvious and distinctly unpleasant. An infected ear area will smell unpleasantly sweet and musty, which is often characteristic of a yeast infection. Dog ears can also have a putrid smell when bacteria is present due to the formation of pus within the ear canal.

Is there fluid or discharge coming out of your dog’s ear? Yellow, brown, or red (bloody) discharge likely means an infection is active and warrants immediate treatment. Dog ear discharge can be easy to miss–especially if your pet’s ears are extra furry or floppy. Maintaining a regular ear cleaning schedule with a cleansing ear wipe for dogs can increase your odds of catching–and cleaning up–early signs of ear discharge.

A combination of discharge, redness, and a sickly-sweet smelling odor can all be signs of a yeast infection in the ear. If you suspect that’s the cause of symptoms, keep pictures of yeast infection in your dog’s ears to show to your vet for confirmation. In the presence of yeast, a dog ear infection picture might look a little something like this:

While you might recognize the common symptoms of dog ear infection, signs could be a bit more subtle. Dogs who are desperate to scratch an itch (or relieve painful pressure or throbbing in the ear) may resort to rubbing their ear along things like furniture, carpet, or even you to relieve the discomfort. While we love snuggles from our furry friends, this is likely a sign that they need our help clearing the ear!

A lesser-known sign of a dog ear infection is tilting the head to one side or holding one ear down. This symptom can occur when a dog feels pain or pressure in the ear and is often a sign of infection deeper inside the ear.

If dog ear issues and symptoms go untreated, your dog could be at risk for some even more painful complications–making early detection a big deal. Still, it’s possible that your pet’s signs were more subtle or the infection progressed rapidly, and now they’re left with more serious dog ear issues. What could be at stake?

If your dog has scratched their ear raw and bloody, injury and scarring can occur. The ear flap, aka the pinna, is very delicate. Skin, cartilage, and fur can all be damaged by excessive scratching and, in serious cases, aggressive scratching can lead to an aural hematoma. A hematoma happens when blood pools or collects in one area, making the ear look thick and spongy and requiring surgery to correct it.

What if your dog can’t stop shaking their head? Constant head shaking could give your dog unnecessary stress and anxiety, for one–and even make them more irritable. Head shaking can also affect their sleep and yours, especially if your dog wears a collar. In extreme cases, head shaking can also cause injury to your pet’s neck muscles or cause an aural hematoma.

A dog losing their hearing is potentially one of the scariest potential side effects of an ear infection. Trauma and blockages in the ear canal are two causes of hearing loss related to dog ear infections, which is why early detection and treatment are so important. Untreated otitis externa–ear infections of the outer ear–are most commonly linked to hearing loss in dogs.

For ear infections left untreated in the inner ear (otitis interna), there are other serious diagnoses to worry about. Your dog’s balance and coordination rely on a healthy equilibrium, which is affected by conditions in the inner ear. A loss of balance can put even the most youthful, agile dogs at higher risk of injury and dangerous accidents.

To prevent serious complications caused by your dog’s ear infections, you’ll need to employ a mix of home and veterinary care. Don’t worry–you don’t have to know how to pluck dog ear hair or stick a Q-tip in your dog’s ear in order to treat an ear infection at home! If you’re ready to dive in, check out these over the counter dog ear infection treatments:

One of the most effective ways to target bacteria in the inner ear is with medicated dog ear infection drops. A few drops can have a big impact on reducing inflammation, redness, or bacteria in the ear canal. The best ear drops for a dog’s ear infection will be made with hydrocortisone for a more effective treatment.

Ear flushes can be used at the first sign of infection, or used preventatively for drying and cleaning the ears if you suspect your dog has been in an environment that puts them at higher risk for contracting an ear infection. Antifungal and antibacterial ear flushes usually contain medicated active ingredients that help rinse away debris while treating symptoms of irritation deep within the ear.

When treating your dog’s ear infection, medicine might be necessary. Your veterinary provider might prescribe antibiotics for a dog’s ear infection if the cause is bacterial, especially if symptoms are persisting and you’ve already tried medicated drops, ear flushes, and other treatments at home.