Why is my puppy shaking head with smelly skin patches? Ear infection?

Hi. It does sound like Piper has another ear infection and the cleaning may not be enough to kill what's causing the infection. Ear infections are usually caused by yeast or bacteria. There's also a chance there may be something like a grasss seed stuck in her ear. I would recommend getting her to your veterinarian whenever you have a chance so they can prescribed the appropriate medications to kill whatever is in there. She may also have underlying allergies so if her ears don't clear up after treatment that would be something also to consider addressing with your veterinarian.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Brigg is shaking his head so much. These are classic clinical signs of an external ear infection, or otitis externa. I recommend bringing Brigg to your veterinarian at their next available appointment for an exam. Your veterinarian can perform an ear smear of any debris in the ears, and look at this under a microscope. Most ear infections are either bacterial and/or yeast infections, treated with topical medications. I hope this is helpful!

It sounds like she has a bacterial skin infection so she should be examined by a vet for treatment. Your vet can shave the area, flush and clean the area, and then prescribe an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, if needed, to help treat.

Draco is very cute! If you see pus, he's whining when he scratches his ear, he has a head tilt, and shakes his head, I would be very surprised if he didn't have an ear infection! It sounds like he has all the symptoms. Take him into a vet today to get this examined and treated. It's important to have any ear problem treated promptly, as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. I hope this helps!

Yeast skin and ear infections are common secondary infection with allergies or other skin issues. When dogs scratch or chew it can set them up for yeast to grow which then causes more irritation. Shaking his head may be a sign of pain or itchiness from ear infection. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/yeast-dermatitis-in-dogs https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ear-infections-in-dogs-otitis-externa In some cases antifungal shampoo may help resolve yeast problems but often systemic and topical medications are needed as well. Thank you for using PetCoach.

It would be Rambler has an ear infection. That would cause her to shake her head a lot, scratch at her ear, and whine in pain when scratching the ear. Ear infections in dogs can be caused by ear mites, yeast, or bacteria. A vet is needed to diagnose if she does have an ear infection, what's causing, and to prescribe medication to treat it. I would take her into the vet first thing in the morning. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Rosco. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. I worry that he may have an ear infection. If so, the veterinarian will examine the ears and collect a swab from each side. This can be looked at under the microscope. Based on these results, medication and a cleaner can be prescribed to help him feel better. I hope this information helps!