What could be causing your dog to scratch their ear? If you’ve been scratching your head trying to figure out why they keep scratching, here are some possible reasons why your dog keeps scratching their ear. Read on to see if any of these sound familiar, and consult your vet if you notice any of these symptoms in more than one dog in your household.
1) Allergies
One of the most common reasons why dogs scratch their ears is allergies. Just like humans, dogs can be allergic to things like pollen, grass, and dust mites. If your dog is scratching their ear more than usual, it could be an indication that they’re experiencing allergies. Allergic reactions can cause a lot of discomfort for your dog, so it’s important to get them to the vet as soon as possible for treatment. The vet will run some tests to confirm whether your pup has allergies, but here are some other signs: excessive licking around the face, redness in eyes or nose, diarrhea or vomiting, and patchy hair loss.
2) Trauma
One possibility is that your dog has suffered some sort of trauma to their ear. This could be from an injury or an infection. If your dog keeps scratching their ear and seems to be in pain, it’s important to take them to the vet to rule out any serious problems. Other possibilities are allergies, tumors, yeast infections and bacterial infections. These can all cause itching in a dog’s ears. Additionally, if you think there may be a foreign object lodged inside your pup’s ear canal (i.e., a toy), this can also lead to itchiness and scratching as well as head shaking.
3) Ear Infections
One of the most common reasons for a dog scratching their ear is an ear infection. An ear infection can be caused by allergies, bacteria, foreign bodies, mites, or yeast. The most common symptom of an ear infection is intense itching, but your dog may also shake their head or scratch their ear more than usual. If you think your dog may have an ear infection, take them to the vet as soon as possible, so they can get started on the road to recovery. They will likely prescribe antibiotics and/or topical medications.
4) Ear Mites
One of the most common reasons for a dog scratching their ear is ear mites. These tiny parasites live in the ear canal and feed off of the wax and oil that naturally occurs there. Dogs with ear mites may shake their head or scratch their ears more frequently than usual, and you may notice a black or brown discharge in their ears. If you suspect your dog has ear mites, take them to the vet for treatment. You can also apply some mineral oil or olive oil to the inside of your pet’s ear, which will help suffocate any mites and eggs that are present.
5) Wax
If you think your dog’s ear scratching is due to wax buildup, you can try cleaning their ears at home. Start by soaking a cotton ball in warm water and then gently wiping the inside of your dog’s ear. You can also use a solution made specifically for cleaning dog ears. If the wax doesn’t seem to be coming off easily, stop the cleaning and contact your veterinarian. It may just be that the residue isn’t being removed well enough. In addition, it’s important to clean the area outside your dog’s ear canal as well because it could have debris from their fur sticking there or dirt from them rolling around on the ground.
6) Foreign Bodies
One possible reason why your dog keeps scratching their ear is that there’s a foreign body lodged in there, like a piece of grass or a bug. If you suspect this is the case, you can try to look inside your dog’s ear with a flashlight to see if you can spot the problem. If you can’t see anything, then your dog may need to go to the vet for a closer look. In addition to being uncomfortable, a foreign object could also cause an infection.
7) Contact Dermatitis
If your dog is scratching their ear more than usual, it could be a sign of contact dermatitis. This is a skin condition that’s caused by an allergic reaction to something that’s come into contact with the skin, like shampoo, soap, or even pollen. Contact dermatitis can be very uncomfortable for your dog, and if left untreated, can lead to other problems like infection (detergents). For example, if your dog likes to take baths and gets shampoo in their ears during one wash too many, they might start scratching more as soon as they get out of the tub. A pet groomer I spoke with told me she sometimes sees this kind of thing among dogs who frequent salons and get really deep-cleaned all the time. Yeast infection: Another possibility is that your dog has a yeast infection on its skin near its ears that makes it itch and scratch compulsively.
Summary
Your dog can be scratching their ears for a myriad of reasons. Some are as common as allergies, ear mites, wax or contact dermatitis. More severe cases can be infections, foreign bodies or trauma. Some of these ailments can be treated at home. The more serious of these reasons should be treated by a veterinary professional.