When should I see my veterinarian?

It can be a good idea to see your veterinarian if, despite a gentle and adapted cleansing, your dog:

• scratches its ears or vigorously shakes its head,
• is in pain when you wash its ears
• is producing more cerumen than usual,
• is tilting its head or holding its ear in a different way than usual,

or

• if the auricle is swollen, red and warm,
• if the ear is red, smells bad or if there appears to be pus.

Do not wait. An ear infection is always very painful. It may seem benign but can propagate to the middle or inner ear and cause disturbances in balance, for instance, as well as neurological disorders.

Finally, if your dog’s ear ducts are very hairy (which is often the case for dogs of Shih-Tzu, Poodle or Bichon races), it may be worth asking your groomer or your veterinarian to pluck them on your next visit. This will help ventilate the duct.