My dog is acting strange and scratching his ear until it bleeds. Help!
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 6 lbs
My dog has been acting strange. He hasn't gone to the bathroom for I don't how long. He has been constantly scratching his ear until it bleeds. Can someone please tell me if he's okay?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 25th, 2019
Hi there. Unfortunately, these photos are very blurry, so I can't really see much. But, if he is scratching his ear until it bleeds, it's likely that he has an ear infection - this is a common problem in dogs. He will need prescription ear meds from your veterinarian to treat the infection, so I would recommend taking him in tomorrow for an exam. In the meantime, you can try cleaning his ears with an over-the-counter ear flush labeled for dogs such as Mal-Acetic or Epi-Otic. This will not treat the underlying infection, but may help to make him a bit more comfortable until you are able to see the vet.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on May 8th, 2017
When cats frequently scratching their ears a lot, then this can be a sign of an ear infection. Ear infections can be caused by ear mites, yeast, or bacteria in cats. I would have Garfield (love his name!) seen by a vet today since he's scratching so hard that he is causing himself to bleed. The vet can diagnose if he does have an ear infection, and can prescribe treatment for it. It's very important to have any ear problem examined and treated promptly because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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