Going Swimmingly: How to Stop Dog Ear Infections

It’s very common for dogs to get ear infections, due to the structure of their ears. But you can take steps to prevent dog ear infections by learning the common causes and cleaning their ears regularly.

It also helps to know the telltale signs of an ear infection. If your dog won’t leave their ears alone and you notice a foul smell coming from one or both ears, you’ll want to take them to the vet as soon as possible. Ear infections aren’t just painful—they can get worse without timely treatment.

Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know about ear infections in dogs, including causes, prevention tips, and treatment.

Why Do Dogs Get Ear Infections?

Like human ears, a dog’s ear has three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Your dog’s outer ear flap—whether it’s upright and perky or big and floppy—helps tunnel sounds deeper into the ear.

But unlike people, dogs have long, narrow ear canals, and the shape of the ear canal and ear flap leaves them more prone to ear infections.

Dogs can develop three types of ear infections:

• Otitis externa (external ear infection)
• Otitis media (middle ear infection)
• Otitis interna (inner ear infection)

Causes of dog ear infections

The main causes include:

• Allergies. Food or environmental allergies can cause yeast and bacteria overgrowth in the ear canals, leading to inflammation and infection, according to Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM, chief veterinarian at Petco. Although food doesn’t cause ear infections directly, common allergens like protein, milk, or eggs may indirectly lead to infection.
• Damp ears. A warm, damp, and dark ear canal also provides an ideal environment for yeast and bacteria to grow, especially in dogs with floppy ears.
• Parasites. Fleas, ticks, and mites can all irritate your dog’s skin and cause inflammation of the ears, which can lead to secondary bacterial infections.
• Waxy build-up or other foreign objects. Poor ear hygiene can lead to wax build-up, which traps moisture and creates an ideal environment for yeast and bacteria. Irritation from plant matter or other objects stuck in your dog’s ear can also trigger inflammation and infection.
• Diseases that compromise the immune system. “For many dogs, ear infections may be more common if they have a health issue that compromises their immune system, like an autoimmune disease, an endocrine disease, or cancer,” Dr Miller says.
• Irregular ear anatomy. Some dogs are born with irregular ear anatomy, like ear canals that are too narrow. According to Dr Miller, these abnormalities can predispose them to ear infections.
• Physical trauma to the ear. An ear injury, from scraping their ear on a branch to playing a bit too rough at the dog park, can lead to an infection.

Do Some Dog Breeds Have A Higher Risk of Ear Infections?

Certain breeds may have a higher risk of ear infections than others, due to:

• The size and shape of their ear canal. Brachycephalic (short-snouted) dogs like pugs and French bulldogs are more likely to have narrow ear canals.
• Allergies and other underlying risk factors. Purebred dogs may have more of a risk, as they’re more prone to allergies.
• The shape of their outer ears. Dogs with hanging ear flaps have the highest risk, since moisture can easily get trapped in the ear flap.

In a one-year study of 22,333 randomly sampled dogs, researchers found the following breeds had a higher risk of ear infections, compared to crossbreeds:

• Bassett Hounds
• Chinese Shar Peis
• Labradoodles
• Beagles
• Golden Retrievers
• Gundogs
• Poodle types
• Spaniel types

On the other hand, a few breeds had a lower risk of ear infections compared to crossbreeds, including:

• Chihuahuas
• Border Collies
• Yorkshire Terriers
• Jack Russell Terriers

How to Prevent Ear Infections in Dogs

Causes	Preventable?	Best prevention method for ear infection	Seasonal?
Parasites	Yes	Parasite control products, including spot-on monthly treatments.	No. Some parasites are more prevalent during the warmer seasons, but pets can still contract fleas and ticks year-round. Maintain flea and tick prevention for your pet all year, Dr Miller recommends.
Damp ears	Yes	Dry your dog’s ears thoroughly after they swim, bathe, or play in the rain.	No. Your dog may be more likely to opt for a swim during the summer months, but it’s important to keep their ears dry at all times.
Allergies	Yes	Your vet can help you identify allergy triggers and make a plan to limit your dog’s exposure. They may prescribe allergy shots for environmental allergies.	No. Some environmental allergies, like grass and pollen, can be seasonal, but dust, mould, and food allergies persist all year.
Waxy build-up or other foreign objects	Yes	“Keeping up with an ear hygiene routine is a great way to help prevent ear yeast infections in dogs. Using an effective, dog-specific cleanser can help balance the pH in your dog’s ears and keep moisture from lingering,” Dr Miller says. She recommends cleaning your dog’s ears at least once a week.	No.
Immune-compromising disease	Might be preventable when working with your vet	If your dog has an immune-compromising disease, your vet can offer guidance on preventing secondary infections.	No.
Irregular ear anatomy	This could be preventable when working with your vet	If your dog often gets ear infections, they may have an irregular ear anatomy. Ask your vet about the best method for preventing secondary infections. They may recommend steps like more frequent cleanings.	No.
Physical trauma	Potentially preventable when you get prompt treatment for any ear injuries	If your dog shows any signs of physical trauma to their ear, make an appointment with your vet before an infection has the chance to develop.	No.

