Signs of an Ear Infection in Dogs and When to See a Vet
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By Dr Duncan Houston
A dog repeatedly shaking its head is telling you something is uncomfortable. A strong smell or brown debris may accompany an ear infection, but appearance alone cannot tell you which treatment is needed.
Prompt assessment can relieve pain and prevent a recurring problem becoming harder to control.
Quick Answer
Common signs of an ear problem include head shaking, scratching, redness, discharge, odour and pain when the ear is touched. Arrange a veterinary examination promptly rather than trying leftover drops or home remedies. A new head tilt, loss of balance, severe pain or facial weakness needs urgent assessment.
What should you look for?
- Repeated scratching or rubbing one side of the head.
- Red, swollen skin at the ear opening.
- Brown, yellow, bloody or unusually wet discharge.
- A new unpleasant smell.
- Yelping, moving away or resisting head handling.
- A swollen ear flap, sometimes caused by a blood-filled haematoma after shaking.
A quiet dog can still have significant pain. Avoid repeatedly handling the ear to test how sore it is.
What causes an ear infection?
Otitis externa means inflammation of the outer ear canal. Allergy, a grass seed, mites or other skin disease can start the inflammation; bacteria and yeast may then overgrow. Moisture and narrow or chronically thickened canals can complicate recovery.
The Merck Veterinary Manual's owner guidance explains why the underlying cause matters. Repeated treatment without investigating recurrence often leads to another sore ear.
How urgent is it?
| Signs | Action |
|---|---|
| Persistent mild shaking, smell or discharge | Book a prompt examination. |
| Marked pain, sudden one-sided shaking after a walk, swollen flap | Contact your vet today. |
| Falling, head tilt, abnormal eye movements or facial weakness | Seek urgent veterinary assessment. |
What else could it be?
Sudden one-sided signs can suggest a foreign body. A mass, trauma or mites can resemble infection. Balance problems may involve the middle or inner ear, but neurological disease elsewhere can also cause them. Discharge colour cannot reliably distinguish yeast, bacteria or mites.
When is this an emergency?
Go urgently if your dog cannot stand, is repeatedly falling, has severe uncontrolled pain or develops other neurological signs. Breathing difficulty or collapse is an emergency regardless of the suspected ear problem. Do not put drops into an ear when the eardrum's condition is unknown.
What will the vet do?
An otoscope examination checks the canal, foreign material and, when visible, the eardrum. A sample examined under a microscope helps identify yeast, bacteria and inflammatory cells. Culture or imaging may be needed for selected recurrent, resistant or deeper infections. A very painful ear may need sedation for a safe examination and cleaning.
Your home-care plan
- Keep the ear dry and prevent rough scratching while arranging the appointment.
- Use only the cleaner and medicine prescribed for this episode.
- Ask for a demonstration of application and a clear treatment schedule.
- Attend the recheck, even if the smell and shaking improve.
- Discuss allergy or other underlying disease if infections recur.
Common mistakes and prevention
- Using cotton buds deep in the canal.
- Applying vinegar, peroxide, essential oils or leftover medication.
- Cleaning a painful ear forcefully.
- Stopping treatment as soon as the discharge looks better.
Inspect ears regularly without probing them. Cleaning frequency should be individualised; a healthy ear does not automatically need weekly cleaning or hair plucking. Ask about an appropriate plan for swimmers and dogs with allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Can an ear infection clear by itself?
Persistent inflammation or infection should be examined. Waiting can prolong pain and allow canal changes.
Are ear infections contagious?
Many are associated with the dog's own skin disease, but some causes, such as mites, can spread between animals.
Why does it keep coming back?
The original trigger, canal damage, resistant organisms or deeper disease may still be present.
Further reading
Merck also covers middle and inner ear disease and investigating recurrent otitis.
A sore ear deserves a diagnosis, not a trial of whatever drops are in the cupboard.
ASK A VET™ supports informed ear-care decisions. Keep a record of treatments and recurrences to help your treating vet build a more effective long-term plan.
