Signs Your Dog Has an Ear Infection, and What to Do About It
Key takeaways:
Ear infections are common in dogs. They can lead to symptoms such as scratching, head-shaking, ear discharge, and redness or swelling in and around the ears.
Dog ear infections often develop due to an allergy or the presence of bacteria or yeast.
Your veterinarian can determine the cause of your dog’s ear infection and prescribe medicated ear drops to treat your pup.
Table of contents
Ear infections are a common health condition in dogs. So what are the telltale signs of an ear infection in dogs, and what can you do about it? Our canine experts explain how to tell if your dog has an ear infection and how to treat it. Keep reading to find out.
What are the symptoms of ear infections in dogs?
If your dog has an ear infection, their ears will likely be itchy to some degree. Your dog may also show other signs, including:
Shaking their head frequently throughout the day
Scratching at their head, neck, and ears with their back paws
Rubbing their ears on furniture or the floor
Having a bad smell coming from their ears
Holding one ear slightly lower than the other
Having ear drainage or discharge, which can be black, brown, white, green, or yellow in color
Having redness or swelling in their ear canals
Yelping when their ears are touched, which indicates pain
Having scaly skin in and around their ears
Having blood coming from their ears, in severe cases
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You may notice that when it’s time for your dog to rest or go to sleep, they’re constantly shaking their head or scratching at their ears. If you’re like many dog owners, that could mean you lose out on rest, too.
What causes ear infections in dogs?
There are quite a few things that can cause ear infections in dogs. Three common causes of ear infections in dogs are listed below.
1. Bacteria
Various types of bacteria can contribute to ear infections in dogs. What usually happens is that a dog’s ears become irritated or inflamed due to outside causes, such as allergies. This causes the lining of the ears to lose its healthy, protective skin barrier.
Then, the bacteria that naturally live on the surface of your dog’s skin take advantage of the broken skin barrier and multiply like crazy. This makes your dog’s ears even more inflamed and itchy. And the cycle continues.
2. Yeast
Another culprit that contributes to ear infections in dogs is yeast. Yeast ear infections can happen if your dog gets water in their ears — such as during a bath or while swimming — that isn’t cleaned out well.
Yeast infections can also occur if your dog is a breed that tends to get moisture buildup within their ears. This includes bulldogs, dogs with a lot of hair in their ear canals, or certain hound breeds with floppy ears.
How do you clean a dog’s ears? One step at a time. These step-by-step instructions will guide you.
How often should you groom your dog? It depends on their breed and fur type. Learn what grooming experts recommend.
Could you love a special-needs dog? Read about one woman’s mission to care for dogs with serious health issues.
Finally, yeast infections can also occur as a result of allergies. Often, dogs can have a mixed infection of both bacteria and yeast causing their ear infection.
3. Allergies
Allergies are among the most notorious and frustrating underlying causes of dog ear infections. When a dog has an allergy, it usually causes either itchy skin or itchy ears.
The two most common categories of allergies that contribute to ear infections in dogs are food allergies and environmental allergies.
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Are ear infections contagious in dogs?
Not typically. Most of the bacteria that cause ear infections don’t spread from one dog to another. Yeast-related ear infections typically aren’t contagious either, nor are allergy-related ear infections. Most ear infections are also unlikely to be spread from dogs to humans.
How is an ear infection diagnosed in dogs?
If your dog shows signs of an ear infection, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. To treat the ear infection with the correct medication, your veterinarian will need to determine exactly what is causing the infection in the first place.
The test that is used to diagnose an ear infection is called an “ear swab” — also known as ear cytology. Your veterinarian will use a long cotton-tipped applicator to get a sample of the gunk down in your dog’s ears. They will then smear it on a glass slide and look at it underneath a microscope. Then, your veterinarian can see what caused the infection. This can determine the exact bacteria present and which antibiotic is best to treat it.
What can you use to treat a dog’s ear infection?
The treatment for your dog’s ear infection depends on the type of infection they have. This will be diagnosed at your veterinarian’s office with the ear swab. The ear infection will then be treated with medicated ear drops, most of which you can only get with a prescription from your vet.
Medicated ear drops for dogs are designed to decrease inflammation, manage pain, treat an infection, or a combination of these. Your veterinarian will recommend the best option. Examples of medications your veterinarian may prescribe include:
Depending on how much discharge there is, your veterinarian may also prescribe a cleanser to flush out your dog’s ears a few times a week. The ear cleanser also helps dry out your dog’s ears and reduces the growth of bacteria and yeast. If your dog is prescribed an ear cleanser, make sure you use it to clean your dog’s ears prior to putting in the medicated drops.
