Dog Ears: Problems and Care

What Healthy Dog Ears Look Like

• Pale pink inside, not red or swollen^15,16
• No strong smell^15,10
• Only a small amount of wax that's pale yellow to light brown^10,15
• Both ears look the same¹⁶

A dog's ear canal is much longer than a person's, and it bends in an L shape on the way to the ear drum.^17,18 The canal cleans itself by slowly moving skin and wax outward.^19,20 See dog ear anatomy for how the ear works.

Common Ear Problems in Dogs

For a swollen or puffy ear, see swollen ears. For head shaking, see why dogs shake their heads.

Dog Ear Wax and Discharge: What the Color Means

Ear wax is normal and helps trap debris.^16,18 A change in color, amount or smell is worth a vet check. Only a look under the microscope can say for sure what's causing it.^22,27

• Pale yellow to light brown, small amount, no smell: usually normal wax.^10,15
• Dry, dark brown or black, like coffee grounds: often ear mites, especially in puppies.^5,22
• Dark brown, greasy or waxy, with a musty or sweet smell: often yeast, sometimes bacteria.^6,16,10
• Yellow or green pus: often a bacterial infection, which needs a vet promptly.^10,28,7
• Red or bloody: can mean an injury, deep infection, or a growth in the canal.^10,25

Dark discharge doesn't always mean mites. It's common with yeast and bacterial infections too.⁶ Over-the-counter ear products may not work and can make inflammation worse, so get a diagnosis before treating.^5,7

Signs of Ear Problems

• Head shaking, or scratching or rubbing at the ears^6,7
• A bad smell from one or both ears⁶
• Redness, swelling, scaly skin or crusts^6,7
• Pain when the ear or head is touched⁶
• Thickened ear skin and a narrowed canal in long-standing cases^7,3
• Not hearing as well²⁶

Don't put drops or home remedies into a sore ear before a vet has checked it. Some ear products can damage hearing if the ear drum is torn.^27,29,7

Hearing loss and deafness

Hearing loss in older dogs usually comes on gradually from about 8 to 10 years of age.³⁰ Sudden hearing loss can be caused by wax build-up, infection or a torn ear drum, and hearing often returns once these are treated.²⁶ Some puppies are born deaf. It's linked to white and merle coat patterns, and breeds such as Dalmatians, about 3 in 10 of which are deaf in at least one ear.^26,31,32 A painless hearing test (BAER) can check puppies from about 6 weeks of age.^31,33

Caring for Your Dog's Ears

• Look and sniff weekly. Catching a change early makes treatment easier.^15,16
• Clean only when needed. Healthy ears rarely need routine cleaning, and over-cleaning can cause irritation.^15,16,34 See how to clean your dog's ears.
• Dry ears after swimming with a cotton ball, especially in floppy-eared dogs.^5,6
• Never use cotton swabs inside the canal. They push debris deeper.^34,6
• Treat the cause. In allergic dogs, controlling the allergy is the key to stopping repeat infections.^3,35 Year-round flea control also helps.³⁶
• Check after walks in fields for grass seeds.⁹

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my dog's ear smell?

A bad smell usually means a yeast or bacterial infection. It needs a vet check.

What is the brown stuff in my dog's ear?

A little light brown wax is normal. Lots of dark, greasy or smelly discharge often means yeast, and dry dark crumbs can mean ear mites.

Why is my dog's ear red inside?

Redness usually means inflammation from allergy or infection.

Which dogs get the most ear problems?

Floppy-eared and allergy-prone breeds, such as Basset Hounds, Shar-Peis, Labradoodles, Beagles, Golden Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels.

When is a dog ear problem an emergency?

Head tilt, loss of balance, flicking eyes, facial droop, severe pain, or sudden violent head shaking.