My dog is wobbly, off balance, and has ear gunk. What's wrong?

It sounds like Libby have a severe ear infection, and I would take her into a vet immediately. This will be very painful to her, and leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. The vet can confirm that she does have an ear infection, and can treat her for it. Please take her into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see her now.

Without actually looking into the ear with an otoscope it is not possible to tell you what the cause of this discharge is. It could be anything from an ear infection , to a ruptured abscess, to an ulcerated cancerous growth, to a ruptured ear drum. Please take Your dog to a vet , as the unsteadiness does point to some inner ear problem.

Oftentimes when a dog is rubbing his ear it can be because of an itch caused by infection. If the infection travels to the inner ear it can effect the dog's vestibular system (the system that helps a dog keep his balance). I would recommend taking Sonny to your vet to check for an ear infection or other inner ear problems.

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!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Ear infections can affect the balance system which can lead to disorientation and a wobbly walk. Tomorrow for an appointment should be fine as what you are describing is not an emergency. When you see the vet tomorrow Pookie will be taken care of and will receive the most appropriate treatment. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Judge isn't feeling like himself. What you are describing sounds like "ataxia," which may be due to a variety of reasons, including an inner ear infection, a neurologic issue, an underlying medical issue (such as low blood sugar), or another underlying issue. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine what may be going on, and if any further diagnostics or treatment is needed. Good luck!

That is very unusual. There are several things that come to mind that could cause the signs. Ingesting toxins, an inner ear infection, stroke or viral infections are all possible. Anytime a pet appears off-balance you should be concerned and I recommend to take Nigel in to see a veterinarian right away. The doctor will need to perform a few basic tests to try to figure out the cause of the imbalance. Treatment will depend on the cause. Best of luck and I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to post any additional questions.