Itchy ear

Question
My toy poodle keeps shaking her head as if trying to shake something off.  She continues to scratch her ear.  I looked in it and it appears a little red, but not too irritated.  Is there something I can put in it to relieve the itchiness?

Answer

Hi Martha,

The itching is only a symptom of a problem, relieving the itch won't do anything to treat the underlying condition. Your dog may have ear mites, or something else. Other conditions to rule out: fungal (yeast) infection, bacterial infection (primary or secondary to some other condition), tumors or polyps, foreign bodies, excessive hair in the ear canal (leading to build up of wax and debris) to name a few.

You should have your dog examined by your veterinarian because treatments will vary depending on what the actual problem is.

Best of luck,

Patti