All About Your Dog’s Ears & How to Take Care of Them

Floppy or folded, small or large, your pup's ears are one of their most charming and expressive physical traits! Regardless of shape or size, they all serve the same purpose: funnels for sound.

At least 18 muscles work to tilt, raise and rotate these adorable appendages, helping your dog identify and capture sounds from all different directions. Dogs' hearing ability depends on breed and age, but the average hearing range is between 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz (45 kHz). Human hearing stretches from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (or 20 kHz), but most adults actually top out at 16k Hz. Another reason dogs are simply amazing!

Unlike humans who have a very short ear canal, dogs have a long, narrow L-shaped ear canal. It runs vertical toward the jaw, then takes an almost 90° turn horizontally toward the eardrum. This makes examinations difficult and predisposes dogs to an assortment of ear issues, including parasites and yeast infections (especially dogs with heavy, floppy ears).

Prevention is key! It's estimated that 20% of dogs suffer from ear infections which are most often due to an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast. Keeping ears clean and dry can help.

ROUTINE CARE & MAITENANCE

Your pup's regular care and grooming routine should include ear checks; this is especially important if your dog produces excessive earwax or has a lot of inner-ear hair.

Monitoring your dog’s ears for any sign of irritation or infection only takes a moment and can be easily taken care of while snuggling on the couch watching TV. Look for any redness or discharge, check for any strong odor and watch to see if they’re showing any sensitivity to their ears being touched — all of these could be a sign of an infection developing.

If your dog’s ears are visibly dirty, you can gently wipe them with dog ear cleaner or ear wipes formulated specifically for this purpose. The rule of thumb is to only clean as far as you can see — never insert anything into your dog’s ear canal (including Q-tips)! If you think your pup needs a deeper ear cleaning, schedule an appointment with a professional.

Some dogs grow hair inside their ears, in which case it should be plucked every few weeks to prevent matting and tangles. Hair inside the ear can also make it more difficult for your pup’s immune system to keep levels of yeast and bacteria at a manageable level, can block the flow of air that keeps the ear canal dry, and may trap dirt, excess ear wax and debris inside.

Frequent baths or regular swimming may also lead to ear irritation and infection. Be sure cotton balls are placed in your dog’s ears before baths and that ears are dried thoroughly after all water activities.

WARNING SIGNS

• Ear discharge

• Bad smell

• Redness

• Swelling

• Crusty skin

• Hair loss

• Brown/black ear wax or dry wax resembling coffee grounds (classic indicators of ear mites)

If you notice any of the above, make an appointment with your veterinarian to make sure there's not a possible ear infection or other problem. These symptoms should be addressed before cleaning your dog's ears at home, as you could unintentionally do more damage by cleaning an infected ear.

DOG EAR DISEASES AND INFECTIONS

Ear Infections

Ear infections are common in dogs, especially those with floppy ears such as Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels. They are usually caused by an overgrowth of yeast and bacteria in the ear canal. Hair inside the ear — especially if it’s thick — can further contribute to a moist and warm environment that’s ideal for an infection to take hold.

Other factors that may predispose your dog to ear infections:

• Moisture, which can create a prime growing environment for bacteria and yeast

• Allergies, which lead to ear disease in about 50% of dogs with allergic skin disease and 80% of dogs with food sensitivities

• Endocrine disorders, such as thyroid disease

• Autoimmune disorders

• Wax buildup

• Foreign bodies

• Injury to the ear canal

• Excessive cleaning

Symptoms to look out for include whining, repeated head shaking, scratching at the ears or rubbing their face on the carpet, and discharge and/or an odor coming from the ear canal.

If your pup is showing any signs of an ear infection, it’s important to visit your vet as soon as possible. Quick treatment is necessary not only for your dog’s comfort (these conditions can be painful!), but also to prevent the spread of infection to the middle and inner ear. Do not try to treat ear infections at home.

Ear Mites

If your dog is shaking and scratching his head, it may be because ear mites have taken up residence in his ear canal. This arachnid's Latin name, Otodectes cynotis, translates as "ear beggar of the dog" — which perfectly describes what these tiny creatures do: feed on wax and oils in your dog’s ears. While they don't bite skin, their presence causes itching and the secondary damage caused by scratching can be serious.

Symptoms of Ear Mites:

• Itching and scratching

• Dark, crumbly reddish-brown discharge that resembles coffee grounds

• Wounds and inflammation caused by scratching, especially at the base of the ear, which is the result of a dog scratching with his hind limb claws

• In heavy infestations, ear mites may start to invade other parts of the dog’s body

It’s important to exterminate ear mites as soon as possible, for the benefit of the infected pup and the other pets in your home it can easily spread to. Mites can also infect humans, but this is very rare.

It's best to visit your veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment. Not only are there other ear conditions with similar symptoms, but a pup with itchy, painful ears will also handling and treatment, so you may need the extra hand. Fortunately, ear mites are relatively easy to treat — a deep ear cleaning and some medications prescribed by your veterinarian usually clear up infections quickly. 

Ear Hematomas

Dogs with ear infections may violently shake their head or scratch their ears causing an aural hematoma. Ear hematomas occur when a blood vessel in the ear bursts and bleeds into the space between the ear cartilage and skin (sometimes referred to as a blood blister). A hematoma must be treated as soon as possible, typically by surgical correction, or permanent disfigurement may result.

If left untreated, the hematoma may be slowly reabsorbed, but the associated inflammation will have caused damage to the surrounding ear tissues resulting in a distorted, cauliflower-shaped ear. Aural hematomas are very painful, and for humane reasons, they should be treated immediately.

Ear infections are a common and often recurrent problem in many dogs, but routine care can keep your pup clean and comfortable. It's important to regularly monitor their ear health, as infections can begin and worsen quickly. If your dog is showing signs of an ear infection, seek treatment right away to ensure the problem does not become serious.

Scenthound will handle your dog’s basic grooming needs, so you don’t have to. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, let us take care of cleaning your pup's ears as part of their monthly E-scent-ials package!

At Scenthound, ear exams are just a part of the routine care we provide to keep your pup clean, comfortable and healthy. We focus on all five of the core areas of maintenance that dogs need: Skin, Coat, Ears, Nails, and Teeth (SCENT).

And to keep you in the loop, after every groom you’ll receive our S.C.E.N.T. Check report detailing our assessment of your dog’s overall external health. Plus, you can reference your pup's historical S.C.E.N.T. Check data in the new Scenthound mobile app to track the progress they've made since becoming a member of the Monthly Clean Club.

The S.C.E.N.T. Check is just another way Scenthound helps you stay informed, educated and empowered when it comes to your dog’s health and well-being. This way, you can be assured we are well-acquainted with your dog and any issues he may have which helps you stay on top of small problems, like ear infections, that can turn into big problems if ignored.

• • •

Dr. Jim MacLean
Chief Veterinarian, Scenthound

Dr. MacLean’s first job was working as a grooming assistant when he was 15 years old. Since then, he has worked in every aspect of small animal veterinary hospitals, has practiced in small animal medicine and surgery for 26 years, and has owned and started multi-doctor veterinary hospitals.

With a mind for both medicine and business, Jim received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from VMRCVM at Virginia Tech in 1994 and his MBA from Georgetown University in 2011.

Coming full circle, he joined the Scenthound pack to bring his expertise and experience to the grooming world. As chief veterinarian, Dr. MacLean guides Scenthound from a health and medicine perspective and helps achieve our mission to improve overall pet health on a broader scale.