The body odor of our dogs is characteristic and, with proper hygiene, nutrition and veterinary care, it should not be unpleasant. However, there are times when that smell changes and catches our attention, it becomes much stronger and even repulsive. The bad smell in the dog is multifactorial and, in general, it is a sign that something may not be going well. In this article on our site we will explain why your dog's ears smell bad and what you can do in each case to avoid it.
Inadequate hygiene, the main cause of bad odor in the dog's ears
Hygiene is essential for a dog's good he alth, and the ears are no exception. Already, there are breeds that require much more careful hygiene due to their anatomy and their predisposition to accumulate dirt, such as those breeds with drooping ears and especially long ear canal, as well as breeds with a lot of hair inside it (basset hound, cocker spaniel or poodle would be some examples). These conditions favor the duct being more humid and much less ventilated, in addition to the accumulation of greater amount of earwax, facts that can cause an unpleasant odor in our dog and, in the long run, complications such as otitis and/or secondary infections.
Optimal hygiene includes cleaning both the inside of the external ear canal with appropriate cleansers (either commercial or physiological saline), as cleaning the auricle with a moistened gauze or with the same cleanser. Likewise, periodic baths should be carried out with a shampoo appropriate to age, race, skin type, etc., and external and internal deworming should be up to date.
The frequency of cleaning the ears will depend on the lifestyle of our animal and its anatomical characteristics. If it is an outdoor dog and/or it belongs to the breeds with the highest risk of suffering from otitis, we can do two or three weekly cleanings; if not, a weekly cleaning will suffice.
How to clean a dog's ear?
To clean the canal correctly, we will separate the excess hair from the pinna with the fingers (in breeds with an excess of it, such as the poodle for example), we will apply the cleaner cannula inside of it, we will introduce a dose of cleaner and we will perform a massage at the base of the ear to distribute it throughout the duct and to trap dirt. Next, we will wrap the little finger with gauze (better to avoid cotton, as it leaves traces of fibers), we will lift the pavilion upwards and insert the finger dragging the excess earwax. If we are not sure how to clean the inside of the dog's ear, we recommend going to the veterinarian to teach us the technique correctly in order to avoid possible injuries.
Likewise, we must not forget that excessive hygiene can also be counterproductive, causing a loss of the fat that protects the skin and leaving it more exposed to external agents and with a greater tendency to become irritated and an increase in bad odor in the dog. In addition, if our furry one bathes very frequently, or spends a lot of time in the beach, pool or river in summer, his ears will surely accumulate a lot of moisture, which is an ideal breeding ground for possible pathogens. For this reason, we will make sure after each cleaning or bath that our dog's ears are as dry as possible.
Bad smell in the ears due to external otitis
External otitis is another cause that explains why a dog's ears smell bad. It is an inflammation of the epithelium that lines the external auditory canal. As we have seen, there are predisposing factors, such as race or congenital anomalies, which, although they are not the cause of the process itself, increase the risk that the patient will end up suffering from otitis. When this inflammation occurs, the ear canal becomes stenosed (becomes narrower), the skin thickens, and the ear is much more vulnerable to secondary infections from opportunistic pathogens.
The factors that trigger external otitis in dogs are as follows:
- Allergic processes: it is the most common cause of inflammation of the ear canal. When the patient suffers from atopy, food or other allergies, one of the main manifestations is otitis, usually bilateral, accompanied by a lot of itching. If we notice that our dog starts with discomfort in the ears, shakes his head,scratches his ears or other areas insistently and even shows other lesions on the skin (such as redness, scabs, alopecia, etc.), the veterinarian must diagnose the type of allergy you suffer from and apply the most appropriate treatment, which may include a change in diet, special shampoo, supplementation with fatty acids to restore the lipid layer of the skin and drugs to control itching, as well as treating otitis and its possible complications.
- Foreign bodies: it is more common in spring and summer and the most common are spikelets or seeds that are inserted into the ear canal. Whenever signs of otitis appear, we must go to the veterinarian to determine the cause and we will never try to remove the foreign body ourselves, as we could seriously injure the animal.
- Parasites: the main cause of parasitic otitis in dogs are mites belonging to the Otodectes cynotis species, which is highly contagious and affects most frequently to young animals, so it is not surprising to see puppies that have smelly ears for this reason. In this type of otitis the secretion that occurs is brown-blackish and rather dry, being the pruritus variable. There are other parasites that can cause external otitis and produce a bad odor in the dog's ears, although less frequently, such as the causal agents of demodectic mange (Demodex canis) and sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei). In this case, in addition to treating the otitis with topical and/or systemic products, we must eliminate the parasites with appropriate external dewormers.
- Endocrinopathies: mainly hypothyroidism, since it can cause keratinization disorders, which leads to aexcess seborrheic secretion in the ears and, as a consequence, a ceruminous-type otitis that makes the dog's ears smell bad. It is important to control the main cause to avoid complications like this.
- Autoimmune disorders: mainly lupus erythematosus, pemphigus and juvenile cellulite affect the integrity of the skin and, by extension, they can also end up causing otitis.
- Adverse reactions to products for ear use in animals sensitive to any of their components.
- Traumatisms: whether self-induced by scratching or the result of blows, accidents or fights.
- Neoplasias: they usually cause otitis that becomes chronic and does not respond to treatment, since they alter the structure of the mucosa and stenose the duct to be occupied by the mass. The main ones are: histiocytomas, sebaceous gland tumors and mastocytomas.
In all cases, a correct diagnosis should be made and the primary cause should be treated in addition to the signs of otitis. As we have seen, the causes that explain why a dog with otitis has a stinky ear are very diverse, so in the event of any symptoms we will go to the veterinarian, since the treatment will be very different depending on the reason that causes the otitis.
Bad smell in the dog's ear due to ear infection
They are infectious agents that complicate and perpetuate external otitis, aggravate the condition and prevent its complete cure. Several can occur at the same time (especially in chronic processes). Whenever possible, the integrity of the eardrum will be assessed, since if it is damaged, it can worsen the condition with otitis media or internal otitis.
The main agents involved in ear infections in dogs are the following:
- Bacteria: we can find both cocci and bacilli, the main species being: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa and, to a lesser extent, Streptococcus spp, Proteus spp and E. coli. In cases of otitis complicated with bacterial infection, the discharge in the dog's ear that occurs is whitish-yellowish in color , wet appearance and putrefactive smell Should be treated with appropriate antibiotherapy, either topical only, combined with cleanings, or with systemic support in case function. Thus, if you notice that your dog's ears smell very bad, this may be the cause and you should go to the vet immediately.
- Yeasts: mainly of the Malassezia pachydermatis species, being a normal inhabitant of the skin, acting as a commensal and controlling the proliferation of fungi more pathogens. However, when conditions are optimal, it acts as an opportunistic pathogen and overgrows, causing a skin and ear infectionThis type of infection is usually closely linked to otitis caused by allergic processes and ceruminous otitis derived from hypothyroidism, and usually affects mainly adult dogs. In this case, the exudate has a greasy-seborrheic appearance and a brown-chocolate color The odor is very characteristic, it is a rancid odor reminiscent of cottage cheese, for what if your dog his ears smell like cheese, this is probably the reason. Treatment includes washing the ear canal to remove excess secretions and debris and application of antifungals, either topically or systemically, depending on the severity of the case.
- Other agents that are isolated to a lesser extent are: Candida, Aspergillus, Trichophyton and Microsporum.
