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My dog has black ear wax in one ear and it's itchy. Is it normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Male | neutered | 13 lbs

I'm pet sitting Rufus and I noticed in only one ear he has black ear wax, I was wondering if this is normal or not, it is slightly itchy but it doesn't seem to bother him. Thanks for any help.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr Stafford, BVetMed, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on July 20th, 2017

Sometimes black wax is indicative of ear mites so i would get him a spot on treatment such as advocate that kills them. If the ear looks red it would be best to get it checked out as he may need antibiotic drops. If it is just dirty you could start cleaning it once a week with cotton wool and pet ear cleaner. Just dont put anything down into the canal, squirt the cleaner in, massage and remove with cotton wool. If you are unsure about doing this go to the vet and they will show you how.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 19th, 2019

    It could be Askem has ear mites, a yeast infection, or bacterial ear infection. You need to take him into the vet so the cause of this can be diagnosed and treated. Since his ear is swollen shut, I would take him into a vet immediately, as leaving this untreated can lead to hearing loss.

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    Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 1st, 2019

    If she seems to be in pain, I recommend to get a second opinion. Ear infections and foreign objects in the ears can both cause these physical symptoms including pain. Insist on testing the wax for infections and having the ears cleaned followed by an exam of the ear canal with an otoscope. Best of luck.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 16th, 2017

    It's not normal for a dog to have a wax build up in their ears, and this build up could actually be due to ear mites. It sounds like the ear is very painful to him, and I would have him seen by a vet right away. It's important to have any ear problem checked out by a vet as soon as possible, as leaving it untreated can lead to hearing loss. The vet can diagnose what's causing the pain in his ears and build up, and treat him for it.

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