Yes, dirty dog ears often smell because trapped debris, wax, moisture, yeast, or bacteria create a breeding ground for odors, typically described as musty, sweet, or pungent; while a healthy ear has a subtle smell, a bad smell usually signals an infection or excessive buildup needing cleaning or vet attention, especially with redness or head shaking.
A smelly dog ear often indicates an infection caused by bacteria, yeast, or ear mites. Symptoms include odor, redness, discharge, and scratching. Treatment involves cleaning the ear with vet-approved solutions and possibly antifungal or antibiotic medications.
A thin layer of yellow ear wax lining the inside of their ears is just fine, and even a small amount of light brown wax is often normal as well. However, if it seems like your dog's ears are filled with brown gunk, or if you see any evidence of an ear infection, then this likely means it's time to jump into action.
Yeast Ear Infections in Dogs
However, ear inflammation can cause yeast levels to rise and cause a brown, greasy discharge within the ear canal and around the inside flap of your dog's ear. This discharge can be itchy and smelly for your dog.
Get an Exam
Be in touch with your veterinarian if you discover that your dog's ears are smelly. Smelly ears could lead to otitis, which is an ear infection. Most ear infections are triggered by inflammation from allergies.
Dog ear cleansers are available over-the-counter and help to clean the ear canal and remove wax build-up, debris, odour and discharge. We also stock a range of ear wipes, the perfect way to keep your dog's ears clean and healthy. They can also be used to clean the ear after ear drops have been applied.
Ear infections are painful. Many dogs will shake their head and scratch their ears to relieve the discomfort. The ears often become red and inflamed and develop an offensive odor.
Dark Brown or Reddish-Brown
Dark brown earwax may simply be a build-up of healthy wax. Your dog's ear may just need cleaning. Gently wipe away the dirt and debris with a warm, damp cloth and dry afterward. Yeast infections (candida or Malassezia spp) commonly cause earwax to turn greasy, dark brown or reddish-brown.
Ear mites are extremely small, making it difficult to spot them. If you use a soft cloth to wipe the dog's ears, you may be able to spot the mites in the residue. They appear as tiny white dots. Some symptoms to look out for are brown or black waxy ear secretions and a strong odor from the ears.
Strong or Sour Smell: If your ear wax smells strong or sour, it could be because of excessive sweating. This is usually harmless but worth monitoring. Unpleasant or Bad Odor: A foul-smelling ear wax may signal an ear infection or excessive buildup.
Regularly check your dog's ears for signs of infection, which may include:
Parasites. Parasites, such as ear mites, live inside the ear canal, causing intense itching and discomfort. As your dog scratches and shakes their head in response, the skin in and around the ears can become irritated and develop crusty patches.
Sounds like it could be an infection. My pup had an infection in one ear and the only symptom was slightly increased scratching a thought here and more earwax than the other. No one other than me thought but it was actually infected until the vet examined the wax.
Ear mites themselves don't smell, but they can cause a smelly discharge to form within your dog's ears. How do I prevent ear mites in dogs? Simple monthly dosing with NexGard® or NexGard SPECTRA® helps keep dogs healthy by treating and controlling ear mite infestations.
Common and usually normal, brown earwax may indicate the presence of dirt or debris. If it turns dark brown–or when foul odor is paired with brown discharge, dog ear infection may not be far behind. Consult with your veterinarian if you notice anything abnormal.
Ear Mites: The discharge caused by ear mites is dark, crumbly, and often resembles coffee grounds. You may also see tiny white specks moving within the discharge, which are the mites themselves. Ear Wax: Normal ear wax is lighter in color, ranging from light brown to yellow.
Infection: Infections in the ear canal are one of the most common infections in dogs. In addition to redness and discharge, they can cause an unpleasant odor. Yeast: Excessive moisture in the ear can cause an overgrowth of yeast, which will produce a cheesy or musty smell from the ear.
Dog Ear Cleaning: 6 Mistakes to Avoid for Healthy, Happy Ears
The best way to get rid of your dog's yeast infection in their ear will depend upon the underlying cause and may include:
Veterinary intervention is often necessary to treat ear infections, mites, or other causes of a dog's ear smell. Your vet may perform an ear swab to determine whether bacteria, yeast, or parasites are present. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include: Prescription ear drops or topical medications.
Breeds Prone to Ear Infections and Signs to Watch For
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Several conditions can cause smelly ears, including earwax buildup, ear infections, cholesteatoma, and even ear cancer.
The structure of the dog's ear canal makes it difficult for material trapped deep within the horizontal canal to be expelled without the assistance of cleanings. This material can lead to itchiness and ear infections if not removed.
Ear mites live in the ear canal and on the surrounding skin. Signs of ear mites in dogs include scratching around the ears, head and neck, skin irritation, head shaking, the presence of an ear discharge that is dark and waxy (resembling coffee grounds) and an unpleasant odour from the ears.