My dog has a crusty, dry ear and keeps scratching. Is it an infection?

Please do not use Sudocrem, as it contains zinc oxide, which would be toxic if she ingests it. If there is a bacterial or yeast infection present in the ear canal, which may be the case especially if she's shaking her head and scratching, you should have your vet examine her. Some ear solutions and medications can damage the middle and/or inner ear if the eardrum has been damaged. Your vet will likely be able to see the eardrum when he or she uses an otoscope to look in the ears. Sometimes the canal is very swollen and /or has a large amount of debris that prevents us from being able to see the eardrum, but we should always attempt to verify that the eardrum is ok before treating the ear, so as to not damage the middle or inner ear. If she does not seem to be shaking or scratching, it may be just the pinna (ear flap) that is affected, in which case I would recommend you try using [Zymox](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone), as it may get things cleared up. If you aren't seeing improvement in 3-5 days at home, take her to the vet. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

This is likely to be caused by an ear infection due to proliferation of Malassezia spp (an yeast infection basically). I would recommend an immediate check up to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat accordingly. Antibiotics ear drops will be required. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Poor Luna! Yes, it definitely looks like she has an infection in her ear - yellow crusty debris like this is not normal. She will need prescription ear drops from your vet to treat this effectively, so I would recommend taking her in for an exam tomorrow morning. In the meantime, you can use an over-the-counter ear flush such as Epi-Otic to gently clean the affected ear and remove the crusty discharge. This will not treat the underlying infection, but may help to make her a bit more comfortable until you are able to see the vet.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear that Bob is scratching his ear. It is possible that he has an ear infection, likely bacterial or yeast in origin. I recommend having him seen by your veterinarian to have him/her perform an ear smear and cytology to look at the cells and determine what type of infection is present. This way, he/she can prescribe the most appropriate treatment. I hope this is helpful!

It sounds like Neka could have an ear infection, and the dry coat could be due to dandruff or allergies. I'd have her seen by a vet. The ear problem really needs to be checked out promptly, as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Hercules. I am happy to hear that he has an appointment with his veterinarian. I am concerned that his ears are bothering him. His behavior can be seen in dogs with an ear infection. Mention your concerns to his doctor. An instrument known as an otoscope to look deep within his ear canals. If there appears to be an infection, then his veterinarian to will collect a sample from each ear to evaluate under the microscope. This will confirm the infection and guide his veterinarian to the best treatment choice. In the meantime, you can clean his ears if you have an ear cleaner for dogs. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bo Duke. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. I am concerned that he has an ear infection. Ear infections can be very painful and cause him to cry when you touch near his ears. The veterinarian will examine each ear canal and take a sample to evaluate under the microscope. This will diagnose an infection if present. If so, treatment will be prescribed. I hope this information helps!