My dog's ears are hot and itchy. Should I use ear drops?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an ear infection. I recommend that you have Macy evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Your veterinarian would be able to check what type of infection is present and treat accordingly. Usually this resolves with topical therapy when the appropriate product is used which requires a visit to your veterinarian. Good luck and have a good day!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I would recommend having your vet look in to the ear canals with an otoscope. Sometimes there is discharge deeper in the ear canal that can not be seen from the outside. If that is the case the Vet can use a Q-tip safely to remove some of the wax and look under the microscope to see if it is a yeast or bacterial infection. Some dogs will shake and scratch with even mild overgrowth of bacteria or yeast. Otherwise she may just be itchy due to allergies and you can try an antihistamine. See the links below. I wish you the best! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/claritin/ https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/zyrtec/

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Thumper! The most common cause for an itchy, droopy, warm ear is an ear infection. Even if you are not seeing discharge it could be deeper in the ear canal. The dog ear canal is shaped like an "L." You can't see the entire canal with out an otoscope. Ear infections are caused by an overgrowth of yeast and/or bacteria from allergies or excessive moisture in the ear. Another possibility is an itchy ear from allergies with out an infection. We diagnose the infection by swabbing the ear wax and looking under a microscope. If an infection is present an ear wash and drops are prescribed. Sometimes a course of steroids for inflammation/itchiness is also prescribed. I wish Thumper the best!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Boo! The most common reason for extra moisture and wax build up in the ear is an ear infection. Ear infections are caused by bacteria and/or yeast build up which can be from allergies or just extra moisture. Ideally Boo should see your Vet to have the cause identified and appropriate drops prescribed to get rid of the infection. Ear infections are treated topically in dogs and cats. You can try this ear cleaner. I would clean out the ear every other day for 2 weeks. If there is no improvement or he worsens he should see your Vet. I also attached a video on how to clean the ears. I hope this helps and I wish Boo the very best! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=24165 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=&aid=165

Poor DDuang! Ear infections are very uncomfortable. I would not recommend using ophthalmic ointment in the ear, as these medications are not designed for this and could damage his eardrum or the nerves in his middle ear. It's fine to use a regular ear cleaner labeled for dogs to help clean the discharge out of the ear - this won't treat the underlying infection, but may make Dduang a bit more comfortable until he can get treatment. An ear infection is not an emergency, per se, but it's certainly uncomfortable and unpleasant for both of you! Personally, I would probably go ahead and take your pup to the emergency clinic tonight or tomorrow rather than waiting until next week for treatment. You could also call some other vets locally to see if they have any appointments available tomorrow, since this would probably be cheaper than an emergency visit. The vet will take a sample of the discharge for analysis under the microscope and prescribe appropriate medication to treat the infection depending on what is found.

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.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Ellie most likely has ear canals infection. The infection and inflammation is usually deep in the canal, so it is not possible to confirm it without looking into the ear with an otoscope. Please, take her to your local vets as she will likely need a course of antibiotics ear drops to get rid of the infection.