How To Tell if Your Dog Has an Ear Infection
Knowing how to tell if your dog has an ear infection can greatly protect your furry friend’s health. When left untreated, it can lead to more serious chronic conditions.
Experts estimate one in five dogs contract an ear condition of some kind within their lifetime, so it’s a common canine complaint. Fortunately, it can be easily treated if detected early enough. What’s more, knowing the causes can also help you prevent your pup from going through it again.
But what are the types of ear infections, what causes them, and when should you take a trip to the vet?
Types of Dog Ear Infection
Depending on which part of the ear is affected, canine ear infections are classified as three different conditions:
- Otitis External (outer ear infection) — the most prevalent ear infection. It’s when the external part of the ear and ear canal becomes inflamed, causing much distress to the dog.
- Otitis Media (middle ear infection) — typically a secondary condition. It develops from an untreated outer ear infection that travels further inside the ear. Middle ear infections can be more painful and potentially more severe.
- Otitis Interna (inner ear infection) — the rarest form, but most severe type of ear infection. It affects the inner ear and can be the result of an untreated middle ear infection, a systemic disease, or a rare primary inner ear infection.
Canine Ear Infection Symptoms
Recognizing the symptoms of an ear infection early can help prevent further complications and ensure your pooch gets timely treatment.
Many of the symptoms can be very visual (even audible), so here’s what to watch out (and listen) for:
- Frequent head shaking — as they try to relieve the discomfort. This motion can lead to further problems like hematomas with areas of localized bleeding.
- Scratching or pawing their ears — is your dog’s way of attempting to ease the pain. You may even spot your dog dragging their ears along the ground, or rubbing against the sharper edges of furniture or walls to find relief.
- Redness and swelling — the inside of your dog’s ears may appear red, swollen, and inflamed. Take care when checking — when dogs are sick, they can get grumpy or ill-mannered and may act out of character.
- Tilting of the head — associated with more severe or middle or inner ear infections, head tilting is due to the discomfort they’re experiencing.
- Odor coming from the ear — a strong, foul smell from your dog’s ear can be indicative of an ear infection. Yeast infections, in particular, have a very distinctive smell
- Discharge or wax buildup — you may notice pus, dark wax, or crusty material (dried blood) inside your dog’s ear.
- Yelping, whining, or uncharacteristic growling — your dog may whine in pain or growl as they shake their head or paw at their ears.
- Pain or sensitivity — in addition to yelping, your dog may pull away if you should touch their ears.
- Loss of balance or coordination — inner ear infection in dogs can often cause your dog to lose balance, or they may appear dizzy.
- Lethargy and loss of appetite — in more severe infections, your dog may appear lethargic and/or show little or no interest in food.
What Causes Dog Ear Infections?
As mentioned, dog ear infections are pretty common, but some factors may contribute to their frequency — including:
Breed Disposition
We hope our beloved companions never suffer the discomfort of an ear infection. However, for certain breeds, it can be much more likely.
Basset Hounds, Chinese Shar Pei, Golden Retrievers, or Poodles and Spaniels are among the breeds found to be most susceptible to canine ear infections, according to research carried out by the Royal Veterinary College in the UK.
Canine Ear Shape/Anatomy
Dogs with long, floppy ears, such as Cocker Spaniels or the Basset Hound, are more prone to ear infections than dogs with pointy ears due to less airflow in the ear canal. Dirt and bacteria can get trapped more easily in floppy ears.
For dogs with smaller ear canals, excess hairs in the ear or overproductive sebaceous glands can make them more prone to ear infections.
Bacteria or Yeast in the Ear
Adventurous pups that enjoy the outdoors or digging in the garden can come into contact with bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas. This can lead to inflammation and bacterial otitis.
What’s more, the warm, moist environment of a dog’s ear provides the perfect breeding ground for Malassezia yeast, which causes yeast otitis.
Allergies
Nearly half of all ear infections in dogs are thought to be allergic otitis caused by underlying allergies. This can include seasonal, environmental, or food allergies that often trigger inflammation and infection in a dog’s ear.
Underlying Health Conditions
Autoimmune deficiencies or hormonal disorders like hypothyroidism are also common causes of inflammation. As a result, bacteria or yeast infections can manifest.
