One of the most typical medical issues in pets, especially in dogs with floppy ears, is an ear infection (otitis externa). Scratching at the ears, head shaking, red and/or painful ears, an unpleasant smell, or a filthy discharge inside the ear are all indications of an ear infection. Four details concerning ear infections are as follows:
- Otitis externa won’t heal on its own if left untreated. It may result in long-lasting modifications such ear canal constriction and scar tissue buildup. This puts Fido or Fluffy at risk for recurrent infections and chronic pain. Middle ear infections and hematomas, a solid enlargement of clotted blood within the ear flap, are two additional significant issues that might develop.
- Not every ear infection is the same. Harmful bacteria, fungus, or ear mites can all contribute to otitis externa. Our doctors will prescribe medication that contains one or more of the following chemicals, depending on the results of the ear swab: an antibiotic (to kill bacteria), an antifungal (to kill fungi), an acaricide (to kill ear mites), and an anti-inflammatory (to alleviate pain and inflammation). Using a drug recommended for a prior ear infection may not be successful due to the large number of potential causes.
- Otitis externa must be resolved with follow-up exams. It’s crucial that you bring your four-legged buddy back after therapy is complete (often 7–10 days after the first diagnosis) so one of our veterinarians can do a second ear examination. You might conclude that the infection has been treated because many ear treatments contain an anti-inflammatory medication that lessens redness, swelling, and discomfort. Unfortunately, in some circumstances a longer course of therapy may be necessary for a full recovery, and without a follow-up exam, you won’t know if the infection’s source has been eliminated.
We advise that you adhere to all medication and/or cleansing solution instructions, schedule a follow-up appointment, often examine your pet’s ears, and apply a cleansing solution once a week to clear out any debris in order to avoid otitis external from recurring. Repeated otitis externa may require additional medical testing to identify any underlying conditions such as food or inhalant allergies, hypothyroidism, or Cushing’s disease.
How can I remove the odor from my dog’s ears?
Your dog’s ears could stink from a number of different causes. Here are a few of the most typical reasons why dog ears smell.
Ear Wax Buildup
If your dog’s ear’s usual self-cleaning system is interfered with, ear wax buildup may result. Your dog might not even appear affected by this. There will be yellow ear wax.
This kind of wax accumulation can alter the smell in your dog’s ears, but it will only be a slight difference.
Cleaning your dog’s ears regularly with an ear cleaner recommended by your veterinarian usually takes care of the issue.
Yeast Infections
Yeast infections in the ears are extremely frequent and can make your dog’s odor more noticeable.
Candida overproduction in your dog’s body results in yeast infections.
A yeast infection frequently produces what is referred to as a sweet or musty odor. Additionally, the ear may become inflamed and discharge, which is often brown in color.
Your veterinarian needs to be consulted about a yeast infection within a few days. To identify this condition, your veterinarian could do a cytology (swabbing the discharge, staining it, and examining it under a microscope). Antifungal drops, ear cleaners, and, in more problematic situations, oral antifungal medications may all be prescribed as treatments for fungal infections.
While you are welcome to clean your dog’s ears at home using a vet-approved ear cleaner, avoid doing so for 24 hours before your appointment as this could complicate the diagnosis.
Bacterial Ear Infections
The most serious symptoms are typically those of a bacterial ear infection. Before visiting your veterinarian, avoid attempting to clean your dog’s ears at home.
You could be able to smell the ear from across the room if certain bacteria are present. These symptoms include redness, swelling, and/or pain that can be fairly severe, along with a pus- or blood-tinged fluid discharge.
Antibiotic eardrops and occasionally oral medicines are used to treat bacterial ear infections. A culture may be conducted to identify the precise type of bacteria and the best antibiotic treatment in resistant instances that do not respond to standard treatment.
Oral steroids may be required to relieve discomfort and swelling if the infection is severe enough to cause noticeable ear edema. Your veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible in these circumstances.
Mixed Ear Infections
Mixed ear infections, which include both bacteria and yeast, are frequent. Depending on the types and numbers of organisms present, the symptoms can vary and may resemble a bacterial or yeast infection.
Significant middle ear infection symptoms include:
A dog with recurring ear infections frequently has an underlying disease that has to be treated, it should be noted.
What scent does a dog ear infection have?
Your dog may have a yeast infection if you discover that her ears smell musty or sickeningly sweet. Along with the scent, this issue may also result in pain, itching, swelling, redness, and occasionally seeping discharge. Dogs’ ears frequently experience this issue because they are an ideal environment for Candida to flourish. However, even though it is a frequent problem, it isn’t a serious one.
Although it’s not an emergency, your dog should receive medical care as soon as you can get her to the doctor. This is due to the possibility that she will need medication to treat the yeast infection. In addition to ointments, creams, and ear drops, this may also refer to medications.
