An ear infection in dogs (otitis externa) is one of the most common reasons for a vet visit. The dog shakes its head, scratches its ears, and the ear smells bad or discharges. An ear infection does not heal on its own, but properly examined and treated it usually clears within a couple of weeks — and behind a recurring infection there is almost always a cause that can be treated. This article explains how to recognise an ear infection, what happens at the vet, what treatment costs at Saari Animal Clinic, and how to prevent it from coming back.
What are the symptoms of an ear infection in dogs?
The most typical signs are head shaking, scratching and rubbing the ears on the floor or furniture, a bad smell from the ear, yellowish, brown or dark discharge, redness of the ear canal and ear flap, and tenderness — the dog may yelp or pull its head away when the ear is touched. In a prolonged infection the skin of the ear canal thickens and the canal can be almost closed. If the dog tilts its head, walks unsteadily or its eyes flicker, the infection may have spread to the middle or inner ear — see a vet immediately.
Why do dogs get ear infections?
An ear infection is almost always the result of something else. The most common underlying cause is allergy — food or environmental allergy often shows first in the ears. Other causes are ear mites, a foreign body in the ear canal (a grass awn, for example), skin oil-gland disorders and hormonal diseases such as hypothyroidism. Predisposing factors are floppy ears, hairy and narrow ear canals (Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Poodle, French Bulldog, for example) and moisture — swimming and bathing. A moist, warm, inflamed ear canal is an ideal breeding ground for yeast (Malassezia) and bacteria, which worsen and perpetuate the infection.
Does a dog ear infection heal on its own?
Practically never. An untreated ear infection becomes chronic: the skin of the ear canal thickens and scars, the infection can spread to the middle ear, and at worst the canal closes so that surgery is the only treatment. Do not start ear drops on your own at home either: the wrong medicine (antibiotics for a yeast infection, or steroid alone for a bacterial one) will not work, and some ear drops damage the inner ear if the eardrum is ruptured — which can only be checked with an otoscope. There are no over-the-counter "ear infection medicines"; pharmacy ear cleaners are only suitable for maintaining a healthy ear. If your dog is shaking its head or the ear smells, book a vet appointment — the earlier the infection is treated, the faster and cheaper it heals.
How is an ear infection examined and treated at the vet?
At the appointment the ear canal and eardrum are examined with an otoscope. A sample of the ear discharge is examined under the microscope right away at our clinic: this shows whether it is yeast, bacteria, ear mites or a combination — and treatment is chosen according to the finding, not by guessing. The ear is cleaned and ear drops are sent home, containing antifungal, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory steroid components as needed. Treatment usually lasts 1–2 weeks, and at the re-check we confirm with the otoscope and, if needed, a new sample that the infection has cleared — the disappearance of symptoms does not yet mean the ear is healthy. If the ear is very painful, the examination and cleaning can be done under light sedation.
When are video-otoscopy and an ear flush needed?
If the infection is chronic or keeps returning despite treatment, the ear canal is blocked with discharge, or the eardrum cannot be seen, a more thorough examination is needed. At Saari Animal Clinic this is done with a video-otoscope under anaesthesia: a thin camera shows a magnified image of the whole ear canal and eardrum on a monitor, the canal is flushed clean of discharge and biofilm, and samples can be taken and foreign bodies removed at the same time. A clean ear canal is a prerequisite for the medication to work at all. Read more in our article Video-Otoscopy — Ear Endoscopy.
How much does treating a dog ear infection cost?
An ear-infection visit at Saari Animal Clinic: ear examination including sampling and microscopy €99.79 + visit fee €38, i.e. €137.79 in total. Ear drops and any other medicines sent home are extra. A video-otoscopic ear flush under anaesthesia costs €449–489. The re-check is charged according to the consultation price list. All prices are in our price list. Direct insurance billing is available for LähiTapiola, Agria and Pohjola customers. An ear infection treated early is always cheaper than a chronic one.
Why does a dog's ear infection keep coming back?
When an ear infection keeps returning, ear drops are only treating the consequence. The underlying cause is most often allergy, and then the right treatment is an allergy work-up: an elimination diet to rule out food allergy, and allergy blood tests and immunotherapy if needed. Other causes are hormonal diseases, structural changes in the ear canal and treatment that was stopped too early. We describe the work-up of recurrent infections on our Skin diseases, allergies and ear infections page.
How do I care for my dog's ears at home?
A healthy ear does not need regular cleaning — over-cleaning irritates it. After swimming or bathing, dry the ears and, if needed, clean them with an ear cleaner recommended by your vet: fill the canal, massage the base of the ear, and let the dog shake out the excess. Never push a cotton bud into the ear canal — it pushes debris deeper and can damage the eardrum. Hair in hairy ear canals can be plucked or trimmed during grooming. Check the ears weekly: smell, redness or discharge is a sign that the vet should take a look.
What about ear infections in cats?
In cats, ear infections are less common than in dogs, and the most frequent cause is ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) — especially in kittens and multi-cat households. The typical sign is dark, coffee-ground-like debris and intense itching. Ear mites are treated effectively with an antiparasitic, and all cats and dogs in the household are treated at the same time. Behind a recurring ear infection in an adult cat there may be allergy or an ear-canal polyp, so a cat's ear should always be examined too.
When does a dog ear infection need a vet?
Always when the dog shakes its head or scratches its ears repeatedly, the ear smells or discharges, or the ear is red and tender. Urgently if the dog tilts its head, walks unsteadily or is clearly in pain. Saari Animal Clinic in Vaasa examines the ears with an otoscope and microscope at the same visit, and for chronic cases we have video-otoscopy and ear flushing. Book an appointment by calling (06) 321 7300 or via online booking.
Sources
- Hoff S. (2025): Otitis Externa in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. merckvetmanual.com
- Hoff S. (2025): Otitis Media and Interna in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. merckvetmanual.com
- Secker B. ym. (2023): Pseudomonas spp. in Canine Otitis Externa. Microorganisms 11:2650. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov