Labrador Scratching Her Ears Until They Bleed
Reader Question
My 3 year old chocolate lab has started to scratch her ears, not for the ear but the lower parts of her ears causing bleeding. I have tried cortaid, per the vet, but nothing is helping. She shakes her head non-stop causing messes in the house and on her. I'm not sure what to do at this point other than board her at the vet until her ears her while monitored. She's always been an anxious pup but this is an extreme.
Answer from Our Team
Intense scratching and nonstop head shaking usually mean the ears are itchy or infected, and in Labradors the most common underlying cause is allergy. Anxiety can make scratching worse, but it rarely starts it.
Ask your vet to look inside the ears and check a swab under the microscope, since hydrocortisone cream won't clear an infection. If there's yeast or bacteria, medicated ear drops usually help within days. An e-collar can protect the skin while it heals. If this keeps happening, ask about an allergy work-up.
See ear infections in dogs and allergies in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
