What's going on when my dog keeps scratching its ears?

Dog scratching its ears may be caused by various reasons such as ear mites, long ear hair, fungal infections, and ear inflammation. It is recommended for owners to first check if their dog's ear canals are clean and if the ear hair is too long. Observe if there are increased skin flakes, crusts, hair loss, redness, and swelling around the scratching area. Immediately take the dog to a pet hospital for inspection and purchase appropriate medication for treatment after diagnosis.

Ear mites infection

After a dog is infected with ear mites, it will feel itchy, leading to involuntary scratching with its paws. You can also notice brown secretions in the dog's ears and a foul smell. If it's caused by ear mites, owners are advised to first clean the dog's ear canal with cotton buds and dog ear cleaning solution, and then use ear mite medication.

Long ear hair

If the owner doesn't pay attention to trimming the dog's ear hair, it will grow too long, reaching into the ear and stimulating the dog's ear wall, causing severe itching. Therefore, it is recommended to trim the dog's hair, including the ears, during regular grooming.

Especially for breeds like泰迪、雪纳瑞等，因为它们的耳道天生就有耳毛，长期不清理的话，不仅 will cause dirt and bacteria to accumulate in the dog's ears, but also affect the dog's hearing.

Fungal infection in the ear

If the dog has symptoms such as increased skin flakes, crusts, and hair loss around the ear, it is likely a fungal infection in the ear. This condition causes intense itching, leading to constant scratching. Treatment usually involves using a wet towel to cover the tinea lesion, softening and cleaning it, and then applying antifungal medication.

Ear inflammation

Dogs' ears are prone to accumulate oil, dust, and moisture, especially in drooping and large-eared breeds. When the dog's earwax builds up to a certain level and the owner doesn't thoroughly clean and dry the ears after bathing, it creates a moist environment that promotes ear inflammation. The dog will feel pain in its ears and scratch accordingly. It is recommended to clean the dog's earwax regularly.