Ear Mites vs. Ear Infections in Dogs – How to Tell the Difference

Dog ear mites can be a real pain to deal with, especially because they’re so hard to diagnose. Picture this: your pet is scratching at his ear incessantly, shaking his head like crazy, and you begin to notice foul smelling waxy debris building up more than usual. Is it a case of ear mites or an infection? I had to go through the cycle of ear mites being misdiagnosed as a fungal infection twice with my GSD, before the vet could zero in on the real problem. 

Each time, the process from symptoms showing up to his ears clearing up completely took between 10-14 days. To help make sure other pet parents and furry babies don’t go through a similar ordeal, I’ve put together this detailed guide on two of the most common ear problems in dogs: mites and infections. I’m breaking down the facts: how to distinguish ear mites from true ear infections, what signs to watch for, plus treatment and prevention tips. 

Why Dogs Get Ear Problems

First, it helps to know how a dog’s ears work. Unlike ours, a dog’s ear canal is long, narrow and L-shaped. This bendy canal and often heavy ear flaps trap dirt and moisture, creating a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and yeast, and can make canine ear issues recurrent and frequent. Dogs with pendulous or floppy ears, like Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, or even Labradors, are especially prone, because their large ear flaps limit airflow and dry-out. But any dog can get ear problems.

There are a lot of possible causes of ear trouble in dogs, such as: 

• Allergies. Cornell Vet Dr. Julia Miller says, “Allergies can be the sneaky trigger that leads to itching and secondary infection.”
• Parasites like ear mites
• Foreign objects like grass awns
• Hormonal issues like hypothyroidism
• Chronic ear disease
• Even routine things like swimming, bathing, or poor grooming can impact dog ear health
• Breed traits like excessive ear hair or skin folds

Understanding Ear Mites in Dogs

Let’s talk about what ear mites in dogs are, how they impact your pet’s ear health, and signs of ear mites in dogs you need to watch out for:

What Are Ear Mites?

Ear mites are tiny parasitic bugs that live on the surface of the ear canal and skin. You can’t see them without a microscope. They look like moving white specks when magnified. Think of an ear mite infestation like having uninvited guests over and they throw a nonstop scratching party. The mites feed on wax and skin oils, causing intense itching and irritation. Dr. Miller explains, “Ear mites cause intense scratching. Left unchecked, they multiply quickly and set up camp in your dog’s ears.

Mites are incredibly contagious among pets. If one animal in the house has mites, odds are they’ve spread to the others. Shelters, boarding kennels, or multi-pet homes are common hot spots. Puppies are especially vulnerable because they haven’t built up immunity yet. 

Symptoms of Ear Mites

If your pet seems to have some irritation or discomfort around the ears, it helps to watch out for the ear mites symptoms, which include: 

• Dark, crumbly discharge, that looks a lot like coffee grounds, stuck in the ear canal. You’ll see this when you gently swab your dog’s ear and look at the debris
• Puppies with mites may also have crusty rashes around their ears 
• In case of heavy infestation, mites can also cause hair loss around the ears and lead to a crusty layer to form on the bared skin 
• Since mites cause a terrible itch, your dog will try everything to relieve themselves. You might notice non-stop shaking of the head, pawing at the ear, rubbing their ear on the floor 

Complications from Ear Mites

If you leave ear mites untreated, they can turn a simple itch into a serious problem. Constant scratching opens the door to secondary infections. Dr Miller notes, “Ear mites create an environment within the ear canal that often leads to a secondary bacterial or fungal infection.” Those infected areas can become smelly, inflamed, and painful. You might notice redness, pus, or a nasty yeast-like smell if infection sets in.

Worse yet, the self-inflicted trauma can cause further harm. Repeated scratching can rupture tiny blood vessels, causing that hematoma I talked about—a swollen, blood-filled ear flap that often needs surgery. 

Over time, ongoing inflammation may damage the ear canal or even the eardrum. In fact, if ear mites are left really unchecked, they can contribute to permanent damage to the ear canal and eardrum and even hearing loss. 

