8 Signs of Ear Infections in Dogs: What To Look For

Ear infections are one of the most common reasons pets are taken to the veterinarian.  

It’s important for pet parents to know the signs of dog ear infections so they can tell when their pet may need veterinary help. 

Veterinarians have multiple options for dog ear infection treatments and can select the right treatment for your pet’s ear infection.  

What Is a Dog Ear Infection?

Dog ear infections happen when the normal balance of microorganisms in the ear is thrown off, allowing bacteria, yeast, or both to overgrow.  

Dogs can get ear infections due to: 

• Allergic skin disease (environmental allergies or food allergies) 

• Ear mites 

• Foreign objects in the ear, like grass awns 

• Endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism, which can alter the skin’s health 

• Swimming or otherwise getting moisture in the ear 

Dogs with floppy ears, like Cocker Spaniels, may be at an increased risk of ear infections. 

If you think your dog may have an ear infection, bring them to their veterinarian for an exam and appropriate treatment.  

While some treatments can be continued at home, this should only be done if you’ve been told to by a veterinarian. Without the right treatment, dogs can have permanent damage or scarring to the ear, which can mean they are at a higher risk for future infections and possible hearing loss. 

8 Signs Your Dog Has an Ear Infection

Once you’re familiar with the signs of an ear infection, it becomes relatively easy to tell when your pet may need veterinary attention.  

Here, you’ll learn eight signs of ear infections in dogs.  

1. Head Tilt 

A dog with an outer ear infection may tilt their head slightly because of discomfort. 

However, an ear infection that affects the middle or inner ear can also cause a head tilt because of its effect on the dog’s balance.  

You should be concerned about potential inner ear disease if you’re noticing stumbling or a lack of coordination along with the head tilt. Inner ear infections are harder to treat, affect balance, and can result in permanent damage to a dog's hearing. 

2. Ear Odor  

A foul smell coming from the ear is a telltale sign of an ear infection in dogs.  

Both bacterial and yeast infections can cause an odor.  

While bacterial infections usually smell sour or pus-like, a yeast infection can cause a musty or corn chip smell. 

3. Head Shaking 

Dogs with ear infections will often shake their heads to ease itchiness and move material stuck in their ear. 

4. Ear Swelling 

If you look in the ear canal, you may see swelling that causes the opening to look narrow.  

Swelling of the ear flap can also happen with aural hematomas, which are swellings of blood that develop when the dog breaks a blood vessel in their ear while shaking their head or scratching at their ear. 

5. Redness in the Ear 

The presence of an infection triggers inflammation (swelling), which can make the inside of the ear appear red.  

Redness can also happen without an active infection, such as in dogs with allergic skin disease. 

6. Scabbing in the Ear 

Scabs may be due to chronic irritation of the ear or self-trauma from scratching. You may also see scabbing or sores around the outside of the ear. 

7. Pawing at the Ear 

Ear infections are itchy, so your dog may scratch at their ear. Unfortunately, this can lead to more ear trauma. 

8. Discharge in the Ear 

Dogs with ear infections will usually have a large buildup of debris in their ear. This debris may be dark, tan, yellow, chunky, or soft.  

Please note that a small amount of ear wax is normal in dogs.  

How Veterinarians Treat Dog Ear Infections

To treat dog ear infections, a veterinarian will first look in your dog’s ear with an otoscope, which is a handheld device with a light and magnifying glass that allows them to see deep into the ear canal. During this exam, they’ll want to see if the eardrum is injured. That’s because some medications are not safe for the ear if the eardrum has ruptured (broken). 

If your dog’s ear is painful to them, they may need to be sedated for an otoscopic exam. 

The veterinarian will usually put a cotton swab in your dog’s ear to get a sample of the discharge that’s there. They’ll look at this debris under the microscope to figure out the type of infection and try to rule out ear mites. 

Treatment will be tailored to the type of infection your dog has. First, your veterinarian will do a deep cleaning of the ear. Again, sedation may be needed if your dog’s ear is painful to them. 

Most ear infections are treated by putting medication directly in the ear (referred to as topical treatment). Medications can include antibiotics like enrofloxacin, antifungals like terbinafine, steroids like mometasone, or a combination of multiple medications.  

Some topical treatments, such as Claro Otic Solution, are long acting. They are given directly into the ear at the vet clinic and are typically a one-time treatment. Others, like Mometamax, are sent home for pet parents to continue to give. 

If your dog’s ear canal is swollen shut, the veterinarian may start with oral steroids such as prednisone and oral antibiotics like cephalexin before moving to topical treatments.  

Underlying causes of ear infections also need to be managed. If your dog has ear mites, these should be treated and your dog kept on preventatives to avoid recurrence.  

Dogs with allergies may need specialized veterinary diets, medications (such as Apoquel, Cytopoint, Atopica), or immunotherapy (allergy shots).  

Please note that antihistamines like Benadryl should not be given without veterinary guidance and are usually not enough to manage allergies in dogs.