When dogs have ear trouble, especially an infection, he or she may end up experiencing tremendous pain. The important thing for dog owners is to be able to recognize the earliest signs of infected ears. This is a condition that will require immediate medical care. What do you know about the early signs of dog ear infection?

When you see the dog begin to scratch incessantly at one or both ears, you may want to have a closer look. If that same dog is shaking is head really hard, you certainly need to look at his or her ears. More so than looking, you should smell them because infection will emit a nasty aroma from the ear if there is one present.

Three kinds of infection will affect dog’s ears. One is that of the outer ear area. This will be easier for you to notice because usually drainage of pus is more apparent in the early stages of this infection. If you see a waxy and really terrible smelling discharge coming from a dog’s ear. It is time to head off to the vet clinic.

The middle ear infection may be harder for you to see right away. Aside from the dog scratching and shaking his or her head, the only sign you will have is a terrible smell emitting from the affected ear. The evidence of visible pus drainage is a sign that the dog has had a severe infection for too long. Make sure you contact your vet at the first sign of a suspected infection.

The inner ear infection is much the same as one in the middle ear as far as symptoms go. Once you have your dog at the vet, a sample will be taken from the ear to be viewed underneath a microscope. This is how the vet will be able to determine whether your dog has mites, a yeast infection, or even a blockage due to a foreign object like grass or bedding materials like cedar chips.

One ear ailment that is common in some dogs is the yeast infection. If your dog has long ear that do not stand up one their own, a yeast infection is more likely to get. The bacteria that causes yeast infection loves dark, moist places like a floppy dog ear. Ears like this do not get enough air inside them to prevent the common occurrence of yeast infections.

The heat of your dog’s body temperature heats up that area of the ear as well. In addition to these factors, hair that grows inside the dog’s ear hold moisture and heat, too. This is the perfect environment for yeast bacterium to grow and multiply right into a severe and painful infection.

A dog is the most loyal and loving companion anyone could ever ask for. Your job as a dog owner is to give back this loyalty and love by taking the best care you can of him or her. Knowing the early signs of the dog ear infection is one way you can do this.

Get exclusive inside info on how to determine if your pet has an dog yeast infection now in our complete dog ear infection guide.