How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears

Dr Miller recommends cleaning your dog’s ears once a week. Yet because some dogs might wiggle around—pushing debris deeper into the ear, which could trigger an infection—she recommends following these steps:

• Prepare your supplies. Gather a dog-safe ear cleaner, a cotton ball or gauze, and a towel. Avoid using cotton wool buds in your dog’s ears.
• Position yourself and your dog. Place a towel under your dog. Depending on their size, you may want to sit on a chair or the floor and have your dog stand in front of you or sit with their rump between your legs. You may also want to clean their ears outside, since, as Dr Miller explains, some dogs like to shake their heads and fling debris and cleaning liquid everywhere.
• Expose the ear canal. Hold the ear solution in one hand and gently pull your dog’s ear straight up and away from their head with your other hand.
• Apply the cleaning solution. Squeeze enough ear solution to nearly fill the ear canal without inserting the tip of the bottle inside the ear.
• Massage the ear. With your free hand, massage the base of your dog’s ear for about 30 seconds. “This step is essential for removing dog ear wax, as it will help ensure the solution is breaking down the buildup,” Dr Miller says.
• Let them shake it out. Your dog may want to shake their head and Dr Miller says to let them. This will help remove excess ear cleaner and debris.
• Clean the inside of the ear. Use a cotton ball or gauze to gently clean the visible dirt or wax on the outer part of the ear canal. Avoid reaching into the inner ear canal, since this may push debris further down and cause an infection.
• Praise your dog. Before moving on to the other side, offer praise and a treat.
• Repeat on the other ear

“If your pet doesn’t allow you to clean their ears safely, seek professional ear cleaning from your veterinarian or groomer,” Dr Miller advises.

Diagnosing Ear Infections In Dogs

If your dog shows signs of an ear infection, don’t wait for it to resolve on its own. This usually won’t happen.

Dr Miller says true ear infections require prompt veterinary care. “If treatment is delayed, the infection can spread deeper beyond the eardrum and become much more severe, risking a ruptured eardrum or loss of hearing,” she says.

Signs of ear infections in dogs

If your dog has an ear infection, you may notice:

• excessive ear scratching and head shaking
• rubbing ears on the carpet
• a swollen and red ear canal
• a foul smell coming from the ears (a cheesy or musty smell may suggest a yeast infection)
• discharge or crusty buildup
• they pull back from pats on their ear or head
• loss of appetite and trouble with balance and hearing

To diagnose an ear infection in your dog, your vet will perform a physical examination of the ear canal using an otoscope. If your dog has any ear discharge, a vet can often make a diagnosis due to the colour and consistency alone—especially if your dog has ear mites or other parasites.

Your vet may also perform a cytology of material from the ear to identify the specific strain of bacteria or fungus causing the infection. If they find a foreign body, mass, or another underlying cause of infection, they may recommend a CT scan, MRI, blood panel, or biopsy. They may also recommend additional testing if they suspect your dog could have an allergy.

Medications For Ear Infections In Dogs

Treatment for a dog ear infection includes soothing their discomfort and addressing the underlying cause.

Before your vet can treat the infection, they’ll also need to remove wax, debris, or foreign objects. Your vet may recommend having this cleaning done in the practice and under sedation. This can keep your dog calm so they don’t make sudden movements during the cleaning, which could lead to inflamed ear tissue or a punctured eardrum.

The treatment your vet recommends will vary, depending on what caused the ear infection:

Allergies

Possible treatments include identifying and removing irritating allergens from your home, trying a food elimination trial or a prescription diet, or allergy shots from your vet.

Parasites

Treatment may include prescription topical or oral flea medication and antifungal or antibiotic medications to address any secondary infections.

Foreign object in the ear

Treatment includes removing the object and addressing any secondary infections.

A mass or growth

Treatment may include steroid medications, surgical removal of the polyps or affected tissues, and antibiotics to address infection, if needed.

Swimmer’s ear

“Your vet may prescribe antibiotic ear medications, such as drops or ointments. If there’s a yeast infection in your dog’s ear, then treatment may include an antifungal prescription,” Dr Miller says. She adds that many ear medications also include an anti-inflammatory component to soothe inflammation.

Autoimmune disease

Your vet can help you find the right approach to treating the underlying disease and preventing future infections.

Fungal infection

To treat fungal ear infections in dogs, your vet may prescribe oral or injected antifungal medication, antifungal eardrops, medicated ear flushes, or a combination.

Bacterial infection

Treatment for bacterial dog ear infections may require months of systemic antibiotics, depending on the severity of the infection. Your vet may also prescribe antibacterial eardrops or corticosteroids to ease discharge, pain, and swelling.

Keep in mind: severe or chronic ear infections may require a combination of treatments. If your dog keeps getting ear infections, talk to your vet about trying other treatment options.

Should You Use Home Remedies to Manage Ear Infections in Dogs?

You can’t treat your dog’s ear infection at home. In fact, if your dog does have an infection, DIY dog ear cleaners and home remedies can do more harm than good.

Never put the following in your dog’s ears:

• vinegar
• hydrogen peroxide
• rubbing alcohol
• propylene glycol

Only your vet can diagnose an ear infection. If your dog doesn’t have an ear infection, they may suggest using over-the-counter remedies to ease inflammation, like Zymox ear solution with hydrocortisone, according to Dr Miller.

“However, home remedies are not always safe when an infection is present. If your dog’s eardrum is ruptured, applying over-the-counter medications or cleansers could be toxic,” Dr Miller says. That’s why you’ll always want to ask your vet before using any OTC remedy.

Call your vet immediately if your dog has signs of a ruptured eardrum, like head tilting, imbalance, loss of appetite, or vomiting.

A Vet Explains Why It’s Better to Prevent Ear Infections Than Treat them Later

“Just like preventative care is most important for long-term health and catching disease early, the same is true for the health of the ears,” Dr Miller says.

By following simple steps such as cleaning your dog’s ears once a week and keeping them dry, you can prevent a painful infection that can lead to other serious health issues.

“Dogs often hide their pain symptoms and delaying treatment may cause your pup a lot of pain,” Miller says. If you suspect an infection, make an appointment with your vet right away.