Ear infection

Man cleans Cocker Spaniel's ears. Image for ear infection tag page.
Ear mites and yeast infections can be painful for your pup. If you notice gunk in your dog’s ears, visit your veterinarian right away.

A dog ear infection is one of the most common health problems. To prevent ear infections it’s crucial to keep your dog’s ears clean.

Warning signs of an ear infection include:

  • Constant head shaking or head tilting
  • Rubbing head on floor, furniture, or you
  • Erratic behavior
  • Walking with an unsteady gait
  • Feverish, lethargic, or unusually restless
  • Incessantly scratching their ears.

Some dogs are genetically predisposed to ear infections like Chinese Shar-Peis, chow chows, and English bulldogs.

Dogs that have hair inside their ears or breeds with long, heavy ears, also are more susceptible to ear infections.