Dog Ear Infections: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Ear infections are among the most common reasons dogs visit the vet. Floppy-eared breeds like Cocker Spaniels and Labradors are especially prone. Most ear infections are secondary to an underlying problem — treating just the infection leads to recurrence.

Types of Canine Otitis

Otitis externa is the most common type. If left untreated it can progress to otitis media (middle ear) and otitis interna (inner ear), causing permanent hearing loss and balance problems.

What Causes Ear Infections?

Bacteria and yeast overgrowth. But these are usually secondary to allergies (atopic dermatitis, food allergy), ear mites in puppies, foreign bodies like grass awns, or excessive moisture from swimming.

Signs to Watch For

Head shaking, ear scratching, rubbing head on furniture, foul odor from the ear, discharge that may be brown yellow or bloody, redness and swelling, and pain when the ear is touched.

How Vets Diagnose and Treat

Your vet uses an otoscope to examine the ear canal and eardrum then takes a sample for cytology to identify whether bacteria yeast or mites are present. Treatment involves professional cleaning topical medications containing antibiotic antifungal and steroid and completing the full 7-14 day course.

Prevention

Dry ears thoroughly after swimming or bathing. Clean ears weekly for predisposed breeds using a veterinary ear cleaner not Q-tips. Manage underlying allergies. And never insert anything deep into the ear canal.