Why is my dog constantly scratching one ear with lots of ear dirt?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I am concerned that he has an ear infection. He needs to see his veterinarian. The ears will be examined including deep inside as the dog's ear drum requires a special instrument in order to be visualized. Then a swab will be taken from each ear to be examined under the microscope. This will allow the veterinarian to determine if an infection is in fact present and if so, what medication will be needed to treat it. I hope this information helps!

This amount of "dirt" on the external part of the ear i would considered normal, ear mites tend to be darker, like ground coffee, but in some cases it's not possible to actually see it from outside, the vet needs to check it with a cotton bud and under the microscope to confirm what it is. there 3 types of ear infections in dogs: yeast, bacterias and mites (less common). if Wallace seems to scratch his ears or shakes his head then it would be a good idea to get it checked by your vet.

Poor Digby! I would recommend a recheck by your vet and possibly a full ear and dental exam under sedation to determine the underlying cause of his pain and discomfort. Ear polyps, middle ear disease and dental pain could all contribute to such symptoms as could inflammation from allergic skin disease

Ear infections in dogs can be caused by bacteria and yeast as well as ear mites, so simply because you can't see ear mites doesn't mean Harvey does not have an ear infection. It's clearly bothering him if he scratches at it and whines. This is something that has to be seen by a vet, and I recommend giving your vet a call now to set up an appointment for him. Best of luck.

Hi there. Unfortunately, these photos are very blurry, so I can't really see much. But, if he is scratching his ear until it bleeds, it's likely that he has an ear infection - this is a common problem in dogs. He will need prescription ear meds from your veterinarian to treat the infection, so I would recommend taking him in tomorrow for an exam. In the meantime, you can try cleaning his ears with an over-the-counter ear flush labeled for dogs such as Mal-Acetic or Epi-Otic. This will not treat the underlying infection, but may help to make him a bit more comfortable until you are able to see the vet.

Those brown clumps could also be ear mites, which itch intensely and can cause a dog to injure themselves by scratching and shaking their head. It could also be some kind of ear infection or other problem. I recommend getting her checked at your vet as soon as possible to have her ear checked to determine why she's scratching so hard and get her treated so she (and you) can get some relief soon.

It may be that she has an ear infection (due to bacteria or yeast), or she may have ear mites. Ideally, take her to the vet, as he or she will be able to diagnose the cause and give you medication to effectively treat it. If you are unable to go to the vet, and she is otherwise doing ok, you could try something like this https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-ear-solution, but I don't know if its available to you in South Africa. Best of luck, I hope she's feeling better soon.