What does normal healthy doggy ear wax look like? Smell like?

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

I am confused. I hear brown is normal. I hear brown is abnormal. I hear the ears dont smell at all. I hear they do have a smell. Abby has dark brown ear wax. Her ears smell like ... I dont know....hot wet dog? Frito feet? She does at times lay down and rub her ears with her paws - but is this pain ? Or itch? If you could all tell me your dogs normal ear wax color - and normal smell that would be helpful.

When Abby went for her 1st vet visit back at 8 weeks old he removed this same brown stuff with a swab, looked at it and threw it away. He didnt seem to care about it. Didnt say it was infection. But the breeder did say she at one time had all her dogs on a certain brand of dog food and they got yucky ears - but when she switched the food it cleared. That sounds weird to me and I cant see the connection between food and ears unless the food somehow caused yeast overgrowth. And if so what does yeasty wax look like?

[Michael Gurley]

Well, gluten is a chemical which is IN yeast. So yes, a yeast infection is caused by yeast. LOL!

 

If Nelson is intolerant to gluten, a grain-free diet is recommended. You'll just have to check the ingredients!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sorry, yeast is a fungus and does not contain gluten as yeast naturally occurs. Some yeast preparations may contain gluten. I do not think gluten per se, in the diet causes yeast ear infections. Yeast like to grow in dark, damp places like doodle ears.

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

A poop photo shoot! ROFL...... that would be interesting!

AS for wax, Zoe has the dark waxy stuff. comes and goes but on a regular basis. It's really thick and builds up heavy deep down. When I see it working its way I start to clean. Usually takws a session or two. When I get the majority of it out, then I use the cleaner. Freaked me out the first time I saw it, but now I just know it's time to clean the ears. The only time she shakes or scratches is right after I mess with her ears. Then she stops. And her feet just recenty started smelling like fritos! Shea's always smells like fritos, except the week after her beauty appointment. lol

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's a good idea to use a cleaning and drying solution for the ears every week. Just part of routine maintenance for poodles and poodle- mixes.

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

what do you use as a drying solution?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Most good ear cleaners have a drying agent in them. I use Epi-Otic, I get it from my vet.

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

Thanks, I'll look into that!

[Linda and Murphy]

Murphy has good ears (thank goodness). I had Shih Tzus that didn't. Yeast infections. They stink. You will know.

One thing that wasn't mentioned was ear mites. They stink, and in my personal experience produce a lot of brown/black waxy junk in the ear. They also itch.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Neely always has dark brown gunk in his ears. I use the cleaner and makeup pads then q tips. I also pluck the hair out of the canal as well. He gets really long gooy strands of hair from deep in the canal. These are hard to get ahold of and pull. They really grasp the wax so they are slippery. One ear is always way worse than the other. It always has been. He shakes his head like crazy for the next few hours after he's gotten cleaned. He has had an ear infection and I just noticed that the ear was dirty the next day and kept creating more and more even after cleaning so I had drops that the vet gave us and that clears it right up. I kept cleaning them out and never did notice any bad smell but I am sure if left it would have.

[Michael Gurley]

Sunny has had 3 ear infections. I also have found that one ear is way worse than the other one when I clean them regularly now, and she also gets those long nasty hairs inside her ear that are soo hard to pull out and she hates getting them pulled!

 

The thing I've started to look for as an indication or ear irritation or infection is FLAPPING. She'll be playing just fine, then stop all of a sudden and flap her head, then sit down and scratch one of her ears.

[Kristine and Luna]

Luna is now 15 weeks old and her ears (specially the right one) smell like poop!! the vet saw her last week and said she was fine but i don't think this is normal. She does have brown/ waxy stuff... i am officially concerned. I bought Vets Best natural ear wash which i tried today to see if it helps.
She does ear grain free (origin) so i don't think its allergy and she doesn't seemed bothered by it
any suggestions>?
Thank you

[Donna K & Quincy]

Quincy has had ear infections, the ear had dark brown gunk and is very red. When there is no infection the ears are clean and pink and he doesn't have anything in there to clean out. Quincy tends to scratch and shake his head when he has an infection. I don't think a dog's ear should ever smell like poop.