My puppy's ear is raw, bleeding, swollen from itching. Are they mites?

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!

Hi and thank you for using PetCoach! I am so sorry to hear that Snoopy's ear is red. It is very possible Snoopy may have an ear infection. Ear infections are most commonly due to underlying allergies such as environmental or food allergies. It is possible Snoopy has mites in that ear but less likely since only one ear is very affected. I would recommend taking Snoopy in to see your veterinarian. They will likely take swabs from both ears and look at a cytology of them (under the microscope) to look for infections. If this is the case, your veterinarian will recommend ear cleaner/ medication. Good luck! Here is an article that describes ear infections in more detail: https://www.petcoach.co/article/middle-inner-ear-infections-in-dogs/

Hi and thank you for using PetCoach. I am sorry Miss Bell's ear is swollen. A swollen ear can be due to an ear infection/chronic irritation (like allergies or ear mites) but could also be because of an aural hematoma. An aural hemtoma is when blood collects in the ear pinna (between the skin and cartilage). Both infections and hematomas can be painful and uncomfortable. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian to do a full physical exam and treat Miss Bell's ears depending on the diagnosis. Here are some articles that may be helpful for you: 1. Aural Hematomas: https://www.petcoach.co/article/ear-hematomas-in-dogs/ 2. Aural Hematomas: https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&species=All&id=4951446 3. Ear Infections: https://www.petcoach.co/article/ear-infections-otitis-externa-ear-cleaning-in-dogs/ 3. Ear Infections: https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951994

Poor guy. Unfortunately it sounds like Cooper has an ear infection that will require a vet visit, especially if he won't let you touch his ear. The vet can prescribe some pain medication (if requested) to help calm him enough where it will allow you treat his ears at home. The vet also has to prescribe some ear medication and cleaner once they test his ears to determine what kind of infection is present. Most ear infections respond well to treatment within 7 days. I would recommend just leaving them be for now, until you can get Cooper in to the vet. I wish you all the best with your pet Cooper and I hope that his ear infections resolves soon! Take care.

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.

Pale ear flaps by themselves usually aren't cause for concern, but if Cooper is shaking his head or pawing at his ears it may indicate that they're a bit irritated. Mites, infections, yeast, allergies and more can all cause itchy ears that usually have redness or pain/irritation when touched. The ears may also have a strange smell or discharge coming from them. If you suspect there is an issue inside the ear, having your vet take another look is a good idea. Using an Elizabethan (cone) collar to prevent Cooper from scratching can also help reduce irritation.

I am sorry to hear about Rocco! I would highly recommend a visit to the veterinarian for Rocco. Ear infections due to bacteria or yeast overgrowth in the ear are common and a possible cause for these symptoms. An examination is needed to determine if this is the problem and prescription medication will then be prescribed to help treat Rocco's ear. You can read more about this at https://www.petcoach.co/article/ear-infections-otitis-externa-ear-cleaning-in-dogs/