I’m All Ears! Understanding Dog and Cat Ear Infections
- Mar 30
- 6 min read
By Nicola Roberts, Registered Veterinary Nurse
Most pet owners recognise the signs of an ear problem straight away. A dog suddenly shaking their head after a walk. A cat scratching their ears more than usual. Or that unmistakable smell when you get close to your pet’s head.
Ear Problems in Dogs and Cats: Signs, Causes and When to See Your Vet
Ear problems are one of the most common things we see in practice, and they can make pets really uncomfortable. Many dogs and cats will continue eating, playing and behaving fairly normally, which can make it easy to underestimate just how sore their ears might be.
Because ear problems are so common, many pets have been prescribed ear drops before. So when the symptoms return, it’s completely understandable that owners ask if we can simply provide the same drops again.
But ear problems are a bit like stomach aches in people. The symptoms might look similar, but the cause can be completely different each time. That’s why examining the ear properly is so important before deciding on treatment.
Contents
How to Recognise Ear Problems in Pets
Ear disease often shows itself through a few very recognisable behaviours. Owners commonly notice:
Head shaking
Scratching or rubbing at the ears
Redness inside the ear
Wax or discharge
A strong smell from the ear
Sensitivity when the ear is touched
Sometimes these signs appear gradually, while other times they come on very suddenly.
Why Ear Conditions Can Be Surprisingly Painful
The ear canal is a delicate and sensitive structure. When it becomes inflamed or infected it can be extremely uncomfortable.
Some pets will show obvious signs of pain, such as:
Crying when the ear is touched
Pulling away when you try to look inside
Holding one ear down
Becoming quieter than usual
But many pets simply carry on as normal. Dogs in particular are very good at masking discomfort, and cats are experts at hiding pain.
Left untreated, inflammation in the ear canal often worsens over time. What begins as mild irritation can quickly develop into a much more painful infection.
Common Causes of Ear Problems
Although the symptoms often look similar, ear problems can have several different causes. Sometimes more than one issue is present at the same time.
Ear Mites
Ear mites are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal. They are especially common in kittens and young cats, although dogs can be affected too.
Pets with ear mites often have:
Very itchy ears
Frequent scratching
Dark, crumbly discharge that looks a little like coffee grounds
Ear mites require specific anti-parasitic treatment. Standard ear drops used for infections are unlikely to eliminate them.
Inflammation and Allergic Ears
Many dogs that develop repeated ear infections actually have underlying allergies.
When allergies cause inflammation inside the ear canal, it creates the perfect environment for infections to develop.
Owners might notice:
Red, irritated ears
Warm ear canals
Repeated ear infections over time
In these cases, ear drops may help settle the immediate infection, but managing the underlying allergy is often key to preventing future flare-ups.
Bacterial and Yeast Infections
The ear canal naturally contains small numbers of bacteria and yeast. When conditions change, these organisms can multiply and cause infection.
Typical signs include:
Yellow, brown or sticky discharge
A strong smell
Increased head shaking
Sensitivity or discomfort
Different infections require different treatments. Some ear drops contain antibiotics, others treat yeast, and some combine both.
Choosing the right treatment makes a big difference to how quickly your pet improves.
Grass Seeds and Other Hidden Surprises
During the warmer months in the UK, grass seeds are a very common cause of sudden ear problems in dogs.
These small seeds can easily find their way into the ear canal during walks. Dogs often show sudden and dramatic signs, such as:
Violent head shaking
Pawing at one ear
Sudden pain when the ear is touched
If a grass seed is present, ear drops alone will not fix the problem. The seed must first be located and removed safely.
Why Ear Problems Should Be Checked Quickly
Because ear conditions are uncomfortable and can worsen quite quickly, it’s always best to have them checked sooner rather than later.
Early treatment can:
Relieve pain more quickly
Prevent infections becoming more severe
Reduce inflammation in the ear canal
Help prevent ongoing or recurrent problems
Many ear conditions are straightforward to treat once we understand the cause.
Why We Need to Examine Your Pet’s Ears Before Prescribing Treatment
Looking inside the ear canal gives us valuable information about what is actually happening.
Using an otoscope, we can assess:
The level of inflammation in the ear canal
The presence of discharge or infection
Whether a foreign body such as a grass seed is present
Whether the ear drum is intact
Even if your pet has had ear drops before, the cause of the problem this time may be completely different.
Why We Cannot Simply Dispense Ear Drops
Many ear medications are prescription-only veterinary medicines, especially those that contain antibiotics.
Veterinary prescribing legislation requires that a vet carries out a clinical examination before prescribing these medications in most situations.
In simple terms, this means we usually cannot legally dispense ear drops without seeing and examining your pet first, even if they have had that treatment before.
These rules are in place to ensure medication is used safely and appropriately for each individual animal.
The Importance of Checking for a Perforated Ear Drum
One of the most important parts of an ear examination is checking that the ear drum (tympanic membrane) is intact.
If the ear drum becomes perforated or damaged, some ear medications can travel deeper into the middle ear and potentially cause serious complications. Certain ingredients in ear drops can affect hearing or balance if they reach these structures.
Without examining the ear properly, it is impossible to know whether the ear drum is intact. Using ear drops without checking first could risk causing harm.
Responsible Antibiotic Use
You may sometimes hear vets talk about antibiotic stewardship. This simply means using antibiotics carefully and responsibly.
Not all ear infections require antibiotics. Some are caused by yeast, inflammation or parasites.
Using antibiotics unnecessarily can contribute to antibiotic resistance, which makes infections harder to treat in the future. Identifying the exact cause of the problem helps ensure we choose the right medication for your pet.
How In-House Ear Cytology Helps Us Choose the Right Treatment
At Roundwood Vets we invest heavily in our equipment so that we can provide the best possible care for our patients.
When pets come in with ear problems, we often perform in-house ear cytology. This involves taking a small sample from the ear canal with a cotton swab and examining it under a microscope.
In many cases we use a specialised analyser which allows us to assess ear samples quickly and accurately within the practice. This equipment costs over £15,000, but it allows us to provide rapid answers about what is happening inside your pet’s ear.
With this technology we can identify:
Yeast organisms
Different types of bacteria
Inflammatory cells
Parasites such as ear mites
The test only takes a few minutes but gives us extremely useful information straight away. Rather than guessing which treatment might work, we can choose the medication most likely to help your pet recover quickly.
Sometimes, however, we may also need to take a swab of the ear canal and send it to an external laboratory for bacterial culture and sensitivity testing. This test allows the lab to grow the bacteria present and determine which antibiotics are most effective against them. When the results come back, we may occasionally need to adjust or change the medication we initially prescribed so that it targets the specific bacteria more accurately.
Importantly, this isn’t about moving to a “stronger” antibiotic. Over time, when antibiotics are used too frequently or unnecessarily, some bacteria can survive and gradually become resistant, meaning certain antibiotics may no longer work against them.
Final Thoughts
If you notice your pet shaking their head, scratching their ears, or if something just doesn’t seem right, it’s always worth getting their ears checked. Ear problems are very common, but they are also very treatable once we understand what is causing them.
📞 Noticed something unusual with your pets ears? The team at Roundwood Vets will always be happy to take a look and help get your pet comfortable again. 🐾
We believe preventing disease is a far better way of helping your pet stay fit, comfortable, happy and healthy. So we’ve created the Vital Pets Club to make sure every pet owner has easy access to the best pet care at an affordable price.
Save money, and help your pet live a happy and healthy life with Vital Pets Club, by Roundwood Vets.
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