Why do my dogs ears stink?

An ear infection (otitis externa) is one of the most frequently diagnosed medical conditions in pets—especially dogs with floppy ears. Signs of an ear infection can include scratching at the ears, head shaking, ears that are red and/or painful to the touch, an unpleasant smell or a dirty discharge inside the ear.

How do I get rid of the smell in my dog's ears?

Prescription treatment may include antifungal drops or an ear cleaner, and in difficult-to- treat cases, an oral antifungal medication. You may clean your dog's ears at home with a vet-approved ear cleaner, but do not clean them for 24 hours prior to your appointment, as this can make a diagnosis more difficult.

Does smelly dog ear mean infection?

If you notice your dog's ears smelling musty or sickeningly sweet, she may have a yeast infection in her ears. This problem may cause pain, itching, swelling, redness, and sometimes oozing discharge along with the smell. It is a common problem in dogs' ears because a dog's ears are a prime location for Candida to grow.

Are dogs ears supposed to smell?

Healthy ears don't have an odor. Make a habit of sniffing your dog's ears, starting when he's a puppy, so you'll know how they smell normally. If his ears smell yeasty or downright stinky, it's likely that a bacterial or yeast infection is brewing.

What is the brown smelly stuff in my dog's ear?

Fungal ear infection: A dark brown discharge with a pungent, musty odor most likely indicates a fungal or yeast infection. This is often caused by excessive moisture buildup in the ears.

Why Do Dogs Ears Stink

How can I treat my dog's ear infection without going to the vet?

Never put anything in your dog's ear without veterinary instruction. Your veterinary team can help you find the ideal treatment to treat the infection and give your dog much-needed relief. Itchy, uncomfortable ears can be caused by everything from ear infections to allergies and ear mites.

What does a dog ear infection smell like?

These types of ear infections usually involve more than one type of bacteria. These bacteria can cause ears to smell sweet like grapes or caramel or rancid like rotten chicken or bad breath. Dogs with bacterial infections in their ears may rub their ears on the ground or on furniture to relieve itchiness.

How can I clean my dog's ears naturally?

How can you tell if dog has ear infection?

How do you get rid of a yeast infection in a dog's ear?

If your dog has a yeast infection of the outer ear canal, the vet might prescribe a topical antifungal ointment or cream. Miconazole and ketoconazole are two antifungal medicines that are often effective.

What foods cause yeast infections in dogs ears?

Why do my dogs ears stink and itch?

If you notice your dog scratching their ears or shaking their head more often than usual, dragging the side of their face along the carpet or furniture, smell a bad odor from the ear, or see redness on their inner ear flap or in their ear canal, they could have an ear infection.

Why do my dog's ears smell yeasty?

If their ears smell yeasty or downright stinky, it's likely that a bacterial or yeast infection is brewing. Then take a look inside their ears. The skin should be nice and pink with a light coating of pale yellowish wax. A small amount of wax is part of the ear's self-cleaning system.

How do I know if my dog's ear is bacterial or fungal?

Can dog ear infections go away on their own?

In most cases, a dog's ear infection will not go away on its own. What's worse, if you wait too long to treat the ear infection, it can become much more difficult to get under control. An untreated ear infection can lead to chronic issues, hearing loss, and sometimes the need for expensive surgery.

What does an ear infection smell like?

Infection. Infections often cause a cheeselike smell. Bacteria, yeast, and fungi are most often to blame. This is because they like warm, moist places.

Can I use baby wipes to clean my dog's ears?

You don't need a lot of tools to clean your dog's ears at home. Many of the items are human grooming tools, including balls of cotton, tissues, or baby wipes.

Does vinegar cure dog ear infection?

In the first instance, you can use a diluted apple cider vinegar solution to clean your dog's ears. Apple cider vinegar helps by acting as a cleanser and an anti-fungal and antibacterial agent. Dabbing this into your dog's ears sparingly can help to clean out the inside of their ears and treat the infection.

Can I put vinegar in my dogs ear?

Apple cider vinegar can clean a dog's ears and rebalance the skin pH, but it will also dry out ears to combat yeast and bacterial infections. When using apple cider vinegar around your dog's ears, remember to never use it on raw or open sores since it is an acid and will burn and cause irritation.

What can I clean my dog's ears out with?

Ear-Cleaning Supplies

You only need a few supplies to successfully clean your dog's ears: a cotton ball or gauze, dog ear-cleaning solution, and a towel. Avoid using cotton-tipped swabs (Q-tips) or anything with a pointed tip.

Can I put hydrogen peroxide in my dogs ear?

You will need a gentle ear cleaning solution and gauze squares or cotton balls. We do not recommend the use of cotton swabs, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean your dog's ears. These products can cause inflammation to the ear canal and may worsen an ear infection.

Can you clean a dog's ears with Q-tips?

Cleaning your dog's ears does not require any special equipment. A good quality ear cleaning solution, some cotton balls or gauze, and some treats to reward your dog are all that is needed. Do not use cotton tip applicators (Q-tips®), due to the risk of perforating the ear drum or causing trauma to the ear canal.

Can you use olive oil to clean dog's ears?

Never put olive oil, vinegar, shampoo, or any other substance in a dog's ear. Also, avoid poking around with cotton buds in the ear, you will only work any wax and debris further in and potentially damage the eardrum.

How often should I clean dog's ears?

Wondering how often your dog's ears need to be cleaned? In general, once per month is a good rule of thumb. Breeds with long, floppy ears or dogs who swim frequently may need to have their ears cleaned every other week, or even weekly. After bathing or swimming, be sure to properly dry your pup's ears.

Should you clean dog ears?

In short, it's important to clean your dog's ears regularly enough to avoid infections, but not too often as this can damage the canal or cause irritation that can result in further problems.