My dog's ear is red and waxy, but he's not bothered. Vet or wait?

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

Hello, Yes, it sounds like Wallace's ear is likely infected and this does require him to be seen by a vet. However, it's not an emergency, and it can wait a day or two if your regular vet is not open today. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This would actually warrant a visit to your veterinarian as this may be present due to an infection for example. I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an ear infection. I recommend that you have her 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. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Lil Bud! I am not sure what you mean by splitting but in the picture his ear looks red and there appears to be a lot of brown wax. I hope I am seeing what you are worried about. The most common cause of a red ear with a lot of wax is an ear infection. It is usually caused by an overgrowth or yeast and/or bacteria. The overgrowth can happen from allergies or from the ear being too moist. Your Vet can diagnose and ear infection by sampling the wax with a Q-tip and looking at it under the microscope. If confirmed then they would prescribe and ear cleaner and ear drops. I hope this helps and I hope Lil Bid feels better doon!

Ear infections are rarely true emergencies unless she has neurological signs such as stumbling and falling. I’m glad that you are having her evaluated tomorrow and I hope that she improves quickly . Thank you for using Pet Coach.

By your description, your dog may have an [ear infection](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/ear-infections/). This would require an exam with your veterinarian for diagnosis. A swab of the ear(s) can be examined in the clinic to diagnose a bacterial or fungal (yeast) infection. Once the diagnosis is made, the appropriate medication can be dispensed to help clear it up. To help maintain clean ears after this episode, [clean the ears](https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-steps-to-clean-your-dog-s-ears-properly/) regularly with a veterinary approved ear cleaner such as [Epi-Otic](https://us.virbac.com/epi-otic-advanced-ear-cleanser). You can find it or [other approved cleaners](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-ear-and-eye-care) online or in the local Petco. Your veterinarian may even dispense it along with medication. Use cotton balls or gauze pads to clean what you can see. Never insert anything down into the ear canal. This may cause injury which could complicate any existing condition.