My puppy has dried blood on ears. Is it ear discharge or infection?

That is not normal but it could happen as ear canal skin is probably inflamed and more sensitive (so it can bleed more easily). I would recommend to monitor it and if bleeding every time you apply the drops, to have it checked by your local vet to make sure there is nothing more serious (like a small tumor or polyp for example) inside the canal. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.

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!

This presentation could be due to an ear infections. Three sections of the ear can be infected, the external portion (otitis externa), the middle portion (otitis media) and the inner portion (otitis interna). Otitis externa is the most common ear infection in dogs. In this case it seems an external ear infection but an otoscopic examination will determine the exactly the extension of it. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed.

From what you describe it sounds like Koda may have an ear infection. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. He will likely need a topical medication to help resolve it. Best of luck and I hope he improves quickly.

These signs could be compatible with an otitis (inflammatory or infective most of the times). Often otitis can have an underlying allergic predisposing disease. A check up should be ideally seek to confirm this clinical suspicion and have it treated appropriately. Antibiotics and anti-antiinflammatory ear drops are probably needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.

It is a possible sign of otitis, inflammation of the external ear canal. If you notice brown wax-like ear discharge, it could be compatible with yeast infection, very common in dogs. On other hand yellow discharge could be due to a bacterial infection. You can clean the ear canal (just the external part) with specific products (like cleanaural) but if there is an infection medications will be needed. 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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It looks like someone recently touched the area and now more blood is flowing there. The skin overall looks quiet from the pictures. I would continue to monitor the area and if Honey is bothering it or it isn’t getting better, take her to a vet for a closer exam. Good luck and kisses to Honey!