Dog Swollen Ear

If you notice your pet dog scratching ears continuously or shaking his head vigorously for no apparent reason then there’s a strong possibility that the dog’s ear is infected.



This infection may be caused by dog ear yeast formation which is relatively simple to handle or even something more serious like an aural hematoma. Aural hematoma is commonly observed in dogs that have long floppy ears.



In such cases, the blood vessels present in the ear flap of the dog rupture and this blood then collects in the area between the ear cartilage and skin causing it to swell, almost resembling a marshmallow. This medical condition needs to be treated by a qualified veterinarian who will typically insert an instrument called the cannula in the concerned ear flap so as to drain out the excess blood.



In extreme cases, there may even be a need to surgically open the ear flap and drain the blood collected.

Many a times, owners also tend to notice a foul dog ear smell coming from the dog’s swollen ear. This again is a sign of infection caused by dog ear yeast. This can be confirmed by checking the external surface of the inside of the dog’s infected ear. Dog ear yeast if present is visible in the form of a foul smelling slime like discharge. If you look inside you may see a discharge that looks like slime. This indicates that this is probably a yeast infection and nothing serious. Once the yeast or bacterial infection is confirmed as an immediate remedy, try and gently wipe off the pus or black or brown ear wax with a tissue or soft cloth. Dog ear yeast may not be easily identified as it is not visible silently to the naked eye. The vet on examining the dog will take some ear scrapings as samples and observe them under a microscope to confirm the infection. Infection on account of dog ear yeast infection can be addressed by putting the dog on a diet that will aid in strengthening the immune system of the dog.

Constant scratching of the ears by dogs may also be due to the presence of microscopic parasites such as mites. The life cycle of the parasitic ear mite is typically upto 3 weeks hence the treatment for the same ought to be administered for a period of 3 – 4 weeks from detection of the symptoms so as to prevent a repeat occurrence.