Why does my dog’s ears stink so bad? Get Your Pet Thinking

How to Treat Smelly Dog Ears

You should see your veterinarian in order to resolve the smell coming from your dog’s ears. Long-term ear infections can lead to a rupture of the eardrum and consequently a loss of hearing.

Your veterinarian will do a number of things to obtain an accurate diagnosis of why your dog’s ears are so smelly.

First, your vet will use an otoscope to examine the inside of the ear. Here the veterinarian will be able to see redness, discharge, or a mass or foreign object inside your dog’s ear.

During the exam, your veterinarian may also take a swab from your dog’s ear to examine under the microscope. This will show whether your dog has mites, bacteria, or yeast in his ears. Bacterial cultures are necessary for dogs whose ear infections have not responded to previous treatments in order to choose the most effective antibiotic.

Further diagnostics such as radiographs, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be necessary to examine the extent of disease in your dog’s ear.

Surgery may be recommended for certain diseases such as chronic ear infections or masses.

Symptoms of Foul Smelling Ears in Dogs

There are a number of things which can cause the canine ear to become stinky. Here are some of the symptoms you may notice:

Persistent scratching sometimes to the point of being obsessive

Red and irritated areas from constant scratching

Open scratch wounds or sores

Pain or tenderness when the ears are touched or rubbed

Sour smell similar to the smell of sourdough starter

Vigorous head shaking or rubbing ears on the carpet

Dark discharge or darkened and excessive amounts of earwax

Types

There are several types of conditions which can result in foul smelling ears in dogs:

Ear infections – This can be bacterial or fungal in nature; yeast infections are among the fungal organisms which are known to afflict canines

Parasitic infestations – This can include fleas, ticks, mites and a variety of other parasites

Cuts, abrasions and other wounds in the ear canal – These can result from nail injuries from the persistent scratching that accompanies ear infections

Cancer

5 Causes of Dog Ear Odor

All dogs are prone to ear-related maladies due to their anatomy. Dog ear canals are shaped like a “J” or an “L,” making it difficult to expel any buildup or pathogens that make their way into the passageway.

Let’s take a look at the 5 most likely issues occurring within your dog’s ear canal that are causing a foul smell.

Why Do Dogs Ears Stink