Itchy and Smelly Ears in Dogs and Cats

Why do my dog's ears smell and itch?

Itchy and smelly ears are generally a sign of inflammation in the ear canals of dogs and cats. Some of the causes of ear discomfort include polyps, allergies and infections with parasites, bacteria or yeast.

How does the vet check my pet's ears?

When we see animals with this problem, one of the most important parts of finding out why they have it is an otoscopic exam, where we use a device to look deep into the ear canal. This gives us clues as to the cause and severity of the problem.

If the vet suspects an infection they will always take a swab and look at it under the microscope. This helps to create a personalised treatment plan for your pet, because different organisms require different medicines to control them.

Will my pet's ear infection come back?

Once the treatment course has been completed we usually recheck the ears to make sure that the problem has resolved. Since ear infections can be a recurrent issue, for animals who continue to have repeat visits for this problem we are able to offer preventative options to minimise the likelihood of ear problems coming back.