Dog Ear Infections: Everything You Need to Know Home » Blog » Dog Ear Infections: Everything You Need to Know There are many possible causes of dog ear infections. Ear infections can be painful for your pup, so getting them to the vet is essential to get them treated right away. The longer the ear infection goes untreated, the worse it can become. Dogs are more predisposed to ear infections than humans due to the shape of their ear canals. The most common dog ear infections are bacterial infections or yeast infections. Sometimes ear infections can be caused by environmental allergies or endocrine issues. You can help prevent ear infections for your dog altogether. If you regularly clean your dog’s ears and make sure they are free of wax and dirt, this will help. If you read this article, you will find out everything you need to know about dog ear infections. What Are the Symptoms of Ear Infection in Dogs? Sometimes dogs do not demonstrate any symptoms of ear infection. Ear infections are typically painful for dogs, so you will need to frequently examine your dog’s ears to know if they are clean and healthy. The following are some common symptoms of a dog ear infection: Dark discharge Unpleasant odor Redness or swelling of the ear canal Pain Constant head shaking Itchiness Scabs in the ears Around 20 percent of dogs suffer from some kind of ear disease in one or both ears. If you note your dog has any of these symptoms, you must get them to the vet right away. Do not make an attempt to clean your dog’s ears if there is any sign of infection. It can be too painful for them, and it requires the help of a veterinarian. What Causes Ear Infection in Dogs? There are a plethora of causes of ear infections in dogs. Most of the time, an ear infection results from an underlying problem. The following include some of the causes of ear infection in dogs: Ear Mites When your pup has ear mites, they live in your dog’s fur. Ear mites are typically black and cause a lot of pain and itchiness in your dog’s ear. Ear mites devour skin debris, which triggers inflammation and perpetuates the infection. Some of the problems ear mites can cause your dog include: Bacterial infections Inflammation in the ear canal (Eventually) Partial or complete deafness Ear mites usually have eggs, which need to be destroyed. Ear mite medication will kill the adult mites but leave the eggs, so it can take time to resolve the problem. Environmental Allergies Some of the most common environmental allergies that can cause ear infections in dogs to include: Mold Pollen Dander Allergies cause the skin barrier to lessen, producing excess wax in the ear canal. Yeast and bacteria are made, which permits severe infection strains to grow. This growth can cause the following: Inflammation Pain Discharge Chronic inflammation can trigger the deterioration of the opening of the ear canal. Treatment is often difficult for this affliction. Endocrine Issues Hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease can be the culprit when your dog has an ear infection. If a dog keeps getting otitis externa and they are not itchy, endocrine disease could be to blame. Symptoms of endocrine disease in dogs include the following: Increased thirst Increased urination Excessive hunger Weight gain Sleepiness Poor coat condition If you see your pup has any of these symptoms, take them to the vet as soon as possible. With endocrine issues, your dog may need lifelong treatment. Food Allergies More than 20 percent of ear infections begin with just otitis externa, and ear disease occurs in 80 percent of ear infections from food allergies. Animals with food allergies tend to have recurrent skin and ear infections unless the underlying cause is taken care of. Inhalant Allergies Inhalant allergies are the most common underlying cause of ear infections in dogs. Seasonal allergies are usually the perpetrator. It generally worsens over time. The dogs who suffer from this tend to have itchy feet