If you are concerned about being able to safely put ear drops in your dog’s ears at home, let your veterinarian know. There are newer treatment options that only need to be applied once a month. Your veterinarian will apply a dose in your dog’s ears, and then you won’t have to use ear drops at home.
Important note: If your dog has an ear infection that doesn’t respond to treatment, follow up with your veterinarian. Although rare, an ear infection could be related to cancer in older dogs. If your dog is older and has an ear infection that doesn’t respond to treatment, your veterinarian will want to do further, more in-depth diagnostic testing.
Can a dog’s ear infection go away on its own?
In most cases, dog ear infections do not go away on their own. And, if you wait too long to treat an ear infection, it can become much more difficult to get under control. An untreated ear infection can lead to hearing loss, chronic health issues, and sometimes the need for expensive surgery.
What happens if you don’t treat your dog’s ear infection?
An untreated outer ear infection can lead to a deeper infection within the middle and inner parts of the ear. This can cause nerve damage, which can even lead to eye ulcers. It can also cause your dog to develop vestibular disease, which makes them feel off-balance, dizzy and nauseous, and have a head tilt.
If an ear infection is left untreated long term, your dog may develop what’s called an aural, or ear, hematoma. This is when blood collects in your dog’s ear flap, forming what looks like a lump. Aural hematomas usually require dogs to have ear surgery or, at the minimum, a drainage procedure.
Can you treat a dog’s ear infection at home without a vet?
If your veterinarian’s office is unable to see your dog right away, it is perfectly fine to use an over-the-counter (OTC) ear cleanser for dogs to try to keep the infection from getting worse. An OTC cleanser can also be used to clean your dog’s ears if they have a lot of discharge.
Some examples of safe OTC ear cleansers are:
Do not use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean your dog’s ears. This will not help with an ear infection and may make your dog’s ears get worse.
You will still need to take your dog to the veterinarian to find out what is causing the infection and get the proper medication. Your veterinarian can also work with you to determine if allergies are a possible underlying cause of your dog’s ear infection.
Can you prevent your dog from getting ear infections?
There are several steps you can take to help prevent ear infections in your dog. They include:
Identifying and avoiding your dog’s allergens
Keeping your dog’s ears dry
Using over-the-counter or prescription ear cleansers after swims
Cleaning your dogs ears weekly
Grooming long-haired dogs regularly
Frequently asked questions
To flush out your dog’s ears, you’ll need to get an ear cleanser for dogs. Then follow these steps:
Gently lift your dog’s ear flap.
Squeeze the cleaning solution into your dog’s ear.
Pat the excess solution with a cotton ball.
Or, soak a cotton ball in the cleanser and place it in the ear. Do not force it into the ear canal.
Most ear infections in dogs take 2 to 4 weeks to go away. Others can last for months. Discuss treatment options with your veterinarian if your dog’s ear infection lasts longer than a few weeks.
You can try several things to keep your dog from scratching their ears. Make sure your dog’s ears are dry, and keep the fur around their ears trimmed. If that doesn’t work, your dog may need a cone collar or no-flap ear wrap.
The bottom line
Ear infections in dogs are common. If a dog has an ear infection, they may show symptoms such as scratching, shaking their head, and rubbing their ears on furniture or the floor.
Ear infections in dogs are often caused by allergies or an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast within the ear canal. Your veterinarian will use testing to diagnose the cause of your dog’s ear infection and recommend proper treatment. Treating ear infections typically requires prescription-only medicated ear drops and ear-cleaning solutions.
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References
American College of Veterinary Surgeons. (n.d.). Aural hematoma.
Bajwa, J. (2019). Canine otitis externa — treatment and complications. The Canadian Veterinary Journal.
Brooks, W. (2020). Ear infections (otitis) in dogs. Veterinary Partner.
Brooks, W. (2024). Ear infections (yeast otitis) in dogs. Veterinary Partner.
Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. (n.d.). Itchy ear problems: The cause may be an itch or a full-blown infection. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Elanco. (n.d.). Claro (florfenicol, terbinafine, mometasone furoate) Otic Solution.
Merck Animal Health. (n.d.). Otomax Otic Ointment.
Merck Animal Health. (n.d.). Posatex Otic Suspension.
Moriello, K. A. (2024). Ear infections and otitis externa in dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual.
Papajeski, B. (2020). Ear cytology: Sampling, processing, and microscopic evaluation. Today’s Veterinary Nurse.
Woodward, M. (2024). Otitis externa in animals. Merck Veterinary Manual.
