If you have ever had a dog who had ear problems, you know what a pain they are to treat! Not only can it take a while to clear up the infection, many dogs have reoccurring issues with their ears. Some of my clients would be in 4-7 times a year for their dog’s ear infections! In this post, I am going to explain why some dogs have chronic ear problems, and give you some tips for preventing them!

What Causes Ear Infections in Dogs?

When we hear “ear infection” we almost always think of bacterial infections. I suspect that this is because most of us are given antibiotics to treat our ear infections!

While dogs can develop bacterial infections in their ears, these are almost always secondary infections. The main agent behind most ear infections in dogs is actually yeast. Yes, yeast! Those same one-celled organisms that make bread rise and beer ferment!

Why is there yeast in my dog’s ear?

We actually have yeast cells all over our bodies, and our dogs are no different. As long as the yeast growth is under control there are no problems. However, when something happens to upset the balance on your dog’s skin, the yeast can take over  and spread. This leads to a yeast infection.

Yeast infections are often seen in places where the skin folds over on itself. Some dogs have facial “wrinkles” that develop these infections. Others get infections around their tails. Of course, the most common place for a dog to develop a yeast infection is in their ears.

Yeasty Beasty

Yeast cells grow rapidly when they are in a warm, moist environment. Dog ears, especially ears that hang down, are the perfect home for yeast. While any dog can get a yeast infection in their ears, breeds like cocker spaniels, retrievers, basset hounds and the like are especially prone to them.

Droopy-eared dogs are more likely to have this problem because the hanging ear flap traps the moist, warm air in the ear canal. Over time, the yeast reproduces and starts an infection. If your dog has a lot of fur in the ears, then the fur also prevents the air from circulating in the ear canal.

When a dog starts to develop a yeast infection in their ears, they shake their heads, rub their faces and paw at their ears. If the infection is not promptly treated, this can lead to trauma in the ear. At some point, bacteria joins the party and causes a second infection. Now you have a full blown ear crisis!

Chronic Ear Problems

Some dogs are what we refer to in veterinary medicine as “ear dogs.” These are the ones we see in frequently for ear infections. Eventually, repeated infections can cause chronic swelling and even scarring in the ear canal. This inflammation makes the canal even smaller, reducing the air flow further and making future infections more likely.

Why do some dogs become “ear dogs?” As I mentioned above, some breeds of dogs are more likely to have this problem because of the way their ears hang down.

Others may develop infections if they spend a lot of time in the water or get frequent baths. The water can become trapped in their ears, leading to a yeast overgrowth and infection.

A big reason that dogs get chronic ear infections, though, and a hugely frustrating one, is allergies.

Allergies and Ear Infections

When you talk about allergies in dogs, most folks think of food allergies. It is very trendy right now to switch your dog to a special boutique brand after declaring that they are allergic to corn, or a protein like chicken or beef.

I am not saying that food allergies don’t exist, or that people are wrong to worry about their dog’s diet. In my experience, food allergies in veterinary medicine are under reported simply because most people don’t do all of the testing needed to “prove” their dog or cat has one.

Many allergies in pets are NOT related to food, however. Environmental allergies are incredibly common. I live in the Willamette Valley in the state of Oregon. This is one of the worst places in the world for those who suffer from “hay fever!” I have seen this in our pets as well!

The most common signs that a dog is suffering from environmental allergies are skin and ear problems. If your dog is one who is always licking their feet or legs, or is often itchy for no obvious reason, then allergies could be the cause. Ear problems frequently go hand-in-hand with allergies.

Chances are, if you have an “ear dog” you also have an allergy dog! Get the allergy symptoms under control, and you reduce the chronic infections.

How to Prevent Ear Infections

Preventing an ear crisis is easier and less expensive than treating an infection. Regular ear maintenance can stop infections in their tracks.

“The Smell of Bread Rising…”

First, I recommend that you become familiar with what your dog’s ears smell like normally. Yes, I want you to sniff your dog’s ears!

Most technicians and veterinarians can identify a yeast infection by its odor. They do an ear cytology to confirm things, but trust me, a yeast infection smells like a yeast infection. I liken it to the smell of bread dough when it is rising, or what the dregs of beer smell like the day after a party.

Knowing what your dog’s ears smell like normally will help you identify the early signs of a yeast infection. As soon as you smell the yeast you can start taking action! You may even avoid a visit to the vet!

Ear Cleaners and Cotton Balls

Get a good quality ear cleaner made for dogs, and a bag of cotton balls. Do regular ear cleanings on your dog. I prefer a cleaner like Epi-Otic, but any cleaner designed for routine ear cleaning will do.

