My dog's ear is itchy after bath. Could water or soap be the cause?

Water could accidentally gotten into Simba's ear. Water in the ear can lead to an infection, so I'd keep an eye on her for now. If this behavior continues over the next day, then I'd take her into the vet on Monday. Best of luck.

Zeeke is adorable! Thanks for including a picture. I have a few suggestions for you. First, if your vet has not performed an ear cytology to look under the microscope at the ear discharge, that would be a good idea to evaluate for yeast or bacterial overgrowth since there is a slight smell to the ear discharge. If there isn't any evidence of an infection or overgrowth that needs to be treated, then you might consider a product like Zymox. It is available as a cleaner or a medication. I usually recommend the medication Zymox Otic with 1% HC if the ears are itchy. As far as food, I am attaching a couple of handouts below with more information on food allergies and diet trials for food allergies. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=652 https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2499 Food allergies are one of the most common reasons for ear problems, so I think changing foods is always recommended with ear problems. You could consider a hydrolyzed diet or a novel protein diet. I would discuss your options with your veterinarian. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Ouch, poor Remington! You are correct - most ear infections in dogs stem from underlying allergies. Allergy issues in dogs mostly cause skin problems and ears are skin, after all. The allergies could be associated with environmental issues (atopy), food allergies or flea allergies. I can certainly see the discharge and swelling in Remington's ear. Her excessive scratching obviously indicates that she's quite uncomfortable. Allergy issues cause dogs to itch, which damages the skin barrier and then leads to ear infections from an overgrowth of yeast and/or bacteria in the ear canal. There are no effective over the counter treatments for ear infections. At this point, I recommend taking Remington to her vet for an exam and ear cytology. Your vet will be able to look at her ear discharge under a microscope to determine the type of infection present, and will then prescribe an appropriate medication based on those results. Until you get to the vet, consider putting an e-collar (cone) on Remington to prevent her from causing further damage to hear ears. I hope this helps and that she's feeling better soon!

This looks like it could have an early infection. I would recommend having your veterinarian do an exam to make sure there isn't anything going on like a middle ear infection. Since you've caught it early hopefully only a short course of topical medication will be needed.

Yes, moisture can promote bacterial or fungal overgrowth in a dark, warm ear canal. To prevent this, place cotton balls in the ears before the bath. Don't forget to remove them afterwards. You can also use a cotton ball in the ear canal while tipping his head down to drain excess water. There are drying agents you can purchase from your veterinarian or a pet store as well. Isis should be examined by your veterinarian to confirm and treat any existing infection. A swab of the ear can be examined in the clinic and medication can be dispensed based on the diagnosis.

Hello! And thank you for your question and photos. It looks like Zeus is having a flare up of his allergies, worsened by secondary bacterial infection. It looks severe enough to require antibiotics, so I would recommend going to see your vet. They can perform a microscope test for bacteria or yeast in the ear and between the paws, and from there prescribe the appropriate ear drops and antibiotics, as well as anti-inflammatory allergy medicine. In the meantime, try soaking his feet in a shallow bath of Epsom salts and lukewarm water for 10 minutes twice a day. This will help provide some relief for his irritated feet. I would also use an ear cleaner designed for dogs to gently clean out some of the ear debris, if he will let you. Finally, I would recommend putting an e-collar (cone) on his head to prevent further scratching and licking of his skin. I hope this helps, and that Zeus feels better soon!

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!