My dog's ear is painful, bloody, and stinky after mite treatment?

It sounds like Winston has an ear infection. They can be caused by yeast or bacteria, and using an ear mite treatment will not cure either of those causes. Given that Winston has been struggling with these ear problems for a month, and the fact it is getting worse, he should see a vet as soon as possible. The vet can confirm he does have an ear infection, diagnose the cause, and prescribe a treatment for him. It's very important to have any ear problems examined and treated promptly, as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. I know it's after-hours, but I would find a vet who can see him right away.

Ear mites and underlying allergic disease (that can predispose to recurrent ear infections) are possible and should be ruled out. A physical and otoscopic examination of the ear canal are enough to rule them out. Bacterial swabs and culture can be used as well to rule out resistant infections. I would recommend to discuss all these options with your veterinarian. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ear mites generally are noted first with signs of thick, dark discharge which appears a bit "crusty". However-the lack of these symptoms does not mean all is well with the ears of your pup. Dogs can get frequent ear infections, just like we can. I can tell from your photos that your pup has hair that grown down into the ear canals-this will be part of the problem. Those hairs trap debris, water from bathing, extra wax, etc and act as a great reservoir for bacteria to grow. I always recommend to my clients to have the hairs "plucked" by their groomer when they go or to come in to the office so that we can do it. After the hairs are cleared and the ears are cleaned, I like to do an exam of the ear canal and to take a swab of the ears to see what kind of yeast and/or bacteria are present there. It is important to have this exam performed by your vet to verify that your pet's eardrum is intact and not perforated. Likely your pet will get prescribed some antibiotics if your doctor finds it necessary, as well as pain medications or something for that awful itch. After everything is well controlled, it is usually easy to get my owners on a good ear cleaning regimen to keep ear infections at bay. I hope this helps! My best to you and your pup!

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!

Yes, cleaning solutions are good but it is likely that the signs you are describing are compatible with an ear infection and antibiotic+anti-inflammatories ear drops are needed. I would strongly recommend a check up, an otoscopic examination (your vet will have a look down in the ear canal) and appropriate treatment.

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.

Poor Bailey - it is vital he is seen by a vet again as soon as possible to have the condition reassessed. Ensure he is fasting as it may be necessary to sedate him in order to fully examine the ear and identify any infections or growths which may be present and to ensure a deep clean can be performed. In some cases further tests for underlying causes such as allergies or thyroid disease may be recommended and in very rare cases surgery is required to remove or bypass areas with permanent scarring which may be preventing the normal healing process. Regular, routine cleaning of ears each week is recommended for dogs with recurrent problems