A little bit of ear wax in your dog’s ear canal is totally normal. But a build-up of ear wax, changes to its color, itchy ears, odor, or redness of the ear can all indicate that your pup is having an issue with their ear health.
Familiarize yourself with what normal dog ear wax looks like and view the dog ear wax color chart to learn what different changes could mean.
Normal Dog Ear Wax: What Should It Look Like?
Normal dog ear wax (cerumen) is usually light brown or pale yellow in color, semi-soft, and greasy. There shouldn’t be a significant build-up of ear wax, and the ear canal should remain a normal healthy light pink color.
This healthy dog ear wax is important to your dog’s ear health. Ear wax helps to lubricate the ear canals and traps dust and debris that enter the canal. You should not have to regularly clean your dog’s ears if they’re healthy. Excessive ear wax, however, can be a sign of ear health issues.
Dog Ear Wax Color Chart: What Different Shades Could Mean
The dog ear wax color chart will explain what the different colors of a dog’s ear wax could mean. Make sure to speak with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your dog’s ear health.
Light Brown
In small quantities, this is a normal color for dog ear wax. However, a lot of light brown ear wax can indicate an ear infection.
Dark Brown
Dark brown ear wax usually indicates either ear mites or an ear infection. With ear mites, the debris tends to be chunkier, sometimes looking like clumps of coffee grounds. For ear infections, a dark brown color is commonly associated with a yeast infection.
Yellow
A small amount of pale yellow ear wax is normal. However, if there is a lot of yellow discharge from the ear, this is usually indicative of a bacterial ear infection.
Dark Red
Dark red ear wax usually indicates damage to the ear canal that has caused bleeding. This can occur with ear mites, ear infections, injury to the ear, or tumors in the ear.
Green
Green ear wax is not very common. When present, it is usually associated with an ear infection.
Black
Black debris in the ears is usually associated with ear mites or yeast infections.
Dog Ear Wax Vs. Ear Mites
Both a build-up of wax and the presence of ear mites can cause your dog’s ears to become very itchy. As mentioned, dogs can have normal light brown to light yellow ear wax. They may also develop a build-up of wax due to certain conditions, such as a yeast infection.
One condition that causes a build-up of waxy debris in the ears is ear mites. Ear mites are highly contagious tiny parasites that are usually found in the ear canal. Dogs with ear mites can have similar signs to dogs with ear infections, including:
- Scratching at the ears
- Hair loss around the ears from excessive scratching
- Aural hematomas (swelling of blood within the ear flap from trauma)
- Foul odor from the ears
While both ear mites and other ear conditions can cause the build-up of debris in the ear, the debris that’s caused by ear mites is usually more dark brown to black. It’s very often chunky and sometimes has a coffee ground appearance.
Treating Dog Ear Problems
To treat the ear problem, your veterinarian will first want to diagnose the cause. This could include:
- Looking for mites under a microscope
- Looking at a sample of ear wax under the microscope for yeast or bacteria
- Looking into the ear with an otoscope
- Culturing the debris from the ear
If there is an ear problem, the veterinarian will usually professionally clean your dog’s ear. In cases where the ear is painful, they may need to sedate your dog. They’ll also want to look deep into the ear to ensure the ear drum has not ruptured before putting anything in the ear. Some cleaners and treatments can cause hearing loss or balance issues if the ear drum is damaged.
Most ear infections are treated topically, meaning that medication is placed directly in the ear canal. Commonly, combination products that treat both yeast and bacterial infections are used. Some medications contain steroids to help reduce inflammation.
If there is injury to the ear drum, the inner ear is affected, or the ear canal is so swollen that the veterinarian cannot view the ear drum, they may start with medications that are given by mouth. They’ll want to recheck the ear drum before prescribing medications to be placed directly in the ear.
For ear mites, your veterinarian may recommend a treatment that is placed directly in the ear, such as milbemycin drops. They will also recommend regular parasite prevention, such as monthly topical or chewable preventives.
Caring for Your Dog’s Ear Health
If your dog has healthy ears, you can gently clean them at home every once in a while. Simply wipe the externally visible part of the ear. You should never put cotton-tipped applicators into a dog’s ear canal. If your dog requires regular ear cleanings, we highly recommend that you speak with your veterinarian and have them demonstrate how to safely clean the ear.
Dog breeds with floppy ears or dogs with hairy ear canals may have an increased risk of ear infection. Make sure to follow a consistent grooming routine for these dogs. Some groomers are comfortable removing ear hair, which may help prevent infections.
When bathing your dog, make sure not to get water within the ear. You can place a cotton ball at the entrance to the ear. Make sure to dry your dog’s ears after the bath.
Lastly, keep your dog on regular parasite preventives to protect them from ear mites. Other parasites, such as fleas and ticks, can also cause itchy ears in dogs, which can lead to infection. Parasite prevention is your best way to prevent these bugs from causing ear irritation.
