My dog keeps scratching his ear and losing fur. Is it an infection?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Snow may have an ear infection, which can be pretty uncomfortable for her. She should be seen by a vet to assess the severity of the condition and begin the appropriate treatment. Treatment may include oral antibiotics or topical antibiotics. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any questions you have!

Hi and thank you for using PetCoach! I am so sorry to hear that Snoopy's ear is red. It is very possible Snoopy may have an ear infection. Ear infections are most commonly due to underlying allergies such as environmental or food allergies. It is possible Snoopy has mites in that ear but less likely since only one ear is very affected. I would recommend taking Snoopy in to see your veterinarian. They will likely take swabs from both ears and look at a cytology of them (under the microscope) to look for infections. If this is the case, your veterinarian will recommend ear cleaner/ medication. Good luck! Here is an article that describes ear infections in more detail: https://www.petcoach.co/article/middle-inner-ear-infections-in-dogs/

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Luke can be scratching his ear due to an infection, ear mites, or an allergic reaction. As this condition is likely uncomfortable and can progress, I recommend having him seen by a vet as soon as possible. Your vet can take a sample of any discharge in the ear to determine if the itching is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection and recommend an appropriate treatment. In the meantime, you can get Luke can E-collar or "cone" to prevent him from scratching the ear and causing further trauma. I hope this helps and that all is well with Luke!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. Momo is so cute! If he has been scratching at one ear a lot, and there is more discharge in the ear than the other, then yes I would suspect he has an ear infection. I would take him into the vet first thing in the morning. The vet can diagnose if he does have an ear infection, what's causing it (ear mites, yeast, or bacteria), and can prescribe treatment for it. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concerns. It is difficult to say for sure what is causing the hair loss and itching on the back of the ear based on the photo alone. However, I would assume that this is likely related to a potential ear infection. I would recommend taking Ollie in to be seen by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely an ear infection and I am afraid that there is likely an underlying allergy causing him to scratch a lot and continue to cause further trauma to the ear. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated as soon as possible as this is likely causing him a lot of discomfort. They would be able to diagnose this and start therapy. Medications such as steroids may help decrease the itch. You may use the e-collar to prevent further self-trauma. 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!