Dog Ear Infections: Signs, Causes, and How to Keep Your Dog's Ears Healthy

Few things worry a dog owner like a pup who suddenly won't stop shaking their head or pawing at one side of their face. Dog ear infections are one of the most common reasons pets end up at the vet, and they can range from a mild, itchy nuisance to a painful problem that affects your dog's balance and hearing. The good news is that once you understand what causes them, the warning signs to watch for, and how to keep those ears clean, most infections are very manageable — and often preventable.

What Causes Dog Ear Infections?

A healthy canine ear canal is a warm, slightly moist tunnel — and that makes it an inviting home for yeast and bacteria when conditions tip out of balance. Most ear infections in dogs are caused by an overgrowth of yeast, bacteria, or both. Trapped moisture from swimming or baths, allergies to food or pollen, ear mites, excess wax, or even a foreign object like a grass seed can all set the stage. Because a dog's ear canal is shaped like an L, debris and moisture settle deep down where they are hard to clear, which is why infections can take hold quickly and linger.

Allergies deserve special mention. Chronic or repeat ear infections are frequently a symptom of an underlying allergy rather than a standalone problem, so a dog who keeps getting them may need their diet or environment examined, not just their ears treated.

Warning Signs of an Ear Infection in Dogs

Catching an ear infection early keeps your dog comfortable and makes treatment simpler, so it helps to know the tell-tale signs. Keeping a written record of flare-ups, symptoms, and vet visits is one of the smartest habits an owner can build — our My Pet Journal gives you a dedicated place to log which ear was affected, what treatment was used, and how often it recurs, which is exactly the kind of pattern your vet will want to see.

Common signs include frequent head shaking, scratching or pawing at the ear, a yeasty or foul odor, redness or swelling inside the ear flap, and a brown, yellow, or waxy discharge. Some dogs tilt their head to one side, rub their ear along the floor or furniture, or become unusually sensitive when you touch the area. In more advanced cases you may notice whining, loss of balance, or reluctance to be petted near the head.

Which Dogs Are Most at Risk?

Any dog can develop an ear infection, but some are far more prone than others. Breeds with long, floppy ears — like Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, and many retrievers — have less air circulation in the ear canal, which traps warmth and moisture. Dogs who love to swim, dogs with allergies, and breeds with hair growing inside the canal (such as Poodles and Schnauzers) also sit at the top of the risk list. Older dogs and those with conditions like hypothyroidism can be more susceptible too. If your dog checks one of these boxes, prevention becomes especially important.

How to Keep Your Dog's Ears Healthy

Routine care is the best defense against ear infections. Check your dog's ears weekly for redness, odor, or discharge, and clean them with a vet-approved ear cleanser when they look dirty — not obsessively, since over-cleaning can irritate the canal. Dry the ears thoroughly after swimming or baths, and keep any hair around the opening trimmed so air can circulate. Having supplies on hand makes this routine painless: our recommended Pet First Aid Kit is a handy place to stash gauze, cleaning wipes, and the basics for at-home ear checks and travel.

When you clean, lift the ear flap, apply the solution as directed, gently massage the base of the ear, and let your dog shake before wiping away loosened debris with a cotton ball. Never push a cotton swab down into the canal, which can pack debris deeper or damage the eardrum.

Ear cleansers are not all the same, and a dog with a ruptured eardrum or an active infection needs a specific product — check with your vet before using a new solution or cleaning routine so you know it is safe for your dog's ears.

When to Call Your Veterinarian

Home care handles maintenance, but an established infection needs professional treatment. Call your vet if you notice persistent head shaking, a strong odor, dark discharge, swelling, bleeding, signs of pain, or any change in balance or hearing. Your vet can examine the canal, identify whether yeast, bacteria, or mites are to blame, and prescribe the right medicated drops or oral treatment. Skipping treatment can allow an infection to spread deeper and become chronic or, in severe cases, lead to lasting damage.

If your dog's ear infections keep coming back, that pattern is usually pointing at something else — often an allergy — so it is worth asking your vet to look for the root cause rather than treating the same flare-up again and again.

Ear infections are common, but they don't have to be a recurring ordeal. With regular ear checks, prompt cleaning after water play, attention to your dog's individual risk factors, and a quick call to the vet at the first real warning sign, you can keep those ears healthy, comfortable, and infection-free for years to come.

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Paris Deesing holds a degree in Biological Anthropology from UCLA. Her articles draw on careful research and a long-held curiosity about the animals who share our lives.