5 Signs Your Pet Has an Ear Infection

An ear infection can turn a happy, playful pet into a miserable one in a matter of days. While Chima Pet Grooming provides preventative ear cleaning, it is important for owners to know when a simple cleaning is no longer enough. Here are five signs your pet may be suffering from an ear infection.

1. Constant Head Shaking

If your dog or cat is vigorously shaking their head side to side, they are trying to dislodge debris or relieve the feeling of fluid trapped in their ear canal. While an occasional shake is normal, repetitive head shaking is a major red flag.

2. Excessive Scratching at the Ears

Ear infections are intensely itchy. You may notice your pet aggressively scratching at their ears with their hind legs, or rubbing the side of their head along the carpet or furniture to find relief. This scratching can cause secondary skin damage around the ear.

3. A Strong, Unpleasant Odor

Healthy ears do not have a strong smell. If you lift your dog's ear flap and are hit with a sweet, musty, or foul odor (often compared to old cheese or dirty socks), yeast or bacteria are actively multiplying inside the ear. This requires more than our standard dog and cat grooming services—it needs a vet's attention.

4. Redness and Swelling

The skin on the inside of the ear flap should be a light, healthy pink. If it looks bright red, inflamed, puffy, or feels hot to the touch, the tissue is actively infected.

5. Dark or Heavy Discharge

A small amount of pale ear wax is normal. However, if you see heavy yellow, green, or dark brown/black discharge, an infection or ear mites are present. Dark, crumbly discharge that looks like coffee grounds is a classic sign of ear mites, especially in cats. Read our customer reviews to see how our groomers help spot these issues early!