Ear infections in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. It is an irritating and painful overgrowth of bacteria or yeast in a dog's ear canal.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet for an appointment.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

An ear infection is an irritating and painful overgrowth of bacteria or yeast in the ear canal.^[1] Ear infections can be caused by an underlying condition such as ear mites, a skin problem or excess earwax, and they need prompt treatment.^[1]

Signs

Head shaking
Face or head rubbing, often along the ground
An itchy or painful ear
Redness, swelling or heat
A smelly or pussy discharge
A swollen, droopy earflap
Scabs and crusting in the ear or on the side of the face
A head tilt to one side
Loss of balance
Vomiting

Causes and risk factors

Ear mites
A skin problem
Excess earwax

How a vet finds out

Looking at a discharge sample from the infected ear to find the cause

How vets treat it

Antibiotics
Anti-inflammatories
Pain relief
Antifungal medication
Medication
Surgery
Ear drops

What the experts say

“Contact your vet for an appointment ASAP if you suspect your dog has an ear infection - it’s a very painful problem that needs prompt treatment.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What are the signs of an ear infection in a dog?

Signs can include head shaking, face or head rubbing, an itchy or painful ear, redness, swelling, heat, discharge, a swollen earflap, a head tilt and loss of balance.^[1]

How might a vet find the cause?

A vet may look at a discharge sample from the infected ear to find the cause.^[1]

When should I contact a vet?

Contact your vet for an appointment as soon as possible if you suspect your dog has an ear infection because it is a very painful problem that needs prompt treatment.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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