A small amount of wax is part of the ear’s self-cleaning system. If the ears look red or have a dark brown or black discharge, or if your dog frequently shakes his head, paws at his ears, or rubs them against the carpet or furniture, he needs a visit to
the veterinarian
to see what’s causing the problem.
How do you get brown gunk out of a dog’s ear?
Instead, simply wipe the outer ear with a cotton ball. Continue to inspect your dog’s ears regularly. If you notice any brown discharge starting to appear, apply
a bit of vet-approved canine ear cleaning solution
, available at any pet supply store.
What Colour should dog ear wax be?
Healthy earwax should be
a pale, yellowish color
. If your dog appears to have dark brown or black earwax or if the earwax looks dirty gray instead of golden, this isn’t normal. A noticeable increase in wax build-up can be a sign of a problem as well. A healthy dog’s ears should have no smell.
What does brownish ear wax mean?
Dark brown or black colored earwax is typically older, so its color
comes from the dirt and bacteria it has trapped
. Adults tend to have darker, harder earwax. Dark brown earwax that is tinged with red may signal a bleeding injury. Light brown, orange or yellow earwax is healthy and normal.
Is it normal for dogs to have brown ear wax?
A waxy, yellow, or reddish-brown ear discharge can also be a sign your dog has an ear infection, which can be a result of allergies, mites, polyps, overproduction of ear wax, excessive bathing or swimming (which can leave too much moisture in the ears), or other problems.
What does ear wax look like in dogs?
If his ears smell yeasty or downright stinky, it’s likely that a bacterial or yeast infection is brewing. Now take a look inside his ears. The
skin should be nice and pink with a light coating of pale yellowish wax
. A small amount of wax is part of the ear’s self-cleaning system.
What is the black gunk in my dog’s ear?
The presence of
yeast
, bacteria, or both confirms an ear infection diagnosis. Dogs with yeast-related ear infections often have dark brown or black debris in the ears.
How do I clean my dog’s dirty ears?
Hold the ear flap and massage the ear base for
around 20 to 30 seconds. This is how the ear wash breaks up wax and other debris inside your dog’s ear. Wipe away debris. After you’ve massaged your dog’s ears, use a cotton ball or gauze pad to remove any debris from the inside of the flap and the upper canal of the ear.
How do you tell if your dog has ear mites or yeast infection?
Yeast infections in a dog’s ears generally cause
redness
, a brown discharge, head shaking or rubbing, odor, and itching. Ear mite infections are extremely itchy and can cause many of the same symptoms. The discharge from the ear is usually dark and waxy or crusty.
What is a good home remedy for dog ear infection?
If you’ve search online, you may find home remedies for dog ear infections like
vinegar, hydrogen peroxide
, or rubbing alcohol. These are all bad ideas, because they can irritate the inside of the ear and invite more infection. Sure, the acid in vinegar might kill yeast, but vinegar is mostly water.
Why does my dog have a lot of earwax?
Aside from breed, pets with allergies may have excessive wax buildup due
to swelling in the ear canals
, and dogs that swim or spend time in water are more likely to develop excessive earwax.
What causes overproduction of earwax in dogs?
There are a number of causes of ear wax accumulation in dogs, but by far the most common cause is
allergies
. Ear mites and ear infections can lead to wax buildup as well.
Does the color of earwax mean anything?
Dark or black earwax
isn’t a sign you have poor hygiene
or that you’re not clean. It is, however, a sign you should clean your ear canals of earwax buildup and possibly see your doctor. Black earwax may be an indication you have a wax buildup. Your ears may not naturally clean themselves the way they should.
Should earwax be removed?
Earwax plays an important function in keeping our ears healthy, but too much can cause problems. The majority of people don’t need earwax removal and excessive cleaning can damage your ears. But in certain cases, earwax removal can
help eliminate ear pain or hearing problems
.
Why does my child have brown ear wax?
Earwax is most often amber orange to light brown, wet, and sticky. For some people, it is drier and lighter in color, closer to off white or yellow. In general, the color has a bit to do with the age of the earwax. Newer earwax tends to be lighter in color, and it
darkens
as it ages and picks up more debris.
When should you clean your dog’s ears?
Wondering how often your dog’s ears need to be cleaned? In general,
once per month
is a good rule of thumb. Breeds with long, floppy ears or dogs who swim frequently may need to have their ears cleaned every other week, or even weekly. After bathing or swimming, be sure to properly dry your pup’s ears.
