Dog scratching ears, head shaking, or ear discharge
Persistent scratching, head shaking, or smelly ear discharge points to ear infection or foreign body — book a vet appointment promptly to prevent ear-drum damage and chronic disease.
Recognise the signs
- Scratching the ear or rubbing the head along furniture
- Vigorous head shaking
- Brown, yellow, or black discharge in the ear canal
- Foul or yeasty smell from the ear
- Redness or swelling of the ear flap or canal
- Pain on touching the ear
- Head tilt, loss of balance, eye flicking — middle/inner ear, more urgent
- Sudden swelling of the ear flap (haematoma)
First aid steps
- Look gently into the ear canal with the dog still — do not insert anything.
- Note discharge, smell, and any visible foreign body or grass seed.
- Phone the vet within 1–3 days for routine ear concerns, sooner for pain, head tilt, balance loss, or sudden swelling.
- Do not put cotton buds into the canal.
- Avoid water in the ears (no swimming, careful bathing) until seen.
Do NOT
- Do not use cotton buds inside the ear canal.
- Do not pour olive oil, vinegar, or home remedies in.
- Do not use ear drops left over from a previous infection without vet check — wrong type can rupture an already damaged ear drum.
- Do not delay if there is head tilt, severe pain, or balance loss.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Head tilt, loss of balance, eye flicking — middle/inner ear
- Sudden swelling of the ear flap (ear haematoma)
- Severe pain — yelping when ears touched, refusing to eat
- Bleeding from the ear
- Foreign body suspected (especially after walking through long grass)
- Persistent infection despite treatment
Signs that can usually wait for a routine appointment
- Mild occasional scratching with no discharge or smell, in a bright dog, can be monitored for a few days, but persistent scratching warrants a vet appointment.
Common causes
- Bacterial or yeast ear infection (otitis externa)
- Grass seed in the ear canal (very common in summer)
- Ear mites (more common in puppies and outdoor cats)
- Allergic skin disease
- Foreign body — sand, hair, debris
- Ear haematoma (blood blister in the ear flap from shaking)
- Polyp or tumour
- Middle or inner ear infection (head tilt, balance loss — more urgent)
What the vet will need to know
- How long the signs have been present
- Recent walks in long grass (grass seed)
- Previous ear infections or skin allergies
- Other signs — head tilt, balance, hearing changes
- Recent swimming or bathing
- Current medications
Aftercare
- Treatment depends on cause — antibiotic/antifungal drops, anti-inflammatories, foreign body removal under sedation, ear haematoma surgery.
- Recheck appointment to confirm resolution.
- Address underlying cause — allergy management for recurrent cases.
- Long-term ear care plan for floppy-eared and allergic breeds.
Prevention
- Keep ears dry after swimming and bathing.
- Routine ear cleaning with vet-approved products in dogs prone to issues — but only as advised, not routinely.
- Trim hair around ear openings in heavily furred breeds.
- Check ears after walks in long grass.
- Address underlying allergies and skin conditions promptly.
Breed-specific notes
- Floppy-eared, narrow-canal, hairy-canal breeds: Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, Basset Hound, Poodle, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- Breeds with allergic tendency: West Highland White Terrier, Bulldog, Labrador, French Bulldog.
Frequently asked questions
Can I clean my dog's ears at home?
If your vet has confirmed the ear is healthy and recommended cleaning, yes — using a vet-supplied cleaner. Do not clean a sore, painful, or discharging ear; this can push infection deeper or worsen damage. When in doubt, see the vet first.
What does a grass seed in the ear look like?
Grass seeds in the ear canal often cause sudden onset of dramatic head shaking, scratching, and one-sided distress, particularly after walks through long grass. The vet finds them with otoscopy — they typically need to be removed under sedation. Time matters: untreated seeds can perforate the ear drum.
Why is the ear flap suddenly swollen?
An ear haematoma is a blood blister between the layers of the ear flap, usually from violent head-shaking. The underlying cause (often infection) needs addressing, and the haematoma itself usually requires drainage or surgery. Same-day vet visit is sensible.