My senior pit bull has an earache. What causes it and how to treat?

Trooper could have a form of mange that isn't contagious to other dogs, known as demodex. Another possibility is a condition called vasculitis, which can compromise blood flow to the edges and point of the ear, and irritate them. Vasculitis can be caused by tick-borne diseases, as well as immune-mediated diseases. Another possibility is a disease called pemphigus. All of these problems have very different treatments, so it's important to get Trooper checked by a vet so that the appropriate treatment can be prescribed.

He could have an infection and/or allergic dermatitis. Since this has been going on for a couple years, he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or anti-inflammatory to treat. He may need to stay on an anti-histamine long term if it is related to allergies.

Lycan appears to have a severe ear infection. I recommend making an appointment to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. He/she will likely show you how to clean his ears and send home an ear cleaner that is less irritating than the product you have to clean the ears daily for 7-10 days as well as a steroid/antibiotic/antifungal ointment to be applied daily or twice daily for 7-10 days. There are also other ear infection treatment options where you do not have to treat the ears yourself daily at home that is you can ask your vet about (Osurnia, Otipacks). I do not recommend ear cropping as it is unnecessarily painful for cosmetic reasons. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an ear hematoma for example. This could of course be something else as it is not possible to know for sure without evaluating her. I recommend you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check and treat her accordingly. Good luck!

I would recommend that you have Bubble checked out by a vet. Dogs are prone to getting infections in their uterus (called pyometra) around 4 weeks after a heat cycle. If the pain you are seeing is caused by a pyometra then this needs to be addressed with veterinary medical care. Ear infections can be very difficult to treat if you do not address the underlying cause. They can be caused by excess debris in the ear, polyps, allergies, among a few others. A vet can do an ear cytology to see what kind of ear infection is present (yeast vs bacteria) and evaluate Bubble's ears for any underlying disease. Then appropriate treatment can be prescribed. Most often we use a two-part treatment including a cleaner to remove waxy debris and then a medicated ointment to target the type of infection present.

IT sounds as Bruce has at least 2 problems, skin and ears. both these condition will require diagnosis and prescription medications, the ear infection will need to be checked in order to know what is causing it (yeast/bacteria/mites), the skin problem could be mange, fleas, yeast or allergies and this needs to be diagnosed prior to treat as well. i strongly recommend taking Bruce to the vet ASAP in order to sort those two things out.

Poor Bailey - it is vital he is seen by a vet again as soon as possible to have the condition reassessed. Ensure he is fasting as it may be necessary to sedate him in order to fully examine the ear and identify any infections or growths which may be present and to ensure a deep clean can be performed. In some cases further tests for underlying causes such as allergies or thyroid disease may be recommended and in very rare cases surgery is required to remove or bypass areas with permanent scarring which may be preventing the normal healing process. Regular, routine cleaning of ears each week is recommended for dogs with recurrent problems