My Shih Tzu has itchy, smelly ears & bites paws. Is it allergies?

Question

My small 20 pound shitz Tzu has been scratching so much at his ears. We been putting ear rinse in the canal and rubbing it and ear cleaner on the outer ear. He does have one ear that stinks. He also throws himself on something to rub his body that smells bad to him and now he is biting his paws really bad. Help?? 3 pictures 2 of the bad ear and 1 of good one. Aso I did notice in the bad ear he has 2 little bumps almost in the inner ear. What more can I do or is this really a serious condition. Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Male | unneutered | 20 lbs

Elva Ma DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry that Beau has been unwell. It looks and sounds like he has an ear infection. This will require antibiotic drops prescribed by the veterinarian. I also suspect there may be an underlying allergic cause, since he also is biting his paws. The vet can prescribe anti-itch medications to help improve his comfort. They can also talk to you about trying a prescription hypoallergenic diet for 2-3 months, which will help diagnose a food allergy. Allergies are often underlying causes of ear infections, so it is quite possible the ear infection may return if the suspected allergy is not controlled. In the meantime, I would place an e-collar (cone) on his head to prevent any further scratching and damage to his ears and paws. You can also try soaking his feet in a shallow bath of epsom salts to help relieve inflammation. But I would still highly recommend taking him to the vet within the next 2 days to start treating the problem. I hope this helps, and that Beau starts feeling better soon!

My Shih Tzu has itchy, smelly ears & bites paws. Is it allergies?

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