Why Is My Dogs Ear Swollen? Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & When to See a Vet

As a pet parent, you will have to ensure that you keep your fur baby clean and groomed. Their coat, teeth, and ears, everything deserves attention.  

While grooming or in any other way, if you ever find that your dogs ear swollen, you need to pay attention to it. You need to find out the issue that is causing the swelling.  

To keep them healthy, you need to know what can cause them ear problems, when to take them to a vet, and what kind of home remedies you can offer them. 

Dogs Ear Swollen: What Are The Common Causes?

Dogs ear swollen is just one of the signs of ear problems in your pup. You will notice other symptoms as well, like redness, walking in circles, wiping or scratching their ear, and shaking their head side to side. Some of the most common causes are mentioned here. 

1. Ear Infection 

Their ears can get swollen when they have an ear infection. A dog ear infection causes inflammation, which can cause swelling. This is quite common in dogs and is most likely caused by yeast or bacteria. 

Moreover, this can happen inside or outside their ear. But yeast infections commonly occur inside the ear canals and happen more often when they engage in frequent swimming sessions. The water gets trapped in their ears and creates an ideal environment for yeast. 

2. Allergy 

Allergies can also cause the ear to swell. Allergies can affect their skin, coat, and ears as well. If they are having an allergic reaction, their ears can swell.  

Allergic reactions are inflammations that can cause itching in the ears and head shaking, which may lead to swelling.   

3. Insect Bite 

Your dog can be having a different kind of allergic reaction because of a sting or bug bite. Check whether there are any lumps or bumps on their ears. However, ensure you are gentle with them so you do not add anything to their pain. 

Some dogs can sustain an insect bite just fine, but some experience a severe reaction to this sting. So, if you find out that an insect bite causes it, monitor their activity levels, heart rate, breathing pattern, and the swelling level in the area. 

The moment anything seems different, like an irregular heartbeat, rapid swelling, or a change in demeanor, you need to take them to a vet immediately. 

4. Ear Mites 

Ear mites often cause swelling in the ears. These are often invisible to the naked eye, and they live on eating the wax present in their ears. Hair loss, discharge, and inflammation are some of the common signs and symptoms of ear mite infection. 

Moreover, these are contagious and can spread to other pets if you have a multi-pet household. A vet will clean their ears and prescribe some medicines nd eardrops to remove these mites. 

5. Wax Build-Up 

Any foreign body or wax build-up can cause swelling in a dog’s ear. This blockage can cause swelling and an infection. Take a look inside their ear, and if you find something lodged in their ear or wax, take them to a vet, and they will get it removed. 

6. Ear Hematoma 

A dog ear hematoma occurs when a blood vessel in the ear bursts and enters the ear flap. This kind of rupture can cause their ears to swell up instantly. The reason mentioned above can cause swelling, which can lead to a hematoma. 

When Should You Take Them To A Vet?

Any dog can get anything stuck inside their ear canal, and an ear infection. However, some dog breeds like cocker spaniels, basset hounds, and poodles have sroopung ears and they are prone to getting ear infections and ear mites. 

To prevent dog ear swollen and other kinds of ear problems, you need to know what their ear looks like when it is healthy. The insides of a healthy ear look clean, pink, and odor-free. The moment their ear looks anything different, you need to take them to a vet. 

How Will Your Vet Diagnose The Cause? 

The moment you take your dog to the vet, they will conduct a physical examination and ask for their medical background. They will check their ear for skin lesions, any foul smell, or pain.  

They might even recommend an otoscopic exam, cytology, and sampling to figure out what has been going on inside their ear.  

Moreover, they might want to examine the eardrum and ear canal clearly and then take a sample with a swab for cytology to check if mites, bacteria, or yeast are infecting them.  

However, if this has been a chronic problem, they might even recommend a sensitivity test and culture. 

Treatment Options By Cause 

Well, the treatment depends on what kind of problem has caused this swelling. If the swelling has occurred because of ear infections, the vet will recommend cleaning their ears with a medicated cleaner and prescribe some anti-inflammatory medications or antibiotics. 

If a dog’s aural hematoma causes swelling, they will first drain the blood and then recommend surgery. They will try to find out the underlying issue, like allergies or ear infections. 

Sometimes they avoid doing a surgery and try to drain the hematoma by puncturing it with a needle and then injecting a steroid.  

However, if the swelling has happened because of some allergies, they will recommend some medicines and steroids to relieve their discomfort. 

How Can You Take Care Of It At Home?

If you want to take care of the swollen ear at home, here are a few tips that you can try. 

• Clean their ears with a vet-recommended solution. Moreover, you can use equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water. But you should do it after consulting your vet. 

• You can apply an ice pack or a warm compress on the affected area to reduce swelling and pain. 

• Use a dog collar to prevent them from scratching their ear or shaking their head to prevent any further swelling.  

• If your vet has prescribed any medicine or ear drops, you need to follow those instructions the way they have recommended.  

Prevention & Long-Term Management

Is your dogs ear swollen? Make sure you take care of them regularly and keep them groomed. Here are a few tips: 

• You need to take them for regular check-ups, especially if they have hairy ears and are prone to wax build-up. 

• Use a damp cotton ball to clean the dirt inside their ears. Their ears are delicate, so before you do anything, consult a vet for cleaning tips. Also, make sure you never insert anything beyond their ear canal. 

• If your dog loves to play with water or often goes swimming, they can collect water in their ears. After they are done, dry their ears out. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is your dogs ear swollen? Well, here are some of the common questions people ask while discussing this.