Why do dog ears smell?

The main causes of smelly dog ears can be divided into physiological and pathological reasons. Physiological reasons are due to the excessive secretion of ear canal discharge in dogs, which ferments and produces a peculiar smell if not cleaned for a long time, especially in dogs with drooping ears. Pathological reasons mainly include ear mites, ear infections, and fungal infections around the ears. It is recommended that owners take their dogs to a pet hospital for inspection and determine the specific cause of the disease before treating it, which will lead to better results.

Excessive earwax

Dog ear canals secrete a large amount of matter, and their L-shaped structure makes them prone to dirt accumulation. If these secretions are not cleaned for a long time, they can easily ferment and produce a bad smell, especially in dogs with drooping ears. To address this, owners need to regularly clean their dogs' ears. It is generally recommended to use pet-specific ear cleaning solutions to wash the ear canals every 1-2 weeks.

Ear mites

If your dog has smelly ears and produces a lot of brown secretions, it is very likely caused by ear mites. Additionally, ear mites can cause severe itching in the ears, so you may also observe your dog frequently scratching its ears. To treat ear mites, use pet-specific ear cleaning solutions to clean your dog's ears, and then apply a treatment for ear mites after the ears have dried. Gently massage the ears, and wait for the dog to shake out excess liquid.

Ear infection

If your dog has an ear infection, it will produce a foul smell and may bleed. In this case, it is recommended to clean the dog's ears with a cleaning solution first, and then drop some antibiotics into the ears. Alternatively, you can purchase ointment and squeeze it directly into the ears. Once the dog recovers, the ears will no longer smell.

Fungal infection around the ears

If your dog's ears smell but are not dirty, it could be caused by a fungal infection around the ears. In this case, the owner needs to carefully inspect the hair around the ears for any scaling or patches. If found, treatment with antifungal medication is necessary. Furthermore, note that allowing your dog's ears to hang down for an extended period can lead to bacterial or fungal growth on the surrounding skin, causing skin infections. Therefore, owners should regularly clean their dog's ears and make sure to dry the hair around the ears after bathing.