By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Ear infections are one of the top reasons Australian dogs visit a vet, and they tend to come back. The reason is that the infection itself is usually the end of a chain. Something inflames the ear canal first, most often an allergy, a grass seed after a spring walk, or water trapped after swimming at the beach, and then yeast and bacteria move in. Floppy-eared breeds such as Cocker spaniels and Labradors, dogs with hairy canals like Poodles, and narrow-canal breeds like Shar-Peis are especially prone. Treating the infection without finding the trigger often means you will be back in a few weeks. This guide covers the symptoms, causes, triage, and what to expect at the vet.
Key takeaways
- Head shaking, scratching, odour, discharge, and redness are the classic signs.
- Allergies are the most common underlying cause. Grass seeds, moisture, and ear anatomy also play a big role.
- Sudden severe pain and head shaking after a walk can mean a grass seed, which needs prompt removal.
- A head tilt, loss of balance, or facial drooping suggests the middle or inner ear is involved.
- Do not put anything in the ear until a vet has checked the eardrum.
Symptoms of a dog ear infection
- Shaking the head or holding one ear down
- Scratching at the ear or rubbing it on furniture and carpet
- A yeasty or foul smell
- Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge
- Redness, swelling, or thickened skin in the canal
- Crying or pulling away when the ear or head is touched
- A swollen, fluid-filled ear flap (an aural haematoma from shaking)
- Head tilt, circling, or loss of balance in deeper infections
Common causes
- Allergies: environmental (atopic dermatitis) and food allergies often show up first as itchy ears, sometimes with itchy paws.
- Grass seeds and foreign bodies: very common in Australian spring and summer, usually affecting one ear suddenly.
- Moisture: swimming and bathing leave a damp canal where yeast thrives.
- Ear anatomy: long, floppy, hairy, or narrow ear canals trap heat and moisture.
- Parasites: ear mites, especially in puppies.
- Hormonal disease such as hypothyroidism, and less commonly growths in the canal.
- Yeast (Malassezia) and bacteria: usually secondary invaders.
What to do right now
- Look in the ear with a torch and note the colour and smell of any discharge, and which side is affected.
- Stop your dog scratching hard enough to cause wounds. A soft cone can help.
- Do not use cotton buds in the canal, and do not try to remove a grass seed yourself.
- Avoid home remedies such as vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or oils, which can sting inflamed skin and harm the ear if the eardrum is damaged.
- Keep the ears dry, and skip swimming until your vet has checked them.
When to see a vet
Emergency or same day: sudden, violent head shaking or crying after a walk (possible grass seed), a head tilt, falling, flickering eyes, vomiting with balance loss, facial drooping, a very swollen or bleeding ear, or a dog in severe pain.
Within a few days: scratching, smell, or discharge without balance problems, or a swollen ear flap.
Book a review: ear infections that keep recurring, or ears that never seem fully clear.
How vets typically diagnose and treat
Your vet will look down the canal with an otoscope to check for grass seeds, growths, and the eardrum. A swab examined under the microscope (cytology) shows whether yeast, bacteria, or both are present and guides medicine choice. Painful or blocked ears may need sedation for a thorough look and flush, and grass seeds are removed with special instruments. Recurring infections may need a culture to choose the right antibiotic.
Treatment usually includes medicated ear drops suited to the infection, a cleaning plan, and sometimes medicines for pain, inflammation, or deeper infection. Your vet will usually plan a recheck to confirm the infection has fully cleared, because stopping early is a common reason infections return. The underlying cause, often allergy, then needs long-term management. Severe chronic ears that have narrowed may need surgery.
Prevention
- Dry your dog's ears gently after swimming or bathing. Ask your vet whether a drying ear cleaner suits your dog.
- Check ears weekly for redness, odour, or discharge.
- Check ears, paws, and armpits for grass seeds after walks in long grass.
- Keep long hair around the ear opening trimmed, but only pluck canal hair if your vet recommends it.
- Work with your vet on allergy control if your dog's ears and paws are itchy.
Because ears are lined with skin, ear infections often travel with other skin problems. See common dog skin diseases.
FAQ
Can a dog ear infection go away on its own?
Rarely. Most need treatment, and untreated infections can spread deeper or cause permanent canal changes.
Can I use leftover ear drops from last time?
It is best not to. The type of infection and the state of the eardrum may be different, and some drops are unsafe with a ruptured eardrum.
Why does my dog keep getting ear infections?
Usually because an underlying trigger such as allergy has not been controlled. Ask your vet about allergy management.
Are ear infections contagious?
Bacterial and yeast infections are not usually contagious. Ear mites are, and spread easily between pets. Cats are covered in cat ear infections.
Talk with a vet
If your dog is shaking its head and you are not sure how urgent it is, a vet at Dial A Vet can review the signs and help you decide on timing. A suspected grass seed or a sudden head tilt should be seen in person promptly.
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Otitis externa in dogs.
- WSAVA. Dermatology and otitis resources.
- American College of Veterinary Dermatology. Ear infections in pets.
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. Grass seeds and pets.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination by a veterinarian. Do not put products in your dog's ear before the eardrum is checked.
