Dog's ear smells after skunk spray. Is it in his ear canal? Help!

This definitely can mean water in his ears. I would get a gauze and wipe his canal out. You do not have to worry about damaging his ear drum if you use just your finger. I would also call your vet and ask for an ear cleaner that has a drying agent in it. If the water stays in his ear it can create an ear infection. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If the ears have never been tested or swabbed at the veterinarian's clinic, then I would recommend having this done. Sometimes there is only a small amount of debris in the ear canals with a mild infection and the ears do not always appear red or inflamed. A small amount of yeast can cause stinky ears. If the ears are clean of infection, then I would recommend using a weekly ear cleaner such as Epi Otic or Zymox otic cleanser. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

There should be no ill effects apart from the smell :) The only problems we will usually see from skunk spraying is irritation of the eyes if they get sprayed in the eyes - so if you notice any squinting of the eyes you should wash them out through this eye wash and/or eye gel. You may be able to purchase these at your local Petco. If not, you can buy online. ( https://www.amazon.com/Vetericyn-Plus-Animal-Wash-Drops/dp/B01N7BTWEN/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3TSFQR42OVO6T&keywords=vetericyn+eye+wash&qid=1562070877&s=pet-supplies&sprefix=vetericyn+eye%2Cpets%2C389&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1 ) ( https://www.amazon.com/Vetericyn-1066-Ophthalmic-Gel-1-5oz/dp/B0040ZS8R8 )

Yes, Snuffy probably has a bacterial or yeast infection still present in his ear, if there is still a smell present. Often an ear wash designed for dog ears will cure a mild infection, but if he is painful, itching, or scratching his ear then he needs to have a vet look down into the ear canal and take a sample to see what kind of infection is going on. Then he might need a treatment to put in the ear and an anti-itching medication like Apoquel to help heal the ear and make it less painful. The cephalexin is not likely going to help an ear infection, but might have been for a skin infection related to the dog bite wound. Hope that helps!

Hi and thanks for posting. Yes, Theo's ear is very red and appears to have a good amount of debris in there as well. Ear infections can and are indeed painful. I would wait to clean it until your veterinarian has examined the ear. Your vet will need to ensure his tympanic membrane (ear drums) are intact before using any kind of cleaner in the ear. A sample of the debris in his ear will be taken to determine what is causing the infection so it can be treated most effectively.

The only way to know if there is a piece of cotton still in the ear canal is to have your vet look inside with an otoscope. If there is a piece in there it can cause constant infections and a decrease in hearing. I know you flushed out the ear afterwards but cotton gets heavy when soaked and may not come out. The ear canal in a dog is very long so it could still be down there.

Hello. The vinegar & water may be a little irritating, or your pet just does not like the feel of any liquid in his ears. Try distracting him with some play time or a good romp & see if he responds this way. Otherwise, most irritations/sensations calm pretty quickly. If he continues to show signs of discomfort, please your pet examined by a veterinarian to make sure there is nothing abnormal with his eas, such as a ruptured ear drum or the presence of any foreign material deep in the canal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.