Why do dogs have itchy ears?

We all want what's best for our dogs, and to be able to secure their health, we must be able to recognize when something is bothering them. Since all dogs are different, they will also have different methods of letting us know something is wrong.

When your dog has a problem with his ears, in most cases, you will quickly be able to figure it out. Your dog could start itching excessively, which will indicate something is wrong.

The faster you notice something causing problems for your dog, the faster you can provide proper care. Let's look at reasons why your dog could have itchy ears.

Why do dogs have itchy ears?

Every dog can experience itchy ears, and the best thing you can do at that moment is to find a possible reason why your dog is experiencing problems to start treatment. Most ear-related health problems are treatable, and to be sure that your dog will have a full recovery, you must trust your vet and listen to his advice.

IMPORTANT: You should never treat ear problems by yourself. If you do so, there is a possibility that you will only make things worse. In case of an ear problem, you need to contact your vet and listen to his advice.

Causes of itchy ears in dogs?

Ear problems in dogs can happen very fast, and there could be many different causes. If it seems that your dog has a problem with his ears, here are the most common reasons:

Ear mites
Ear infection
Ear injury
Foreign body
Allergy
Dermatitis
Tumor
Insect bites
Built up wax
Parasites

All these things can cause your dog to start itching his ear. Depending on the main cause, the dog could be in mild or severe discomfort and may or may not experience pain. There could be a situation where your dog will scratch his ear and whine as he does it because his ear hurts him.

dog scratching ear

Symptoms of itchy ears in dogs?

As with any health problem, if your dog starts to excessive scratch his ears, there are a few symptoms that can confirm that something is bothering him. Besides the most obvious, ear scratching, you can also notice other symptoms that will confirm that something is bothering your dog, and they include

Redness
Swelling
Funky odor
Bumps
Discharge from the ear
Hearing loss
Bleeding

Depending on the main cause, symptoms can vary, and your dog could even be in pain. The best thing you can do is to seek vet help immediately.

What is the best treatment?

It is impossible to set the proper treatment for your dog without knowing the main cause that is causing ear problems for your dog. When your vet sets the right diagnosis, he will be able to give the proper treatment to your dog to solve this health problem.

Ear problems in dogs are very curable, and in most cases, your vet will prescribe your dog ear drops or medications. Again, you should never be tempted to treat your dog alone without consulting with your vet.

dog ears

How to prevent itchy ears in dogs?

To prevent ear problems in the future, as a dog owner, you will have to take care of your dog's ears. That means that you will have to check them regularly. You need to ensure that no redness or a bad odor coming from the ear because that can indicate an ear infection.

Besides checking, you will have to clean them also. By regularly cleaning dog ears, you can be sure that he will not develop any infection.

What dogs are most prone to ear problems?

As we said earlier, all dogs can have ear problems, but most dog owners know that dogs with floppy ears have a high probability. Because of their constitution, water and moisture can easily be trapped in dogs' ears, creating perfect conditions for bacteria development.

If you own a dog that likes to swim, you must be careful with his ears. Ensure you always dry your dog's ears after he is done swimming. That way, you can ensure that the water will not be trapped in the dog's ear.

That said, by regularly cleaning dog ears, most ear problems will be eliminated, and there is a lower possibility that your dog will develop ear-related health problems.

WORLD DOG FINDER TIP: You should never use Q tips for cleaning your dog's ears. Besides that, you can easily puncture the eardrum; if you use a Q tip for cleaning dog ears, you will only push down the earwax into a canal and only create more problems.

World Dog Finder team

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