Along with regular grooming and bathing, keeping your dog’s ears clean is key to avoiding painful and odorous ear infections. Checking your dog’s ears at least once a week will ensure that they are kept healthy and that any infections that develop are quickly detected.

Many pet owners do not realize that dogs can grow hair in the ear canal, even large amounts in some breeds. For this reason, many owners never check their dog’s ears unless the dog is shaking or scratching. By the time that behavior is displayed, there is usually an ear health problem requiring veterinary attention.

Ear infections may arise from water trapped in the canal. The damp environment creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, which often leads to painful sensitivity, redness, swelling and odorous infection. Dogs with ear flaps are the most affected since the flaps extinguish air circulation and trap moisture.

Ear mites are also commonly found in ear wax. Dogs with this problem often shake their heads and scratch their ears frequently. Removing some ear wax gently and spreading it on a piece of white paper under light will reveal white specks in the wax if a mite infestation is present.

Mites are very contagious and will require immediate veterinary attention. Insecticides kill the adult mites only, so repeat applications are necessary. Based on the life cycle of mites, treatment usually consists of applying insecticide for a 7 day period, then waiting 10 days for baby mites to mature before repeating.

Accumulations of wax combined with the lack of air circulation can lead to ear canker. Canker infections often cause a dark-colored discharge to leak from the infected ear accompanied by a foul odor. The pet will require veterinary inspection of the condition.

Common symptoms of an ear problem include:

- Head shaking and ear scratching.
- Ears sensitive to touch.
- Discharges and powerful odors.
- Hematomas (blood blisters) on the ear flap.
- Swelling and skin redness.
- Melanomas (tumors).

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