My dog has dried gunk in his ear and shakes his head. What to do?

This is an abrasion/laceration on his ear. I would recommend visiting your vet for antibiotics to get this to heal properly. You can clean it for now with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water if he will let you. But if not, then let your vet take care of the cleaning process and a topical ointment likely will be prescribed. Best wishes with your pet Chester and his ear. Take care!

Hello. I am so sorry that Buddy is having problems with his ears. Shaking & the discharge are all indications of an ear infection from bacteria or yeast organisms, inflammation from allergies ( food or inhalant ), or ear mites. Your veterinarian can look in the ears & obtain samples to examine under the microscope. Depending on what is seen will dictate treatment to clear up the problem quickly. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The signs you are describing are indicative of an ear infection. Sometimes, these can resolve with topical over the counter treatment, but antibiotics or antifungal medication may be necessary. I recommend using an ear cleaning solution or wipes to clean the ear once or twice a day. There are many options available in pet stores, but look out for something with a mild acid in it (salicylic acid or apple cider vinegar are good ingredients). If the condition does not begin to resolve on its own, Baloo may need to be seen by his vet for prescription medications. I hope this helps and that all is well!

It may be discharge associated with an ear infection (bacterial or fungal) or it may be a waxy discharge which is normal. To diagnose infection, have Grock physically examined by your veterinarian. Swabs of the war can be examined in the clinic to diagnose infection. Your vet can then dispense medication and an ear cleaner if indicated.

It looks like Diamond has a pretty bad ear infection! Ear infections can be caused by yeast or different types of bacteria. Unfortunately without being see by a veterinarian there's not much you can do for an ear infection at home. It would be best to schedule an appointment for Diamond to see your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can make sure Diamonds ear drum is not damaged and take a swab from the ears to determine what type of infection is present and what medication should be used. I would schedule pretty soon as ear infections can be quite painful and the longer they go on the harder they are to treat. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

He may have an infection, inflammation, mites or something stuck in his ear. A gentle cleanser from the pet store can be applied to see if this will flush the ear and provide some temporary relief - alcohol free cleanser is recommended if the ear is very sensitive

This black, tarry substance is mostly wax and cleansing twice daily with an alcohol free ear cleanser for 5-7 days should help remove this (it will also remove any mites which may be stuck in it). Fill the ear with the solution, rub gently and then wipe away the disolved wax - repeat 3-5 times until ear appears clean; do this twice daily until ear has been thoroughly clean for 2 cleanings and then 1-2 times weekly to prevent build up. Any severe pain, blood or loss of appetite indicates there may be an infection and this would require assessment by a vet to prescribe the correct medicated drops