My dog's ears smell strong, but they look clean. What should I do?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 1 year old
My dog has had overly warm ears with a slight odour since she was a puppy and the vet has never been concerned but recently the smell has gotten stronger. Her ears are always clean and don’t produce much wax
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on July 7th, 2018
If the ears have never been tested or swabbed at the veterinarian's clinic, then I would recommend having this done. Sometimes there is only a small amount of debris in the ear canals with a mild infection and the ears do not always appear red or inflamed. A small amount of yeast can cause stinky ears. If the ears are clean of infection, then I would recommend using a weekly ear cleaner such as Epi Otic or Zymox otic cleanser. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on September 10th, 2018
You can try rinsing the ears twice daily with an alcohol free ear cleanser which can help to remove the debris and wax/discharge which is present - this will help to flush the ears and reduce the smell. If he is too painful to allow you then sedation under veterinary supervision may be required
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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