If your dog develops a yeast infection in her ears, your vet will be able to provide you with comprehensive instructions and a demonstration on how to administer ear drops.
Should a dog’s ears smell?
Healthy ears are odorless. Start by regularly sniffing your dog’s ears as a puppy to get a sense of how they typically smell. He probably has a bacterial or yeast infection if his ears smell yeasty or just plain bad.
How can I take care of the ear infection in my dog without seeing the doctor?
I don’t think apple cider vinegar is a good idea. It didn’t work for us, and if done incorrectly, it might do more harm than good. But if you’re seeking for home-made natural cures, this is the most popular one.
If your dog’s ears are red or have open sores, DO NOT use this cure. She will feel the burn and the sorrow. In order to work, apple cider vinegar must destroy both yeast and bacteria.
Use a cotton ball soaked in a solution of 50% organic apple cider vinegar and 50% water to clean your dog’s ears.
Stop using it and take your dog to the doctor if you see any signs of discomfort or excessive ear drying.
How can I tell if the ears on my dog are infected?
See this useful list of symptoms if you’re unsure how to tell whether your dog has an ear infection.
- scratching the ear or the area around
- Bloody, brown, or yellow discharge
- A smell in the ear
- Redness Swelling scabs or crusts on the outer ear’s inside
- loss of hair near the ears
- Rubbing the ear and surrounding area against a wall, a table, or other object
- Head tilting or head shaking
- loss of equilibrium
- Strange eye motions
- Circling ineffectively
- loss of hearing
Seemingly more obvious than others, some of these symptoms. Take a quick look at the ear if your dog is tossing his head a lot more than normal or pawing at his ears. Is there a bad smell? Is that red? You should bring your dog in for a consultation in either case.
Do not assume that ear infections take days to manifest; they can manifest quickly as well. Within a few hours, your dog could shift from feeling OK to having a nasty ear infection. Please don’t be reluctant to schedule a meeting.
How may a dog’s ear yeast infection be treated?
A naturally occurring fungus called yeast can be discovered in your dog’s ears and on their skin. Your pet’s skin and ears remain healthy when the proper balance of yeast is present. However, ear irritation can cause yeast levels to soar and develop, which results in a brown, greasy discharge in your dog’s ear canal and around the inside flap. Your dog may experience both itching and odor from this discharge.
The summer, which is hot and humid, is the time of year when our Mooresville veterinarians see yeast infections in dogs’ ears more frequently than any other. The ideal habitat for yeast growth is hot, humid conditions. Yeast infections are frequently the result of wetness, warmth, and a restriction of airflow brought on by the shape of your dog’s ears.
Causes of Yeast Ear Infection in Dogs
Several factors, including some of the more frequent ones, might disturb the delicate environment in your dog’s ear and cause a yeast infection.
- moisture that has been trapped, especially in dogs with long, floppy ears
- Antibiotics
- Immunodeficiency
- excessive bathing
- Candida allergies
- regularly swimming
- Exercise in muggy conditions
- giving your dog sweets to eat
- not regularly washing your dog’s ears
Signs That Your Dog May Have A Yeast Ear Infection
One or more of the symptoms listed below may be present in your dog if he has a yeast ear infection:
- Waxy ear discharge that is either red or brown
- pawing, itching, and scratching at the ear
- a musty or cheesy odor emanating from the ear
- inflamed or red ears
How to Get Rid Of a Yeast Infection in Dog’s Ear
Dogs with ear infections experience discomfort and itching, and if the infection is not treated and worsens, it may also become painful.
It’s time to visit the vet if you suspect that your dog has a yeast infection in either one or both ears. Your dog’s ear infection can be diagnosed by a veterinarian, who can also suggest the most effective course of treatment. To get the treatment process started, your dog’s ears will probably receive a thorough cleaning from your veterinarian during the visit.
Depending on the underlying reason, your dog’s yeast ear infection may respond best to one of the following treatments:
- Cleaning your dog’s ears at home on a regular basis with a medicated cleaner
- Topically applied drugs
- antacids taken orally
- medicines that reduce inflammation
Preventing Ear Infections in Dogs
The key to preventing yeast ear infections in dogs is maintaining a healthy, dry ear canal.
Dry your dog’s ears thoroughly after bathing or if they have been in the water while swimming.
Your dog may develop persistent or recurrent illnesses due to underlying issues like allergies or hypothyroidism. It’s crucial to treat the underlying issue causing your dog’s ear infections.
Please take note that the information in this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice for animals. Please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a precise diagnosis of your pet’s illness.
Why do the ears on my dog stink and itch?
