Stinky ears

[skKi]

Pit's ears stink and I'm having troubles fixing it. It's been this way for a while, but I think it's gradually getting worse. So slowly that I haven't even noticed, but everyone who hasn't seen him in a while has.

I don't know how I'd describe the smell exactly. I'm tempted to say "yeasty" but I'm not sure what yeast smells like to be honest. I've been to the vet about it and she told me it was "normal dog smell" and to come back if I thought it got worse.

In any case, his ears are not red, there's hardly any wax or debris in them, he does scratch and shake his head but not often.. His ears just stink! People now comment that his head stinks after leaning in to give his head or neck a rub.

I've had his ears cleaned once by a groomer but that didn't get rid of the smell for more than a day. Should I keep cleaning them? I'm worried it might make it worse somehow. He's had a bath about 2 weeks ago, but his head and neck still smell like his ears.

Any ideas?

 

[CharlieDog]

Try the Blue Power Ear Wash...

If there are no cuts or abrasions, you can try cleaning them out with either a 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and alcohol, or a 50/50 mix of alcohol and apple cider vinegar.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

Yes Gentian Violet works wonders. Also, add a spoonful of plain yogurt to the food twice a day for a couple weeks...then see if it's helped. That's the regimen my hounds are on, Cleo too. Goes a long way for prevention.

 

[youbetcha1018]

It is an indication that something is not right in its ears. Usual causes are infection or mites. I would suggest you take the dog to the vet to have its ears examined. Usually the vet will prescribe medication to clean out the infection or medication to kill off the mites. Depending on the dog it may be an ongoing problem, particularly if you have a floppy eared breed like a labrador or a cocker spaniel.

Good luck, hope you get your dog looked to soon.

 

[ledoc]

Mites could be the problem - you would at least have to eliminate them as a possible cause before moving onto other possibilities like a subacute bacterial infection, yeast overgrowth etc.

Good Luck

Ledoc

 

[skKi]

As far as I know it's not mites. There's very little wax or debris in the ears and no redness or pain. The vet likely would have seen them, too.

I'll look into the ear cleaners and some yogurt. HBH, do you know where one would find Gentian Violet in Canada? I'm not sure I've ever heard of it before.

 

[Dekka]

~Forgot to sign Dekka out.. This is Mafia Princess~

We had an ear mite fiasco. You'd have smell and 'chocolate' debris.. way beyond what wax looks like. I'd get one dog cleaned up and in the mean time they'd reinfest the other. Took 4-5 months to get it under control and then gone.

 

[SmexyPibble]

It sounds like ear mites; I'd get it checked out. My friend's cats and dogs ears stunk and it turned out to be ear mites.

 

[fillyone]

I once took Dante in for an ear infection, the tech looked at me like I was nuts but swabbed anyway.
Vet came in, took a look in the ears and said he'd never seen a dog's ear infection caught so early.

I know what Dante acts like, I know that weird head shake.

The culprit? Yeast infection from Barley - It had been added to the treats I was giving him and I hadn't read the label. I now read all labels before I buy even if I've given it too him in the past.

 

[skKi]

Hmm maybe I need to change vets again. As I've said, we've already gone to the vet; she told me it was normal dog smell and to not be worried. If it gets worse, I'm supposed to take him back and she'll look again. Could be a ploy for money, though. Exams costs 55 dollars, and she often sends me home the first time anytime I go in with a concern only to have to go back a week or two later because the problem hasn't gone away.

In any case, I bought yogurt last night and looked (albeit not very extensively) for gentian violet with no success. I'll try again today.

Thanks for the tips, everyone.

 

[skKi]

Sorry to post again, but it's too late to edit. This is his ear. It's clean, not red, no bites, barely any dirt (those specs are his pores), pretty greasy and very smelly. Just for reference.

 

[a.baker]

I don't think your dog has mites. If so I think there would be itching or head shaking. I think some dogs just have different odors. I would get a ear drying cleaning solution, one with no alcohol and use it once a week or every other week and than see if that helps. I don't believe your dog has an infection with no other signs. But if there is any doubt I would go back to the vet but a different one to get a second opinion.