Understanding Ear Infections in Dogs

Ear infection in dogs mimics a lot of the same signs and symptoms as ear mites, however, the underlying cause and course of treatment differs. Here is everything you need to know about ear infections in dogs: 

What Are Ear Infections?

Ear infections in dogs, often called “otitis externa”, are inflammations of the ear canal, usually caused by a bacterial or yeast overgrowth. This can be brought on by, 

• Excess moisture, like after swimming
• Allergies
• Foreign bodies
• Even unmanaged ear mites 

The result is that the good, normal bacteria/yeast in the ear suddenly multiply unchecked, overwhelming your dog’s defenses. There are different types of ear infections. 

• Otitis externa inflammation of the outer canal and ear flap is the most common. 
• Otitis media refers to an infection of the middle ear 
• Otitis interna is an infection in the inner ear 
• Infections can be acute, that is they have a sudden onset, or chronic, which means they’re ongoing or recurrent

On a microscopic level, bacterial infections often involve bugs like Staph, Pseudomonas, or Proteus, which create thick, yellow-brown pus. Yeast infections produce a waxy, darker brown discharge and often a sweet or musty smell. Knowing the type matters, because treatment will target the specific culprit.

Symptoms of Ear Infections

Dog ear infection symptoms are usually pretty obvious and include, 

• You’ll often see redness and inflammation inside the ear canal and on the ear flap
• There’s usually discharge too. Either a thick yellowish or brownish pus, and sometimes crusting around the ear
• Infections often produce a distinct yeasty or foul odor
• Infected ears hurt, so your dog may cry or snap if you touch them
• You’ll likely see shaking of the head, pawing at the ear, or even tilting the head to one side 
• Chronic cases can lead to scabs, thickened skin, or aural hematomas from persistent head-shaking.

If you have been wondering how to tell if your dog has an ear infection, keep an eye out for these signs. 

Complications from Ear Infections

Untreated ear infections in dogs are not just miserable, but they can also lead to serious complications. Chronic infections can permanently damage the ear. Dr Miller says, “Deep ear infections can damage or rupture the eardrum, causing an internal ear infection and even permanent hearing loss.” That’s if the problem is left to progress deep into the ear.

Also, the continuous inflammation can cause an aural hematoma, as I mentioned – a painful blood-filled swelling from burst vessels. Left long enough, dog ear infection risks can extend to other aspects of your pet’s well-being and result in compounded problems such as balance issues.

Ear infections in dogs are manageable and easily treatable as long as you don’t ignore them. Early vet care can clear it up before your dog develops chronic otitis or other related complications. 

Ear Mites vs. Ear Infections: Key Differences

Dogs often scratch their ears for many of the same reasons, whether mites or infection, which is why they can be hard to tell apart. Both can cause itching, shaking and head-tilt. However, if you pay attention, the difference between ear mites and ear infection in dogs becomes apparent. For example, only mites usually give that black, coffee-like debris. And an infection is more likely to smell sour. Here are other key differentiators: 

Category	Ear Mites	Ear Infections
Cause	Tiny parasites living in ears	Overgrowth of bacteria and/or yeast
Discharge	Dark, crumbly debris, resembling coffee grounds	Often thick, colored pus; yellow/brown (bacterial) or waxy brown (yeast)
Odor	Usually minimal odor unless secondary infection sets in	Distinct foul or yeasty odor
Contagious	Highly. Spreads easily between pets	Generally not contagious
Treatment	Anti-parasitic drops/meds, plus thorough ear cleaning	Antibacterial/antifungal drops, ear cleaning, anti-inflammatory meds as needed

That said, dog ear mites vs ear infection confusion is common, which is why I always recommend a vet exam to differentiate. You don’t want to treat a yeast infection with a mite-killing product by mistake!