Avoid using water, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or apple cider vinegar. These products can irritate the delicate skin in the ear canal and actually cause infections. You do not need to use a prescription ear cleaner for routine maintenance, but you do want a product made for pets.

Have your vet or groomer demonstrate how to do an ear cleaning. Depending on the size of your dog, there are different techniques you can use for an easy cleaning.

For smaller dogs, you can often saturate a cotton ball with the cleaner, place it in the ear canal and then gently massage the base of the ear. You should hear a “squish” sound as you massage. For larger dogs, you may need to pour the cleaner directly into the ear canal. Then place the cotton ball in the ear and massage.

Remove the cotton ball and allow your dog to shake their head for a minute. Fluid will fly out. I do these cleanings outside, so I don’t have to clean the walls after, but doing it in a garage or bathroom works too.

When you dog is done shaking, check the ears. Use a fresh cotton ball to wipe away any material you see on the ear flap and visible part of the ear canal. Repeat the cleaning if there is still a lot of gunk in the ears.

Don’t go digging into your dog’s ear with a cotton ball or with a cotton swab! You are far more likely to push the debris back into the ear.

How Often Should You Do Ear Cleanings?

It depends. If your dog has frequent ear infections, then doing a cleaning once or twice a week may be ideal. For most dogs, cleaning a few times a month does the trick.

You can cause problems by cleaning too often, or being too aggressive with the ear cleanings. The goal is a quick and gentle maintenance routine.

You should do ear cleanings after every bath, or if your dog goes swimming or gets soaked in the rain. This will get the water out of their ears and help prevent a yeast infection from forming.

Get the Fur Out!

If your dog has a lot of fur in their ears, you will need to have your groomer or vet remove it regularly. The best way to have this done is through “plucking” the fur…basically, gently pulling the fur out. Don’t do this at home unless you know how to do it. There are a few tricks to plucking fur without causing pain and discomfort.

Dogs with really fuzzy ears will also benefit from having the fur shaved from the inside of the ear flap. Think cocker spaniels and labradoodles.

Removing the fur from the ear canal and inside of the ear flap will increase the air circulation in the ear. This helps prevent moisture and yeast growth. It also makes ear cleanings easier, and more effective. The gunk is less likely to get trapped in the ear canal when the fur has been removed.

Furry dogs may need this plucking done as often as once a month.

Treat the Allergy

Allergies are common in our pets. If you suspect that your dog has seasonal or environmental allergies, talk to your vet about allergy medications. Many over-the-counter allergy products made for humans can be safely used in our dogs.

In my experience, Benadryl isn’t the most useful medication for canine allergies. It works great for bee stings and insect bites, but for other allergies I haven’t found that it does much other than make the dog sleepy. Benadryl doesn’t seem to be very helpful for dogs who suffer from chronic ear issues.

If you have a dog with severe allergies and/or chronic ear problems that are not controlled by OTC meds, you may need to try something else. There is an amazing medication for canine allergies called Apoquel that I just can’t recommend highly enough. It has been a miracle drug for many dogs with allergies. The major downside is that it is very expensive.

If you get the allergies under control, chronic ear infections will be less frequent.

Identify Problems Early

If you are doing regular ear cleanings, you will likely spot a infection while it is in its early stage. I check my dog’s ears once a week, even though I only clean them about once a month.

Signs that an infection is getting started include a slight odor of yeast and more gunk in the ears than usual. Your dog may start shaking their head, or rubbing their face on the floor or furniture.

If you notice these signs, do an ear cleaning. Check that there isn’t fur in the ear, and if there is, have it plucked out.

If I suspect an early ear infection, I monitor it daily and do a cleaning every third day until the symptoms resolve. If the symptoms get worse, or don’t resolve themselves in a week, then I head to the vet. I don’t usually use any medications in my dog’s ears unless the vet recommends I do so.

If you catch a yeast infection early, you can often clear it up without needing to use a prescription ear medication.

When to See the Veterinarian for Ear Problems

Sometimes, despite preventative care and home treatment, a dog still develops a full blown ear infection. Don’t mess around with this situation. Get professional help!

Head to the vet if:

• Your dog is uncomfortable and home treatment is not making them less so.
• Your dog is causing damage to themselves by shaking their head or pawing at their ears.
• You notice swelling or any blood in the ear canal.
• You notice that their ear flap is swollen, or it feels like it has a bubble of fluid in it.
• There is a lot of debris in the ears, despite cleaning them.
• There is strong odor of yeast in the ears.
• There is any purulent discharge (pus) in the ear canal.

Ear infections can be frustrating, but with routine care and early treatment you can avoid many visits to the vet! Do you have an “ear dog?” Share your story in the comments section!