My dog's ear smells musty and he scratches it. Is it an ear infection?

I recommend purchasing a dog ear cleaner at your pet store and cleaning the discharge from his ears. Put some cleaner on a cotton ball and massage the fluid into the ear canal. Rub it around to loosen the debris and then wipe it out. Take a dry cotton ball to remove any cleaner left in the ear. I clean ears daily to start, then as the discharge decreases then clean only when needed. If Maxo has ear mites or a severe yeast or bacterial ear infection this will help but specific prescription medication will be more effective. When you can take him in to your veterinarian for an ear exam. They will look at the ear discharge under the microscope to determine the cause of the problem. Then they can give him the right medication. Ear medication often contains a drug to stop the itching as well as something to cure the cause of the infection and that would be more effective than just cleaning his ears. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Maxo.

That much discharge in the eye generally means an infection could be brewing. If the discharge has been present for longer than 2 days, I recommend to have Max examined by the veterinarian for treatment. Make sure he is not rubbing at the eye because this could make it worse. Also make sure to keep the eye clean. Look inside his right ear for any signs of an infection: https://www.petcoach.co/article/ear-infections-otitis-externa-ear-cleaning-in-dogs/ Have the vet examine his ear as well. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

This could be a sign of an ear infection in Max. Ear infections typically result from yeast or bacteria in dogs and can be itchy and painful. I'd recommend having Max examined by a veterinarian so his ears can be checked out. The veterinarian can take an ear swab to determine what type of infection is present and what medication can be used to treat it. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It sounds like Max has an ear infection. He will need to see a vet in order for it to be treated, as it can't be treated at home. Ear infections in dogs can be caused by ear mites, yeast, or bacteria, and in order for it to be treated correctly, the underlying cause has to be diagnosed. The vet can diagnose what is causing the ear infection, and can prescribe a treatment for it. It's very important to have any ear infections examined and treated promptly, as leaving them untreated can lead to hearing loss. I would take Max into the vet today for an exam.

If you are noticing a lot of redness in the ears, the most common reason for scratching at them are infections, allergies to food/environment, or parasites like fleas or mites. To determine this, a veterinarian can obtain an ear swab to look for the presence of bacteria, yeast, inflammatory cells, or a mixture of everything. Usually an ear flush that is treated with something antimicrobial and anti inflammatory will help quite a bit. Some of these are over the counter while others are prescription only. You will also have to fit Mushy with an e-collar to prevent further itching during the healing process. He won't like it but it is for his own good! In terms of cleaning the ears, periodically you can use some q tips and an ear flush to wipe out the ears. You don't have to worry about puncturing the dogs ear drums since their ear canal is curved. You would have to be bending the q-tip to cause damage. There are several videos on Youtube on how to clean ears if you need to see someone do it first. Let me know if there is anything else that I can assist with.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Luke can be scratching his ear due to an infection, ear mites, or an allergic reaction. As this condition is likely uncomfortable and can progress, I recommend having him seen by a vet as soon as possible. Your vet can take a sample of any discharge in the ear to determine if the itching is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection and recommend an appropriate treatment. In the meantime, you can get Luke can E-collar or "cone" to prevent him from scratching the ear and causing further trauma. I hope this helps and that all is well with Luke!

Yes, dogs can have allergies all year long, but it could also be that Monster is suffering from an ear infection. Common signs of an ear infection include a bad smell from the ear, head shaking, and scratching the ear as well as a head tilt. I would take him into the vet first thing in the morning for this, especially since he is so miserable. The vet can diagnose if he does have an ear infection, what is causing it (ear mites, bacteria, or yeast), and can prescribe treatment for him. Best of luck!