My German Shepherd's ear is red and warm. Is it an infection?

First of all earmites at her age- not very common, it's much more likely to be a bacterial or yeast ear infection. the only way to treat it is with a prescription eardrops, you will need to take her to the vet for that.

It's probably an ear infection, often it cannot be seen from the outside. Ear infections are very common in dogs, it is usually caused by either yeast or bacterial disease (ear mites are much less common at this age) . the treatment is usually simple and straightforward, you will have to take her to the vet and get the ears checked, then a prescription ear drops will be prescribed according to the infectious agent.

This presentation is likely to be caused by a bilateral severe bacterial infection of the ear canals. Possibly an underlying allergy (especially if Jack is scratching all over his body) could be present. Antibiotic ear drops and possibly systemic treatment (anti-inflammatory medications and oral antibiotics) are most likely required. A check up is essential to determine underlying cause and treat appropriately. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Oh my, poor Esme! There is no doubt that her ear is significantly inflamed. Even though she is not itchy, my main suspicion is that the redness, scaling, and warmth are inflammatory reactions to an ear infection or allergies. Some dogs are quite stoic when their ears are uncomfortable and may not itch with these conditions. Regardless, I strongly recommend taking Esme to her vet for evaluation. The vet will be able to examine her ears thoroughly, including the lower portions of the ear canal that are not visible to the naked eye. The vet will also be able to microscopically evaluate any discharge present in her ears to determine if infection is present. From there, medication can be prescribed to either treat an infection or to treat this significant inflammation. I hope this helps and that Esme feels better soon!

Poor Bruno! It sounds like he may have an ear infection, which is typically caused by a mix of bacteria and yeast. These conditions are very uncomfortable and can result in permanent damage to the ear and ear drum. Bruno should be seen by a vet as soon as possible to begin the appropriate oral and topical medications.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ear mites generally are noted first with signs of thick, dark discharge which appears a bit "crusty". However-the lack of these symptoms does not mean all is well with the ears of your pup. Dogs can get frequent ear infections, just like we can. I can tell from your photos that your pup has hair that grown down into the ear canals-this will be part of the problem. Those hairs trap debris, water from bathing, extra wax, etc and act as a great reservoir for bacteria to grow. I always recommend to my clients to have the hairs "plucked" by their groomer when they go or to come in to the office so that we can do it. After the hairs are cleared and the ears are cleaned, I like to do an exam of the ear canal and to take a swab of the ears to see what kind of yeast and/or bacteria are present there. It is important to have this exam performed by your vet to verify that your pet's eardrum is intact and not perforated. Likely your pet will get prescribed some antibiotics if your doctor finds it necessary, as well as pain medications or something for that awful itch. After everything is well controlled, it is usually easy to get my owners on a good ear cleaning regimen to keep ear infections at bay. I hope this helps! My best to you and your pup!

It sounds like poor Mario may have an infection. Ear infections can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, or a combination of these, and can be associated with dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. Mario needs to see a vet to have an ear swab done. Your vet can look at the sample under the microscope and treat appropriately based on what is found. Your vet will also need to examine the ear with a scope to see if the ear drum is intact, as some medications cannot be used safely if the eardrum is ruptured. Ear infections can be very painful, and can sometimes progress to include the middle or inner ear, where they can cause neurologic signs or permanent hearing loss. Please book an appointment to have Mario seen as soon as possible to help get him feeling better.