My dog's ear has green, smelly wax. Could it be a serious infection?

Such an excessive amount of ear wax is not normal. It is likely that there is some irritation in the ear (possibly infection/fungal, bacterial or parasitical) that is causing the discharge. A terrible odor is usually a sign of a bacterial infection. I strongly recommend you take Beethoven to your vet for an ear exam, ear cleaning and, if needed, treatment.

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.

This discharge is likely due to an ear infection. I would take Oden into a vet now. It's very important to have this ear infection examined and treated promptly due to the discharge coming from his ear. In addition, leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. The vet can confirm that he does have an ear infection, and can prescribe medication to treat it.

Sounds like Rugsy has a bad ear infection. These can be painful and if left untreated can damage the ear drum and progress further down the ear. He should see your family vet for an exam and ear cytology and to get the right medications. Pain medications and/or anti inflammatories may be helpful as well. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

By your description, your dog may have an [ear infection](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/ear-infections/). This would require an exam with your veterinarian for diagnosis. A swab of the ear(s) can be examined in the clinic to diagnose a bacterial or fungal (yeast) infection. Once the diagnosis is made, the appropriate medication can be dispensed to help clear it up. To help maintain clean ears after this episode, [clean the ears](https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-steps-to-clean-your-dog-s-ears-properly/) regularly with a veterinary approved ear cleaner such as [Epi-Otic](https://us.virbac.com/epi-otic-advanced-ear-cleanser). You can find it or [other approved cleaners](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-ear-and-eye-care) online or in the local Petco. Your veterinarian may even dispense it along with medication. Use cotton balls or gauze pads to clean what you can see. Never insert anything down into the ear canal. This may cause injury which could complicate any existing condition.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sheriff. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian as I worry that he has an ear infection. His veterinarian will examine each ear canal with an instrument known as as an otoscope. A sample will be taken from each ear and evaluated under the microscope. This will confirm an infection and determine the best medication for him. In the meantime, you can clean both ears with an ear cleaner for dogs. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an ear infection. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Your veterinarian would be able to check what type of infection is present and treat accordingly. Usually this resolves with topical therapy. Good luck and have a good night!