My dog has an ear infection. Is it yeast, mites, and how serious?

I couldn't tell you just by looking at the ear externally, a sample needs to be taken from the ear and the vet needs to look at this sample under the microscope, only this way the vet can know for sure if it is an ear mite infestation, yeast infection or bacterial infection and then treat the infection accordingly.

If your dog had ear mites, he would be really itchy. However, there is a possibility that Otis has a yeast or bacterial ear infection if he has discharge from the ear. Yeast infections smell a bit like beer, bacterial infections often are stinky. Both are painful. In order to diagnose an ear infection your vet will need to examine the ears with an otoscope. Unfortunately just looking at a photograph is not helpful. If your dog appears to be irritated by his ears, best schedule an appointment with your vet. for an exam.

It could be that Milo has an ear infection, and he will need to see a vet for it. I would take him into the vet first thing in morning. The vet can diagnose if he has an ear infection, what is causing it (mites, yeast, or bacteria), and can treat him for it. It's very important to have any ear problem checked out and treated promptly, as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss.

Yeast ear infections often need antifungal topical ear medications to help resolution. Most topical ear medications will also contain an antibiotic (not always needed) and a steroid, which will help with the itch the yeast can cause. I would recommend that you discuss the proper medication with your veterinarian. Many times yeast ear infections are caused by too much moisture in the ear (like after swimming in a pool or lake) or from inflammation caused by allergies (from fleas, food, environment, etc.). If Tiki has recurrent yeast ear infections, you may need to have her vet work up allergies as the primary problem. For minor yeast ear infections that aren't red, swollen, or itchy, you can try an ear cleanser to help remove the yeast. If you do this for a couple days and it isn't better, than she will probably need prescription medications.

It could be ear mites, and unfortunately I can't diagnose Peaty online because I can't see him in person or examine the wax coming out of his ears. Revolution treats ear mites, but I do highly recommend a vet visit for this problem. This is because ear infections in dogs can also be caused by yeast or bacteria, and in order to treat him properly, the cause needs to be diagnosed. I certainly don't want you to spend money on a treatment that ends up being ineffective because it isn't the correct medication for the ear infection (Revolution does not treat yeast or bacterial ear infections). I would make an appointment for him to be seen by a vet for this problem so it can be treated correctly the first time. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Leo. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. He will be examined. A special instrument known as an otoscope is used to look deep within the ear canal. Typically a swab is taken from each ear. This is evaluated under the microscope to confirm the infection and determine the cause. Dogs can have yeast, bacterial or mite infections. This helps to choose an appropriate medication and ear cleaner for him. Treatment will vary based on the severity of the infection. You can start by cleaning the ears at home if you have an ear cleaner for dogs. However, he will most likely need a prescription medication to clear the problem. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It looks like Cheekies has an ear infection. I recommend taking her to a vet so they can test the contents of the ear to find out what kind of infection it is. Once they know, they can prescribe a medication to treat the infection and pain. Good luck and kisses to Cheekies!