Although your dog’s ears naturally contain yeast and bacteria, ear infections happen when the ear gets wet, inflamed, and produces more wax and discharge. As a result, the immune system is unable to regulate the infection since the yeast and bacteria can grow and multiply. Your dog may have an ear infection if you see them shaking their heads or scratching their ears more frequently than usual, dragging the side of their face along carpet or furniture, smelling foul from the ears, or having redness on the inner ear flap or in the ear canal.
What can I use to clean my dog’s ears?
As dog owners, we are aware of how crucial it is to regularly clean our dogs’ ears. However, if our dogs aren’t trained to accept ear cleaning or if we don’t feel comfortable doing it, cleaning those ears can be difficult.
While some dogs naturally have clean, healthy ears and may hardly ever need to have them cleaned, other dogs need to have their ears cleaned frequently to avoid the buildup of dirt that can cause ear infections. All dog breeds are susceptible to ear infections, but those with long hanging ears, like Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels, are among the ones at the most risk.
You should frequently examine your dog’s ears to make sure they are healthy. If your dog pulls away from you, it could be because his ears are hurting even though he could prefer having them stroked when they’re healthy. Therefore, by gently stroking your dog’s ears, you may start evaluating their condition.
How to Tell When a Dog’s Ears Need Cleaning
Verify that your dog genuinely requires ear cleaning before pulling out the dog ear cleaner. Learn what a healthy, clean ear looks like (pink, odorless, and not dirty or inflamed) and smells like (not yeasty or stinky), and only clean your dog’s ears when you detect a change. Over-cleaning your dog’s ears can cause infection and irritation.
While some dogs only need their ears cleaned occasionally, others, including those who are prone to ear infections or those who spend a lot of time in the water, might. The Merck Veterinary Manual advises preventing water from entering the ear canals during bathing and applying topical astringents on dogs who frequently swim to keep the ear canals dry and well-ventilated.
It’s probably time for a cleaning if you smell a faint odor or see your dog moving his head more frequently than usual. Contact your veterinarian if your dog’s ear seems red and inflamed, smells funky, or if he shows signs of pain. These signs, which call for medical treatment, could point to allergies, fleas, ear mites, or ear infections. Frequently, cleaning an infected ear does more harm than good.
Ear-Cleaning Supplies
To successfully clean your dog’s ears, you just need a few tools: a cotton ball or piece of gauze, dog ear cleaning solution, and a towel. Avoid using anything with a pointed tip, including cotton-tipped swabs (Q-tips). These instruments may force dirt and other material deeper into your dog’s ears, increasing the risk of infection and even causing damage to the ear’s internal structures.
A word of caution: While easy, ear cleaning can be unpleasant. If your dog moves his head a lot while you’re cleaning his ears, you might want to do it in a restroom or another easily cleaned area.
Dog Ear-Cleaning Solutions
There are numerous homemade dog ear cleaning products available online. The safest option is to use ear cleaning products that have been recommended by veterinarians. Some homemade ear-cleaning remedies include poisonous or irritant substances. Others merely don’t do well.
Most veterinary clinics stock dog ear cleanser. As some products may be more advantageous for your dog’s unique needs than others, you can also consult your veterinarian for their recommendations.
How to Clean Dog Ears in 3 Easy Steps
- Bring your dog and your supplies together. It will be simpler to clean your dog’s ears if you wait until he is calm. Don’t be hesitant to entice them with sweets.
- Fill your dog’s ear canal with an ear cleaning solution that has been recommended by a veterinarian, then gently massage the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. As the product removes buildup and debris, you will hear a squishing sound. As touching your dog’s ear with the applicator tip could introduce bacteria, avoid doing so.
- Give your dog a headshake. This is where the towel comes in; you may use it to clean his face and shield yourself from the spray. Once your dog has stopped shaking, carefully wipe out the ear canal with a cotton ball or piece of gauze, only going as deep as one knuckle. During the cleaning process, if your dog seems to be in pain, stop and call your veterinarian.
Should You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Dog Ears?
No. On your dog, avoid using hydrogen peroxide. In fact, this ubiquitous home item might irritate healthy skin cells. Hydrogen peroxide use over an extended period of time may eventually cause harm to the ear itself because ears contain very sensitive tissue. Use only cleaning products that have been recommended by veterinarians.
How to Clean Dog Ears: A Summary
Now that you understand how to clean dog ears, let’s review the fundamentals:
- Understand the appearance and smell of a clean, healthy ear.
- Following a bath, regularly check your dog’s ears.
- Overly frequent ear cleaning can result in severe inflammation.
- Use a dog ear cleaning product that has been approved by a veterinarian.
- If you think your dog may have an ear infection, consult your veterinarian.
Maintaining your dog’s ears helps keep them free from infections. Regular ear checks will also help your dog become less sensitive to handling his ears and catch any further issues, like ear mites, before they worsen.
