It's normal for your dog to scratch their ears occasionally. But if they scratch frequently, shake their head, or seem sore when you touch their ear, it's usually a sign that something is irritating their ear canal. Here are the most common causes, and when they should have their ears checked.
Common reasons why dogs scratch their ears
Otitis
Inflammation of the external ear canal is the most common cause of persistent ear itching in dogs. The ear becomes red, warm and tender, and there is often more wax or discharge than normal. If left untreated, the condition can become chronic and cause permanent changes in the ear canal. Read more about ear infection in dog.
Yeast and bacteria
Yeast and bacteria are normally found in small amounts in dogs' ears. When they become large enough to cause symptoms, it is usually because something else has changed the environment in the ear canal – moisture, allergies, excessive hair, narrow anatomy or a foreign body.
It is therefore rarely enough to treat only the growth. If the underlying cause is not found, the problems will return.
Allergy
Allergies are one of the most common underlying causes of recurrent ear infections in dogs, and the ears are often the first place it shows up. If your dog also scratches their paws, groin, or around their muzzle, it's worth looking into the context. Read about allergy in dog og five signs that your dog may have an allergy.
Foreign body
Grass clippings and other plant parts can get stuck in the ear canal, especially in late summer and autumn. This often causes sudden, severe itching in the ear canal. one ear, with intense head shaking and obvious pain. If the symptoms come on suddenly and only on one side, this is an obvious explanation.
Ear mites
Ear mites cause intense itching and dry, dark ear discharge. They are common in puppies and kittens, but are less common in adult dogs. The mites are detected under a microscope and are transmitted between animals in the same household.
Signs that the ear should be examined
- The dog repeatedly scratches the same ear.
- head shaking or rubbing the head against furniture and floors
- redness in the ear canal or inside the earlobe
- bad smell from the ear
- more wax or secretion than usual
- the dog pulls away when you touch its ear
When should a veterinarian be contacted urgently?
Some signs indicate that the problem is deeper than the outer ear canal, or that a complication has occurred. Contact us the same day at:
- crooked head position or the dog keeps its head tilted
- balance problems, unsteadiness, or abnormal eye movements
- severe pain, or the dog not letting you get near the ear
- sudden, violent shaking of the head
- the earlobe swells and becomes soft and tense – it could be an ear hematoma, where blood vessels in the earlobe have burst from the shaking
Do not clean or treat the ear yourself
Certain ear cleaners and ear drops should not be used if the eardrum is damaged or if middle ear inflammation is suspected. Therefore, the veterinarian should examine the ear canal and assess the eardrum as far as possible before starting treatment.
Also, do not use drops left over from a previous case or from another dog. The preparations work against different things, and a remedy that helped last time may be wrong now. If the ear is sore, picking and cleaning also makes it more difficult to examine.
How does the vet examine the ear?
The ear canal is inspected with an otoscope, where the veterinarian looks for redness, swelling, discharge, foreign bodies and the eardrum itself.
A sample of the secretion is examined under a microscope. This shows whether there is yeast, bacteria or ear mites, and guides the choice of treatment. In chronic or complicated ears, video otoscopy provide a much better view of the ear canal, and make it possible to rinse and remove material under observation.
