can a dog just have dirty ears?

Question

his ears are dirty and stinky, they are extremely dirty and they have waxy brown stuff in them and they have always been like that but they seem to bother him.
his name is buddy, he hasen't always been mine. he was owened by someone else until i saved him from them. they said he wasn't supposed to live this long and that he had a heart condition. but he seems fine other than his ears.
he DOESN'T have floppy ears!
he is a german shepherd,samoya,beagle mix
do any of those breeds have naturaly waxy dirty ears?
im worried that he could have an ear infection but i want to make sure so i can get him proper treatment even tho i can not aford to

Answer 1

You may want to take him to a vet he might have ear mites which can be fatal to your doggie. Or he might just have DIRTY ears...there is a solution you can buy at pet stores or the vet, you just put a bit of it on a cotton ball and wipe down the ears...most dogs do have yucky ears, but if it's quite smelly you want to get that checked out!

Answer 2

It is possible to have dirty ears, but if there is a stink and brown waxy discharge, there is an infection and you need a vet. Dirty ears is just dirt.

Even though infections are more prevalent in drop eared dogs, dogs with upright ears can get them occasionally too. Allergies or a foreign body in the ear can cause an infection. That's another reason to see a vet.

Answer 3

It's possible they are just dirty but smell can be an indication of infection also. Try cleaning them with a solution of water/vinegar 50:50 and use 5ml per 20 lb of body wt. Your local pharmacy or pet store should have a syringe if you don't. Massage the base of his ears to get the solution thoroughly absorbed and then clean with cotton balls or soft rag. Never use Q-Tips of put anything in the ear canal. Another possible aid to infection is to soak a clove of garlic in calendula oil overnight and then put a few drops in his ear twice a day. You can do this for 5 days and if things don't improve, you should take him to the vet to have him checked for ear infections which can cause deafness if allowed to go on too long. Some ear problems are caused by allergies which can come from his food. You can do some research on this as well which may help.

Answer 4

You should clean out the ears and make sure that they stay dry inside.
Keep in mind that you should be extremely gentle on the ears and not put anything too deeply into the ear canal.
Very warm water on a cottonball or soft washcloth (be very gentle if using a washcloth) will help to get the major build-up out. You can use a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball (dab it lightly) to get the ears to dry after washing, but use sparingly. I would then follow-up and clean them more with some mineral oil (like baby oil). The mineral oil helps lubricate the ear, and provide a barrier to keep the wax from building up.
If your dog's ears are really smelly and you can't afford to go to the vet, I've found that Desenex or Lotrimin anti-fungal powders and creams can be effective. Your dog may have a slight fungal infection, and these over-the-counter creams and powders can work well. If you use the powder, make sure the ear is dry inside beforehand, or else the powder will just clump up - use a good amount of powder and the dog will generally shake his head afterward and the excess will fly out (do this outdoors). If you use the lotion, apply with your finger and make sure to wipe any excess away.
I have two bloodhounds who get smelly ears sometimes, and I used to have a newfoundland who was prone to fungal ears.

Answer 5

It's important to have your dog checked for ear mites by your vet. If your low on money, you may want to check for ear mites before taking your dog to the vet by removing a bit of debris from inside the ear and look at it with a magnifying glass or, if you have one, through a microscope. If you see little crablike creatures, your pet has mites, and you will have to get rid of them. The first thing to do is clean the ears thoroughly with an ear-cleaning formula. Then apply a few drops of a medicated solution designed to kill ear mites, available at pet supply stores, following the directions on the label. It's also important to keep your dogs ears clean, if only to reduce the risk of infection. And if your pet has ear mites, cleaning the ears will help the medicine work much more efficiently. Cleaning them too often, however, will strip away the protective wax, making the ears raw and sore. Don't bother with cotton-tipped swabs, which can be dangerous if they go in deeper than you can see. Instead, swab out the outer portions of the ears with a dry cotton ball. If your dog has gotten yeast or bacterial ear infections in the past, you may want to clean the ears using a solution made from equal amounts of vinegar and water. This will kill germs before they have a chance to multiply. As a final precaution, you may want to apply an ear-drying product after washing your dog's ears. Sold in pet supply stores, ear-drying powder, will help lower moisture in the ear canal and check the growth of bacteria and fungi. Some people use drying solutions every time their dogs swim or have a bath. Even though people sometimes clean their own ears with hydrogen peroxide, it is generally not a good idea for dogs. Once the bubbles disappear, there is a lot of water left behind, making a perfect breeding ground for organisms to flourish.

Hope that helps, and good luck.

Answer 6

Many dogs get ear infections on a regular basis.
I know because my boys seem to get it far more than my girls ever do.
I get a product from my vet called Otomax.
I apply it twice a day for about 2 to 3 days and it clears it right up.
It is a good idea to buy a product called "Swimmers ear". It`s a good ear flush to use on your dog.
The thing is that some dogs when they shake their heads can not get all the dirt out of their ear canals, thus dirty ears or infections.
Good Luck

Answer 7

Why would you 'save' a dog that you can't even afford to take to the vet and have properly diagnosed? No, he likely has ear mites and/or a fungal infection -- floppy ears aren't the only ears that get these things... no, dogs don't have 'naturally' waxy dirty ears - it is a response to either ear mites and/or fungal infections... if he has a heart condition then having the ears treated is important. If you can't afford to properly care for the dog, take him to the local humane society or shelter so that they can.

Answer 8

Dog ears need to be cleaned about once a week or they can develop a bacterial or fungus infection. The drainage and smell is the infection. And even though the dog is in pain even though he does not indicate that. If you have ever had an ear infection you know what tha is like. Take him to the Vets. He can also lose his hearing if you do not take him for help....besides the extreme pain.

Answer 9

They can just have dirty ears, but it's not usually something that is extreme, and they don't smell if they are just dirty. It could be a number of things, yeast, mites, infection. Best to get them checked. It's not an expensive thing to go in and have the vet to take a look. Make sure that the vet finds out properly what the problem is and you are happy with the treatment. Yeasty ears is a problem that some vets drag on and on to make more money. Find out what it is and make sure his plans are to get rid of it as quickly as possible. If you aren't happy with the results, see another vet.

Answer 10

Not natural, not normal, and not healthy for the dog. After you go get this checked by your vet, get an ear cleaning solution, wet a couple of cotton balls with it, and put them in your dog's ear, close the flap, and massage the ear. Do this as often as is recommended on the solution package and you'll (hopefully!) prevent infection.

Answer 11

It sounds like he has a fungal infection in his ears!!! Call the vet. and ask him if he will give you a prescription for an ear cleaner and a medication for the fungal infection, it should not cost that much!! I know when I am low on money, and my dogs can get by with just a medication for a few days, my vet. will do this for me!! Good Luck, I hope he gets better soon!!