Ear infections are one of the most common reasons dogs end up at the vet in India, and the warm, humid weather is a big part of why. A dog cannot tell you its ear hurts, so the first thing most owners notice is the head shaking, the scratching, or a smell that was not there last week.
This guide covers the signs of a dog ear infection, the common causes, simple things you can and cannot do at home, and the red flags that mean a vet visit today rather than a wait-and-watch.
Why dogs get ear infections so easily
A dog's ear canal is shaped like an L, which traps moisture and wax deep inside where air cannot dry it out. Add India's heat and monsoon humidity and you get the perfect setting for yeast and bacteria to grow. Dogs with floppy ears (Cocker Spaniels, Labradors, many Indie and hound mixes) and dogs that swim or get frequent baths are especially prone, because the closed, damp canal rarely dries.
The quick rule: occasional head shaking with clean, pale-pink, odourless ears is usually fine. Head shaking or scratching with redness, a smell, brown or yellow discharge, or pain means a vet should look, because the right care depends on the cause.
Signs of a dog ear infection
Most owners spot one or two of these first. The more of them you see together, the more likely it is a real infection and not a passing itch.
- Head shaking or tilting the head to one side
- Scratching or pawing at the ear, or rubbing the head on the floor and furniture
- A bad or yeasty smell from the ear (often the earliest clear sign)
- Redness and swelling inside the ear flap and canal opening
- Brown, yellow, or waxy discharge, sometimes with a crust at the opening
- Pain: yelping or pulling away when you touch the ear, or being off food and quiet
- Hair loss or scabs around the ear from constant scratching
Common causes of ear trouble
Yeast infection Monitor
The most common ear problem in India's humid months. Yeast overgrows in the warm, damp canal and produces a brown, waxy discharge and a distinct musty smell. It is often itchy rather than very painful.
What to do: see a vet to confirm it and start the right ear care. Keep the ear dry after baths and swims, since moisture is what lets yeast take hold.
Bacterial infection Monitor
Bacteria can take over after scratching, moisture, or an untreated yeast problem. The discharge is often yellow and the smell stronger, and the ear tends to be more painful and red than with yeast alone.
What to do: see a vet promptly. Bacterial ear infections need proper care and can worsen quickly if left, especially in a hot climate.
Ear mites Monitor
Tiny mites cause intense itching and a dark, crumbly discharge that looks like coffee grounds. They are more common in puppies and street or rescue dogs, and they spread between pets in the same home.
What to do: see a vet, and have all pets in the house checked, since mites pass easily between animals. Do not assume it is mites without a vet check, as the look overlaps with yeast.
Not sure if the ear is infected or just dirty?
PawCheck's ear scanner reads a photo of your dog's ear and gives you a severity result, Normal, Monitor, or Urgent, in under 10 seconds.
Get it on Google Play ↗Allergies Monitor
Food or environmental allergies are a leading reason for ear infections that keep coming back. Allergic skin inside the ear gets inflamed and damp, which then invites yeast and bacteria. If your dog also has itchy paws or skin, allergy is a likely root cause.
What to do: see a vet to look at the bigger picture. If itching is the main theme, our guide on why dogs scratch so much in the monsoon covers the common triggers.
Foreign body (grass seed or awn) Urgent
A grass seed or awn stuck in the canal causes sudden, intense distress: violent head shaking, pawing at one ear, and a dog that cannot settle. This comes on fast, often right after a walk in dry grass.
What to do: see a vet the same day. A foreign body needs to be removed properly and should never be dug at with a cotton bud at home.
Trapped water and moisture Monitor
Water left in the canal after a bath, a swim, or getting caught in the rain softens the skin and sets up an infection. This is a big trigger in India's monsoon and for dogs bathed too often.
What to do: dry the outer ear gently after every bath or swim, and see a vet if redness, smell, or scratching follows. Prevention here is mostly about keeping ears dry.
When an ear issue means a vet, quick guide
- Same day (urgent): severe pain, a very swollen ear, a sudden head tilt, loss of balance, walking in circles, bleeding from the ear, or sudden frantic head shaking (possible grass seed)
- Within a day or two: redness, a bad smell, brown or yellow discharge, or ongoing scratching and head shaking
- Watch at home: a single head shake or mild scratch with clean, pale, odourless ears, recheck over a day or two
A weekly ear check catches most problems early, before they turn painful. Our step-by-step guide on how to check your dog's ears at home shows exactly what healthy versus infected ears look like. For the wider danger signs across the body, see our roundup of emergency warning signs in pets.
A sudden head tilt, loss of balance, walking in circles, or eyes flicking side to side can mean the infection has reached the middle or inner ear. This needs a vet the same day. Never pour anything into a painful or bleeding ear, and never push cotton buds into the canal, since it can drive debris deeper or damage the eardrum.