How Do I Know My Dog Has an Ear Infection?

Ear infections in dogs are some of the most common problems we see here at  National Spay Alliance Foundation. 

If your dog has an ear infection, their ears will likely be itchy to some degree. Dogs will also have other signs you can look out for, including:

• Shaking their head frequently throughout the day
• Scratching at their head, neck, and ears with their back feet
• Rubbing their ears on furniture or the floor
• Having a bad smell coming from their ears
• Noticing drainage or discharge in their ears that can be black, brown, white, green, or yellow in color
• Having redness or swelling in their ear canals
• Yelping out when their ears are touched, which indicates pain
• Seeing blood coming from their ears in severe cases

You may notice that at times of rest or when your dog should be going to sleep, they spend time constantly shaking their head or scratching at their ears. For many dog owners, it can even mean you’re losing out on rest, too.

Bacteria, yeast and allergies are the most common culprits. If your dog is showing the signs of an ear infection, it is time to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. In order to appropriately treat the ear infection with the correct medication, your veterinarian will need to determine exactly what is causing the infection in the first place. In most cases, a dog’s ear infection will not go away on its own. What’s worse, if you wait too long to treat the ear infection, it can become much more difficult to get under control. An untreated ear infection can lead to chronic issues, hearing loss, and sometimes the need for expensive surgery. 
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Ear infections in dogs are common. They are caused by an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast within your dog’s ear canal or allergies. Your vet will use testing to diagnose the cause of your dog’s ear infection to recommend proper treatment. Treatment typically requires medicated ear drops prescribed from your vet and ear cleaning solutions. Since allergies are a common underlying factor of ear infections in dogs, tracking your dog’s ear infections can be key in managing them.