Your puppy pricking their ears up and tilting their head when you say their favorite words (walk? treat? dinnertime?) is among the most precious of dog behaviors. But a dog’s ears can also be a common source of discomfort for them. The repeated scratching and headshaking of a dog with itchy ears might have you concerned for your young dog.
Causes of itchy ears in young dogs
Your dog’s ears could be itchy for several reasons, with common causes including allergies, ear infections and ear mites.
Allergies in young dogs and itchy ears
Most dog allergies occur due to things in the dog’s environment, like pollen, mold or dust mites. Other common causes of allergies in dogs include food or flea allergies. Some allergies, like those to certain foods, may affect your dog year-round. Others, such as an allergy to a specific plant’s pollen, may be seasonal. In dogs, allergies usually present as skin and ear inflammation rather than the classic hay fever you see in people. While allergies can develop while a dog is still a young puppy, most develop after the puppy is at least 6 months old. Young dogs between 6 months and 2 years of age are most likely to be diagnosed with new allergies.
Ear infections in young dogs
The most common type of ear infection in dogs is an infection of the outer ear canal, called otitis externa. Dogs with large or pendulous ears, as well as dogs with hairy ear canals, are more prone to ear infections. Ear infections in dogs can be caused by bacteria and/or fungi (often yeast). Allergies and ear mites can also predispose a young dog to ear infections.Ear mites in young dogs
Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are a highly contagious parasite that may be found in a dog’s ear canal. They are barely visible to the naked eye and best seen under a microscope. Ear mites are more common in puppies and dogs who don’t receive year-round parasite preventives.
Signs of itchy ears in young dogs
Aside from the constant scratching and headshaking, you’ll also want to check for the following signs of ear problems:
- Visible debris in the ear
- Red or inflamed ear canal or ear flap
- Swelling of the ear canal or ear flap
- A foul odor coming from the ear
- Yelping or attempting to scratch at the ear when the ear is touched
- Self-inflicted scratches around the ear
Treatment for itchy ears in young dogs
Your VCA care team will first want to determine the cause of your dog’s itchy ears before treating them. They’ll usually start by looking into your dog’s ears with an otoscope, and they’ll collect a sample of the debris from the ear to look at under the microscope. The ear exam also allows the veterinarian to make sure your dog’s eardrums aren’t ruptured, which is important if medications are going to be placed in the ear. If your dog’s ear is painful, they may need to be sedated for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment for itchy ears often starts with cleaning out any debris that’s present in the ears. Following cleaning, treatment is geared toward the underlying cause as determined by looking at the ear swab under the microscope.
Treatment for itchy ears caused by allergies may include anti-itch medications like oclacitinib (Apoquel®), immunosuppressants like cyclosporine (Atopica®), steroids like prednisone, antihistamines like cetirizine and/or allergy diets. If your dog has flea allergies, the fleas will need to be treated. Your pet should receive year-round flea and tick preventives.
For ear infections, most treatments are topical, meaning the antibacterial and/or antifungal agent is applied directly into the ear canal. Some of these topical agents also contain steroids to reduce inflammation. If the eardrum is ruptured, treatment may consist of oral medications rather than topical medications to allow the eardrum to heal.
Ear mites are treated with insecticidal products. Some products, like MilbeMiteTM, are placed directly in the ear. Some monthly parasite preventives, like Advantage Multi®, prevent and treat ear mites.
If your puppy or young dog can’t stop scratching at their ears or shaking their head, contact your VCA care team for an appointment so that we can help them get back to their usual happy selves.
Are you worried your puppy may have an ear infection?