Polyps or tumors in your pup’s ears can change the shape of their ear canal and increase the chances of infection.
Parasites
Parasites such as ear mites or ticks can be the cause of an ear infection, especially in younger dogs. Close proximity to other canines or being in kennels can often result in your pup picking up parasites looking for a new host.
Foreign Objects in the Ear
Foreign objects like a blade of grass, a foxtail, or even small toys left around the house can sometimes get stuck in a pup’s ears, causing irritation and the ear canal to become inflamed.
Moisture
Bacteria and yeast need moisture to thrive. If your pup enjoys swimming, they may pick up an infection from bacteria in the water. Or if their ears aren’t dried properly, they can provide a breeding ground for infections.
Excessive Cleaning of Your Pup’s Ears
Cleaning your pup’s ears too frequently, particularly with harsh chemicals, can be another cause of inflammation. It can also strip the natural oils and waxes from a dog’s ears needed to prevent infection. What’s more, cotton-tipped applicators can sometimes cause injury — opening the door for infection.
Can a Dog Die From an Ear Infection?
While most ear infections aren’t considered a life-or-death situation, there is real potential for complications. If left untreated, an outer ear infection can spread to the middle ear, or even from the middle to the inner ears, causing more serious issues, such as:
- Permanent hearing loss — a more chronic ear infection may cause irreversible damage to your dog’s ear structure and a permanent decrease or loss of hearing.
- Facial paralysis — ear infections that affect the facial nerve can result in partial paralysis of one side of your pup’s face.
- Vestibular disease — a dog can suffer a loss of balance, or face difficulty waking, from an inner ear infection, which causes this debilitating condition.
- Systemic infection (sepsis) — if a bacterial infection enters your pup’s bloodstream, it can lead to life-threatening conditions such as septicemia.
So, can an ear infection kill a dog? Yes, it can. While rare, it is possible for this seemingly minor issue to escalate into something sinister.
Canine Ear Infection — When Should You Go to the Vets?
As we’ve seen, ear infections can snowball. Hence, you must seek advice from your vet if you suspect your dog has any kind of ear complaint. Ultimately, it’s an expert who will know how to tell if your dog has an ear infection — providing you with a proper diagnosis and the appropriate care plan.
That said, You still need to play your part. Early detection is crucial for your dog’s health. Knowing the signs and giving your vet all the details will help them diagnose the complaint more precisely and much faster.
To learn more, check out our guide on What To Do If My Dog Has an Ear Infection.
Conclusion
Dog ear infections can be pretty common but can be extremely uncomfortable for your furry family member. And, it may lead to more serious complications if left untreated.
However, learning how to tell if your dog has an ear infection will enable you to help them get the diagnosis and treatment they need quickly.
How To Tell if Your Dog Has Ear Infection FAQs
Is There a Vaccination for Dog Ear Infections?
Not at present. Regularly inspecting your pup’s ears and ensuring they’re clean is probably the most effective way of preventing an infection, especially in breeds prone to the condition.
Can Ear Infections in Dogs Be Cured?
Yes, in most cases medications are available that can cure your dog’s complaint, and relieve the pain and discomfort. Antibiotic or antifungal medications can quickly clear the infection. It’s very rare that surgery is needed. However, it may be required with severe inner or middle ear infections, particularly when there are complications or tumors present.
Is a Canine Ear Infection Contagious?
The good news is most ear infections are not contagious to humans or other animals. That said, an infection caused by parasites can be passed to other pets. For example, if your vet finds evidence of ear mites, you should treat all furry family members in your home.
How Do Dogs Get Ear Infections?
Dogs can develop ear infections through various means, including:
- Too much swimming or bathing (swimmer’s ear).
- Trauma from scratching or rubbing.
- Unclean ears or overcleaning ears.
- Environmental allergens.
- Parasites.
Can a Dog’s Ear Infection Go Away on Its Own?
Some milder ear infections may resolve themselves without any treatment, but it’s very rare and not wise to think it will do so. Most cases of canine ear infection will require treatment by a vet to ensure complete recovery and prevent more serious complications.
