What is ear infection in dogs?
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Quick answer
An ear infection in dogs usually means otitis externa: inflammation of the outer ear canal, often with bacteria or yeast. Signs are head shaking, scratching, a bad smell, discharge and redness. It is one of the most common problems vets see, especially in breeds with floppy ears, and nearly always has an underlying cause such as allergy.
Also called otitis externa, dog ear infection, canine otitis, yeast ear infection.
Key facts
- Signs include head shaking, a foul smell, redness, swelling, scratching, ear discharge and scaly skin. Merck Veterinary Manual
- In UK primary care, 7.3% of dogs had otitis externa in a single year. Canine Medicine and Genetics (2021), Royal Veterinary Collegestudy
- Breeds with floppy, pendulous ears had 1.76 times the odds of erect-eared breeds. Canine Medicine and Genetics (2021), Royal Veterinary Collegestudy
- Basset Hounds and Chinese Shar Pei had the highest odds compared with crossbreds. Canine Medicine and Genetics (2021), Royal Veterinary Collegestudy
- Bacterial and yeast infections often need 2 to 4 weeks of treatment, and treatment must continue until the infection has fully cleared. Merck Veterinary Manual
What causes ear infections in dogs?
Bacteria and yeast are usually the second step, not the first. Something else often inflames the ear first: an allergy, ear mites, an object stuck in the canal, or an infection of the middle ear. The Merck Veterinary Manual says identifying every possible cause is essential, or the infection keeps coming back.
Ear shape matters. In a large UK study of dogs under vet care, breeds with pendulous ears, such as the Cocker Spaniel and Beagle, and the Labrador Retriever all had higher odds than crossbreds. Warm, damp conditions in an Indian monsoon, and water left in the ear after a bath or swim, make an inflamed canal worse; Merck advises keeping ear canals dry.
What should you do, and avoid, with a sore ear?
Most ear problems need a vet to look down the canal before anything goes in it.
Do
- Book a vet visit for head shaking, smell, discharge or a red, sore ear. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Use only an ear cleaner your vet recommends, the way your vet shows you. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Keep water out of the ears during baths, and dry ears after monsoon walks. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Finish the whole course and go back for the recheck, even if the ear looks better. Merck Veterinary Manual
Don’t
- Do not push cotton buds into the ear canal. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Do not use over-the-counter wax removers unless your vet approves. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Do not pour in home remedies such as vinegar mixtures, which can worsen swelling and infection. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Do not put powders in the ear, and do not start drops before the vet has checked the eardrum. Merck Veterinary Manual
What happens if an ear infection is not treated?
Long-standing otitis changes the ear: growths can form in the canal, the ear flap can become deformed, and the middle ear behind the eardrum can become involved. Merck notes that dogs with chronic ear disease may need treatment for months, and some for life, and that deformed ear flaps, growths in the canal and constant head shaking suggest long-standing discomfort.
Constant shaking and scratching also injure the ear flaps. Hair inside the canal may need removing by the vet, sometimes under anaesthesia.
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Questions owners ask
How do I know if my dog has an ear infection?
- Watch for head shaking, scratching or rubbing an ear, a bad smell, brown or yellow discharge, redness, swelling and pain when the ear is touched. One or both ears can be affected. Any of these is a reason to see a vet, who will look down the canal before choosing treatment.
Which dog breeds get ear infections most?
- In a large UK study, breeds with pendulous or V-shaped drop ears had higher odds than erect-eared breeds. Basset Hounds and Chinese Shar Pei had the highest odds, and the Labradoodle, Beagle, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and Cocker Spaniel were also at higher risk than crossbreds.
Can I clean my dog's ears at home?
- Only with a cleaner your vet recommends and in the way your vet shows you. Avoid cotton buds, over-the-counter wax removers and home remedies such as vinegar mixtures, which can make swelling and infection worse. Have a sore or smelly ear examined before cleaning it.
Why does my dog's ear infection keep coming back?
- Usually because an underlying cause, often an allergy, has not been controlled, or because treatment stopped before the infection fully cleared. Bacterial and yeast infections often need 2 to 4 weeks of treatment and rechecks until no infection shows. Ask your vet to look for the root cause.
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