To be honest, a dog’s ears do tend to get a little dirty, especially if you have an active dog that likes to get grimy, dirty, and plays in sand, water, and mud a lot. However, you should be able to spot the signs of an ear infection so that your dog can be treated with antibiotics or other medication in case the problem is bothering them and causing them pain.
When your dog’s ears are healthy, then you’ll see that they are pale pink in color, and can have a little bit of wax, but not a whole lot. They may generally be a little waxy and smelly, but not so smelly and full of wax that it is unhealthy.
If your dog’s ears are infected, then you may notice that the discharge in the ear is waxy, yellow or reddish brown in color. The ears may also have a strong smell, and the ears may look red. One of the easiest ways that you can tell if your dog has an ear infection is if they are scratching around the ears or pawing at the ears more than usual.
If your dog does have an ear infection, then take them to the veterinarian for treatment. They may give you a medicated ear cleanser or some sort of topical medication to treat the problem. By using ear cleaners regularly, you can clear out bacteria and yeast trapped inside of the ears and can therefore help your dog avoid ear infections in the future.