To know if a dog has an ear infection, look for these symptoms: itchy ears with frequent scratching, pain when touching the head or ears, ear discharge that may be brown, yellow, bloody, or smelly, redness and swelling around the ears, and sometimes a foul odor. Other signs include frequent head shaking, holding the head to one side, redness inside the ear flap, crusts or scabs, hair loss around the ears, and rubbing the ears on surfaces. In more severe cases, dogs may show balance problems, tilting their head, unusual eye movements, hearing loss, or walking in circles. These symptoms signal that the ear infection could be affecting the outer or inner ear and warrant a veterinary visit for diagnosis and treatment as infections can worsen or cause permanent damage if untreated.
In summary, if a dog frequently scratches its ears, shows head shaking or tilting, has redness, swelling, discharge, odor, or exhibits signs of discomfort or balance issues, it likely has an ear infection needing veterinary evaluation.
