Dogs
Recurrent ear inflammation can be connected to underlying allergic skin disease.
SYMPTOM → WHAT DO I DO?
Head shaking or ear scratching
Look for odor, redness, discharge, head tilt, balance changes and pain around the ears.
CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN PROMPTLY
READ THIS FIRST
Observations can help your veterinarian. They cannot rule out an emergency.
Contact an emergency veterinary facility immediately for difficult breathing, collapse, ongoing seizures, inability to urinate, major bleeding, abnormal gum color, sudden severe abdominal swelling or rapidly worsening weakness.
What could be behind this symptom?
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. The right explanation depends on the examination, species and medical history.
- External-ear inflammation, infection or allergic skin disease.
- Ear mites, foreign material, a ruptured eardrum or deeper ear disease.
- Moisture, trauma or an ear-flap hematoma.
What can you safely check at home?
Write down what you see and bring photographs or video only when doing so does not delay care.
- Which ear is affected and whether odor, discharge or swelling is present.
- Head tilt, stumbling, facial asymmetry, itching elsewhere and pain.
- Recent swimming, grooming, ear cleaning or new medications.
Avoid actions that can make things worse.
- Do not insert cotton swabs or pour peroxide, alcohol or essential oils into the ear.
- Do not reuse another animal’s ear medication or old prescription drops.
- Do not clean an extremely painful ear before veterinary guidance.
When should you contact your veterinarian?
- Arrange an examination for persistent head shaking, discharge, odor or repeated infections.
- Mention balance changes, previous allergies and medications already used.
Get emergency help immediately if you see:
- Sudden head tilt with inability to stand, severe neurologic changes or collapse.
- Rapid ear-flap swelling, significant bleeding or severe pain after trauma.
The same symptom can mean different things in different animals.
Cats
Ear mites and other causes require examination; medication depends on the eardrum and diagnosis.
Rabbits & small mammals
Head tilt or loss of balance can reflect serious ear or neurologic disease.
TRUSTED SOURCES
Sources behind this guidance
American Veterinary Medical AssociationFirst aid tips for pet owners and limits of home care ↗Merck Veterinary ManualVeterinary professional and pet-owner disease references ↗Merck Veterinary Manual: urinary obstructionWhy urinary blockage in cats requires immediate veterinary attention ↗
These educational resources support a conversation with your veterinary team. They do not replace examination, diagnosis or species-specific emergency care.