Smelly dog ears don't always mean ear mites. Ear mites are one of the common causes of smelly ears in dogs, and they can cause itchy, red, swollen ears with a specific odor. However, smelly ears can also be due to other reasons such as ear canal infections, earwax buildup, and moisture getting into the ear canal during bathing and not being cleaned out in time. In addition, dogs with inflamed ears, such as otitis media or otitis externa, can also develop an odor. Therefore, if your dog's ears have an odor, you should carefully examine the exterior and interior of the ears and consider possible other causes. If the problem does not improve after self-cleaning and treatment, it is recommended that you take your dog to the veterinarian promptly for professional diagnosis and treatment.