Ear Discharge in Dogs: Why You Should Talk to Your Vet
Gently pull back your dogs ears and have a quick look inside. What you should see is a clean, pink ear canal. If you notice discharge, redness, swelling, or odor, its time to talk to the vet. Left untreated, ear problems in dogs can result in severe pain, hematomas (the ear flap fills up with blood), balance problems, and even deafness.
Because ear discharge in dogs can be the result of several causes and can have all kinds of smells, colors, and consistencies, dont try to guess whats causing your dogs ear discharge. Find out by making an appointment with your vet, who can diagnose the cause of your dogs ear discharge and prescribe the best treatment.
Why it’s Important to Remove Water from your Dog’s Ears
Making sure you keep your dog’s ears dry and clean should be part of a regular grooming routine.
Exposure to water is a natural part of life, from bath time to swimming and other recreational activities. Most pups love to play in the water. And just like you, your fur baby can end up with water clogging their ears.
There’s normally a balanced ecosystem of yeast and bacteria (both good and bad) living all over your dog’s skin and inside his ears. The presence of water in your dog’s ears creates a perfectly moist and warm environment that disrupts this balance by providing the right conditions for yeast and bacteria overgrowth. This in turn often results in bacterial infections.
Ear Mites
These tiny, bug-like critters are transmitted from one animal to another. Ear mites feast on ear wax, and their presence can often lead to ear discharge.
Mites show as small, white dots in or around the ear, though they may be hard to spot with the naked eye. A black, crusty discharge is a telltale sign of ear mite infestation and warrants further investigation.
