My dog's shaking head, pink ear. Is it an ear infection? Can I wait?

This presentation could be due to an ear infections. Three sections of the ear can be infected, the external portion (otitis externa), the middle portion (otitis media) and the inner portion (otitis interna). Otitis externa is the most common ear infection in dogs. In this case it seems an external ear infection but an otoscopic examination will determine the exactly the extension of it. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed.

It's not an immediate emergency but it is definitely very uncomfortable and painful, if you have the option to take him today to the out of hours vet i would recommend doing that, otherwise take him to your vet first thing tomorrow morning.

I am sorry to hear about Kiba! Even if his ears appear normal when you are looking into them, without an otoscope you cannot tell if there is an infection or something like a foreign object inside the ear, as a dog's ear canal is curved and you can only visualise the vertical part of the canal if you do not have an otoscope. If he seems otherwise comfortable and is not traumatizing his ear, I would just monitor him closely until his appointment.

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!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Snow may have an ear infection, which can be pretty uncomfortable for her. She should be seen by a vet to assess the severity of the condition and begin the appropriate treatment. Treatment may include oral antibiotics or topical antibiotics. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any questions you have!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Brigg is shaking his head so much. These are classic clinical signs of an external ear infection, or otitis externa. I recommend bringing Brigg to your veterinarian at their next available appointment for an exam. Your veterinarian can perform an ear smear of any debris in the ears, and look at this under a microscope. Most ear infections are either bacterial and/or yeast infections, treated with topical medications. I hope this is helpful!

If the ear is droopy and she is shaking her head she probably has an ear infection. Because of the head shaking and probably scratching as well, blood vessels in the ear are exploding, causing blood and fluids to fill the pinea ans swell. This condition is called "ear hematoma" and needs medical or surgical treatment. The ear infection needs to be treated as well as it is the primary cause, usually ear drops from the vet will solve this, in some cases systemic antibiotics are prescribed as well. Regarding the the droopy ear I personally prefer the medical treatment (steroids for 4 weeks) over the surgical one, unfortunately most vets will still opt for the surgery.