When to See a Veterinarian

When to see a vet for dog ear problems is not something you need to mull over. All ear problems in dogs need vet care. However, urgent attention is warranted if you spot red flags such as, 

• Thick yellow/green discharge
• Bloody ears
• Intense swelling
• Pain upon touching the ear 
• Foul odor
• Dog suddenly starts walking in circles or tilting his head dramatically

Vet diagnosis of dog ear issues usually involves using an otoscope to inspect the ear canal and eardrum, and probably take swabs of any discharge. Often an ear cytology, a microscope exam of ear debris, is done to identify the root cause. For chronic or resistant cases, the vet may even send cultures to find the exact pathogen. This careful diagnosis is important for zeroing-in on the right course of treatment. 

Treatment Options for Dogs

Once the vet clears up the dog ear mites vs ear infection confusion, treatment can begin. Here is what the course of treatment looks like in the two scenarios:   

Treating Ear Mites

Dog ear mite treatment usually involved anti-parasitic medication plus cleaning. Your vet might prescribe medicated drops or ointments specifically for mites. These often contain permethrin or ivermectin. Before applying meds, your vet will clean out as much debris and wax as possible. In my experience, gently flushing the ears makes the treatment a whole lot more effective. .

Dr. Miller warns, “Off-the-shelf remedies can sometimes cause more inflammation in the ear canal.” So resist the urge to use human ear drops or essential oils from the kitchen, no matter how desperate you’re to figure out how to treat ear mites in dogs and offer your furry baby some relief. They’re not proven and could do harm. Instead, use the vet’s prescription. It’s also a good idea to clean the ears every few days with a gentle cleanser to help the medicine work.

Treating Ear Infections

Dog ear infection treatment is tailored to the cause. Typically, the vet will clean the ears thoroughly under anesthesia or sedation, and then prescribe medication. For a bacterial infection, that means antibiotic ear drops or ointment. For a yeast infection, antifungal drops. Often these are combined with anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling. 

It’s common to use a medicated drop that targets both yeast and bacteria. In severe cases, your vet might also use oral antibiotics or steroids. It’s crucial to complete the full course of meds even if the ear seems better after a week or two, otherwise the infection can rebound. 

What NOT to Do at Home

Your dog’s ears are extremely sensitive  so home remedies for dog ear problems are best avoided. 

• Do not use hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or vinegar to clean your dog’s ears, “kill the mites”, or clear the infection. 
• Don’t apply unprescribed human antibiotics or steroid creams you find at home; you could make things worse
• Never stick cotton swabs, Q-tips to clean your dog’s ear. These can push debris deeper or even damage the eardrum
• Even apparently natural oils like tea tree or coconut oil can irritate your dog’s ear canal 
• Stick to vet-approved ear cleansers and medications

The risk of treatment backfiring or masking a deeper problem isn’t worth it. Leave the heavy lifting to the vet.

Preventing Ear Mites and Infections

The good news? Most ear problems can be prevented with a bit of routine care. I keep a gentle, vet-approved ear cleaner handy at home. After bath time or a swim, I always make sure to dry my dogs’ ears thoroughly. I towel-dry and even use a pet-safe ear rinse to flush water out. 

Routine ear inspections help too. I check my dogs’ ears weekly for any signs of wax or redness. A monthly gentle cleaning with the approved solution usually does the trick. Vets usually recommend using cotton balls or gauze to wipe the outer ear and visible canal. I prefer gauze to cotton balls, though, as these leave behind tiny strands. 

In addition to good grooming, parasite prevention should also be part of the plan. Most flea/tick preventative products also keep ear mites at bay. Finally, remember that some dogs have allergies or underlying issues that make ear problems more likely. Managing allergies, with diet changes or medication, can indirectly keep ears healthy.

Takeaway

Remember: ear mites and ear infections have different culprits. Mites are tiny parasites. Infections are bacterial or yeast overgrowth. Their symptoms such as itchy, head-shaking, ear debris can overlap but the treatments differ completely. That’s why getting a proper veterinary diagnosis is so important. As a dog mom, I know how scary ear problems feel, but with the right care, they’re usually manageable and curable. Stay vigilant with weekly ear checks, keep those ears dry, and don’t try risky home remedies.A little TLC ears goes a long way toward maintaining healthy dog ears.