My dog's one ear is hot and the other is cold. Is it serious?

Often, if one ear feels excessively warm compared to the other, this can indicate an ear infection or some other problem causing inflammation in this area. You can look in Luvbug's ear to see if you see any yellow or brown-black discharge, which would indicate an infection. If so, she should be examined by a vet since she will need prescription ear drops to treat the problem.

The ears have a lot of blood vessels and can get hot whenever their internal temperature increases. This is similar to how a person's hands and feet will get hot when they are exercising, or a hot environment. Hot ears are not a sign of illness, but can raise suspicion of a fever if he is having other signs of illness (i.e. vomiting, diarrhea, decrease in activity). I hope that helps and all is well with Pepe Le Pew.

It sounds like poor Mario may have an infection. Ear infections can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, or a combination of these, and can be associated with dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. Mario needs to see a vet to have an ear swab done. Your vet can look at the sample under the microscope and treat appropriately based on what is found. Your vet will also need to examine the ear with a scope to see if the ear drum is intact, as some medications cannot be used safely if the eardrum is ruptured. Ear infections can be very painful, and can sometimes progress to include the middle or inner ear, where they can cause neurologic signs or permanent hearing loss. Please book an appointment to have Mario seen as soon as possible to help get him feeling better.

I love the name Forrest! Red or warm ears alone, with no signs of itching, infection, debris or illness, would not worry me. If he was having heavy panting or his exercise tolerance was decreased, I may want to do further investigation however. I hope this helps!

The normal temperature in a dog is around 101.5 degrees. Since humans are normally 98.6 degrees, dogs often feel a little warm to us when you feel their ears or stomachs. So, the ear temperature you are feeling may just be normal for Snowball. And as you mentioned, their ears will also feel slightly warmer when they have been running around. However, if you notice that her sneezing continues or gets worse or she develops any other clinical signs, I would consult your veterinarian. I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

That could be completely normal, but sometimes (not very often I have to admit) is related to ear infection/inflammation. If you see any signs of possible inflammation (head shaking, scratching, discharge from ear, redness of skin..) then a check up is needed, otherwise I would consider it normal. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Redness alone doesn't indicate an ear infection but can be a symptom of it. If you suspect Angel may have one, or has symptoms bad enough it is affecting her hearing, it is best to seek veterinary care ASAP so they can look in the ear and get Angel started on a treatment plan of cleaning and medication. Usually, clearing up any infections will help improve hearing and pain/redness/irritation.