Can my dog have an earache? Why? Or is it something else? Help please ...?

Question

She has been wanting me to scratch her left ear more often lately, shes been putting her paw to it and walking with her head ****** with the left ear facing down toward the floor.

She seems like she doesnt feel well, shes always a bit strange but im worried about her!

i looked into both of her ears and everything appears to be the same on each side..no redness or swelling in either ear...

what could be wrong?!

Answer 1

Sounds like your dog has an ear infection!! My dog had an ear infection in both ears and he scratched them constantly, and he shook his head all the time.. if the infection is deep inside the ear canal you wont see redness.. I thought he just had ear mites, but when I took him to the vet, and he put that thing in his ear, the vet said his ears were infected.. he was put on meds, and I had to put drops in his ears.. he stopped scratching his ears about 3 days after we started the drops... The vet said that bathing them is what usually causes an infection like he had.. ( not getting the water out of his ears) I hope this helps.. I definatly take your dog to the vet.. the longer an infection goes the more painful it will get!

Answer 2

She could have an earache. Also, she could have ear mites. Most of the time if a dog or cat has ear mites, their ears will be slightly red and have a brownish waxy/flaky substance visible, but in the begininng there might not be any signs. If you DO notice a brownish substance, here is an easy at home test for ear mites from a book we have called "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook": take a q-tip and look at it under a magnifying glass against a black background (like a black piece of construction paper). Mites are small, the size of pin head, they will look like white specks and they move. It also says mites are the most common cause of ear problems in dogs and puppies.The book says it takes only a few to start the symptoms and the first symptons (before u see the waxy brown stuff) are itching of the ears, head shaking,and holding the head at an odd angle. Usually one ear will start, then the other will get infected. Humans cannot catch ear mites.The book also says diseases/ailments of the ear in dogs make up 20% of vet visits in the USA.I know this is really long, but this is what else can cause what u described, according to the book: Infections in the ears of a dog are called "external otitis (outer ear)"and it is in the ear canal.80%of these type of ear infectons occur in dogs with long,droopy ears but can affect any breed.Basically what causes the infection to start is lack of air circulation that makes conditions favorable for bacterial growth. Symtoms of "external otitis" are: head shaking, scratching,/rubbing of the affected ear, and tilting/carrying of head with the infected ear towards the ground.Also, there are "otitis media" ear infections (middle ear) and it says the signs are the same for this as for outer ear infections,only pain is usually worse It saysif your dog suddenly gets dizzy and shows the above described signs, suspect inner ear infection,but most cases are caught before they get to this stage. Also, it says most are easy to treat with ear drops and/or antibiotics when caught relatively early. Sorry this was so long. Hoped it helped and wasnt just useless. GOOD LUCK and hope she gets better!

Answer 3

first you should (this sounds odd but its true) smell the dogs ears to see if they smell funny. If they do you should contact a vet but if they smell just like a dog then you probably have nothing to worry about. The dog may like the feeling of having her paw in her ear. She may want it rubbed or she has an itch and she can't get it. You Can rub it for her.

If you think that it isn't healthy for the dog do be doing this then you should contact the vet. It doesn't hurt to check but if you don't call and it gets worse it may effect the dogs overall health.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

We noticed similar behavior in our dog and took him to the vet to get looked at. It turned out that he had pollen allergies and the symptoms look very similar. Just goes to show you that you never really know whats wrong until you get it checked out. Bottom line is your dog is trying to tell you something. She's uncomfortable, and that can be a number of different things. The only person that has the expertise and resource to find out whats wrong is your vet. The $50 vet visit is worth the peace of mind and chances are they will find something and be able to make your dog a lot more comfortable. I hope this helps!!

Answer 5

Well, your dog can possibly have an earache but she can also have something else that you may not expect or see.
If you want my opinion, I'll tell you... My opinion is, you should see a veterinarian right away, just for the sake of your dog. I'm sure the veterinarian you go to will tell you what's wrong.

Good luck to you! I hope everything turns out well for your dog!

Answer 6

Ear infections canbe very serious in a dog. Get her checked by a good vet. Clean her ears with doggy ear cleaner - available at your vets. Double check for ticks in the ear area. Good Luck -k-

Answer 7

You should take her to the Vet,my dog also has
a sore ear and it turned out she has some type
of yeast infection that requires special medicine
and constant cleaning and ear drops..
Best find out quick as a dog can't tell you if they
are in pain and discomfort..!and the longer you
leave it the pain and symptoms may Worsen..!

Answer 8

It could be fleas, ear mites or an ear infection. It could be something else too, so you might want to take her to the Vet to get her examined and see what is going on with her so she can be given the right treatment. GL with your dog.

Answer 9

Could be an inner ear infection, since the dog does not feel good, you should take her to the vet she may need antibiotics

Answer 10

It sounds like earmites. Earmites are not visible, they are inside the brown exudate which is visible.