My dog's nose is dry. What are the signs of a dog ear infection?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I am concerned that he has an ear infection. He needs to see his veterinarian. The ears will be examined including deep inside as the dog's ear drum requires a special instrument in order to be visualized. Then a swab will be taken from each ear to be examined under the microscope. This will allow the veterinarian to determine if an infection is in fact present and if so, what medication will be needed to treat it. I hope this information helps!

It looks to me like something more serious could be going on, although it can be difficult to tell from a picture. Sometimes vasculitis can cause discoloration and poor blood flow to the tips of the ears - this would need a biopsy for a definite diagnosis. I would recommend rechecking with your vet.

Your dog could have a middle or inner ear infection. The symptoms for middle and inner ear infections are often similar to outer ear infections, and include pain in the ear, head shaking, infected or bloody discharge, and scratching or pawing at the head or ear. Your vet can diagnose an ear infection, and because untreated ear infections can lead to hearing loss, I'd recommend taking Speckles into your vet to have them examine the ear. If it is an ear infection, Speckles will need an antibiotic to treat the infection.

Hello, thank you for your question about Penny, she is adorable! Floppy eared dogs can be more prone to ear infections. Common signs of an ear infection include head shaking, scratching/rubbing at the ears, brown/colored debris in the canal that often has an odor, and redness of the ear. If Penny is exhibiting any of these symptoms she should be seen by a veterinarian so that they can collect a swab from her ear for evaluation and discuss further treatment recommendations. Hope this helps!

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!

Hi Casey, if there is nothing in the ear the underlying cause can be allergies or an ear polyp. Did the vet use an otoscope and look way down into the ear canal? Were they able to see the ear drum - whether or not is was intact or ruptured? Many dogs will not hold still good enough to allow a thorough exam of the ears. If that is the case with Layla then sedation may be needed so the vet can get a good look inside. If there is absolutely nothing in the ear canal and the ear drum is fine then there is likely a middle ear infection or inflammation (behind the ear drum). More advanced testing would be needed to check for that.

This does look like a skin infection, but we cannot say whether it is bacterial or fungal. Your veterinarian may be able to tell with a quick exam and looking at the area with a special light that can diagnose ringworm fungal infections. In either case, this will be best treated with an oral medication....either antibiotic or antifungal. It is usually unrewarding to try to treat a lesion in this location topically because the dog will usually lick any cream or ointment right off. I would recommend that Neyle see her vet for a diagnosis.