What is the black stuff in my dog's ears?
Sid Ferry
2025-08-09 05:58:37
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Ear mites can also cause your dog's ears to produce a dry black ear discharge. An ear mite infection will cause your dog’s ears to itch, which often results in them shaking their head excessively, or scratching at their ears with their paws. Dogs with ear mites will often shake their heads excessively and scratch their ears. Ear mites can cause your dog's ears to become irritated, causing them to look red and inflamed. Irritation in your dog's ear can be caused by many other things. Allergies are a common cause of ear irritation, but it can also be caused by a bacterial or yeast ear infection. Ear mites can also cause your dog's ears to produce wax and smell unusual.
Cierra Dibbert
2025-08-01 07:22:30
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The black stuff in your dog's ears could be earwax, which is a normal bodily function for dogs. Grey to black shades of ear wax indicate dust build ups, dirt, debris and infections. Earwax functions: Helps to keep ear canals clean, Traps irritants like dirt and debris, Lubricates and moisturises ear canals, and has antimicrobial substances to prevent infections. However, excessive earwax production can quickly result in infections and cause dogs significant pain in their ears. Darker colours tend to be associated with infections and should be observed by a veterinarian. Ear mites are contagious parasites that are easily spread among dogs, and are often associated with a dark red, brown or black shade of earwax. Infections can also cause excessive earwax production, and a dog earwax colour chart can help to identify healthy earwax, enabling you to spot the signs of potential issues early on.
Constance Brown
2025-08-01 04:56:23
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One sign your dog may have mites is a crusty, blackish-brown ear discharge, which often looks like dried shoe polish. Ear discharge in dogs isn't really a specific condition, it's actually a symptom of an underlying issue, like mites or an ear infection. A waxy, yellow, or reddish-brown ear discharge can also be a sign your dog has an ear infection, which can be a result of allergies, mites, polyps, overproduction of ear wax, excessive bathing or swimming, or other problems. If you notice discharge, redness, swelling, or odor, it's time to talk to the vet. Because ear discharge in dogs can be the result of several causes and can have all kinds of smells, colors, and consistencies, don't try to guess what's causing your dog's ear discharge. Dogs with drooping ears -- basset hounds, Irish setters, spaniels -- are more prone to ear problems, but any dog can have ear mites, develop an infection, or get an irritant like burrs or seeds stuck in their ears. What you should see is a clean, pink ear canal. Left untreated, ear problems in dogs can result in severe pain, hematomas, balance problems, and even deafness.
Jed Mitchell
2025-08-01 04:21:12
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The black gunk in a dog's ear is usually a buildup of wax and debris. Just as with people, some dogs create more wax in their ears than others, and while I’ve heard it said this can be a result of poor nutrition or an “allergy” to chicken, I know that cannot be true since all my dogs have always had a super diet. Some have yucky ears and others do not. Can puppies have black discharge in their ears? I have had several other Weimaraners and actually only one of them had a "tar factory" of black discharge inside his ear like Wanda does.
What does black stuff in a dog’s ear mean? You may be wondering, “What is the treatment for this black stuff in your dog’s ear?”
The others had a bit of pale wax in their ears that looked a lot like what people can form in their ears.
Which made it even more of a shocker to lift up her lovely ear flap only to find, to my horror that beneath that nice exterior the skin was reddened and there was black gunk in my dog’s ear coating the intricate and convoluted shell shape, as far down inside her ear canal as I could see.
How do you know if your dog has irritated ears and the accompanying black gunk? Is she shaking her head a lot - the way Wanda does? Scratching at her ears (the way Wanda does if I ignore the head shaking)?
Lift the flap and the mystery will be revealed!
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