My dog is scratching his ear and squinting. Is it an infection?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear that Bob is scratching his ear. It is possible that he has an ear infection, likely bacterial or yeast in origin. I recommend having him seen by your veterinarian to have him/her perform an ear smear and cytology to look at the cells and determine what type of infection is present. This way, he/she can prescribe the most appropriate treatment. I hope this is helpful!

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! 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!

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!

The best solution would be to have Luna examined by your veterinarian. A swab of the ear can be looked at in the clinic to determine if there is a bacterial or fungal infection. The type of infection will determine what medication will be dispensed. The vet can also make sure the eardrum is intact. It is never recommended to medicate the ear without knowing if the eardrum is intact. If not, medication may enter the middle ear causing further complications. You can place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent more scratching until she sees the vet m

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!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to say exactly what is causing the itching the and scratching in the ears without examining Luna first but it could be due to a yeast or bacterial infection or perhaps just a ball of ear wax stuck down in her ear canal. If the itching is more on the outside of the ear than on the inside, it could be due to a flea allergy. Fleas like to hang out by the ears, neck, and tail base region. If you've been cleaning out the ears frequently and she is still itching, you may want to have Luna examined by your veterinarian to check for an ear infection, fleas, and to get a better peak down in the ear canals. Your veterinarian may take a sample of the material in each ear to check for an infection. Luna may need ear antibiotics or other medications as needed. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!