Ear Infection?

Question
We were having a sort of barbecue and my dog (a 2 year old shih-tzu) and when he came inside he started acting strange. He is tilting his head to the right and then shaking. When I tried to figure out the problem, he yapped when I touch the base of his right ear. He had an odor in his ear and thought it may be normal but when we used dog's ear cleaner he yapped for a good 30 seconds.  Could it be an ear infection (your the vet here)? We are extremely worried because we love this dog to death and don't want anything to happen to him. Thank you so very much for your time.

Answer
Teshaina -

If your dog's ear is painful and has a foul odor, most likely there is an infection there.  Do not try to treat it on your own; ear infections can be caused by yeast or bacteria or both and it is important to use the right medication or it may make the condition worse. Have your dog evaluated by a veterinarian and he/she will give you treatment options.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM