Last updated: October 2026
The signs of a Labrador ear infection are repeated head shaking, scratching at the ear, a musty or yeasty smell, dark or waxy discharge, redness, and flinching when you touch the ear. If you see them, book your vet within a day or two, and don’t put home remedies in the ear. Routine, gentle cleaning of healthy ears is fine at home, but an ear that is red, sore or smelly needs a vet’s eyes first. VCA’s overview of otitis externa is a good reference for how these infections develop.
Ear problems are one of the most common reasons Labs end up at the vet, and the same ear shape that makes them such good swimmers is part of the reason. The canal angles downward and holds water. Catching the early signs saves your dog discomfort and you repeat vet visits. This guide covers what to look for, how urgent each sign is, what your vet will do, and how to cut the risk of it coming back.
Signs of a Labrador ear infection
- Head shaking: repeated and persistent, often with the ear flapping.
- Scratching or rubbing: using a back paw, or dragging the ear along furniture or the floor.
- Odour: a yeasty, musty or generally unpleasant smell from one or both ears.
- Discharge: brown or black waxy build-up, or yellow or green pus.
- Redness or swelling of the ear canal or flap.
- Pain: flinching, yelping or pulling away when you touch the ear.
- Head tilt, loss of balance or eyes flicking side to side: these point to the middle or inner ear and need urgent veterinary attention.
How urgent is it? A quick guide
Not every ear problem is an emergency, but some are. This table shows how I’d think about what you’re seeing. It is a guide, not a diagnosis, and if you’re unsure, ring your vet and describe it.
| What you see | How urgent | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One or two head shakes, ear looks clean and smells normal | Usually nothing | Check the ear again later and tomorrow. Clean only if there is loose dirt. |
| Ongoing head shaking or scratching, mild redness, or a new smell | Book a vet visit within a day or two | Leave the ear alone so the vet can take a clean sample. No drops or home remedies. |
| Thick or coloured discharge, a swollen canal, or an ear that hurts to touch | Same-day or next-day appointment | Stop your dog scratching if you can, and keep the ear dry. |
| Sudden swelling of the whole ear flap | Call your vet the same day | This can be a blood blister (aural haematoma) after hard head shaking. |
| Sudden, severe head shaking on one side after a walk in long grass | Call your vet the same day | A grass seed can lodge in the canal and needs a vet to remove it. |
| Head tilt, loss of balance, eyes flicking side to side, or a drooping face | Urgent: call your vet now | These can mean the middle or inner ear is involved. |
What a healthy Lab ear looks like
Knowing your dog’s normal makes problems much easier to spot. A healthy ear is pale pink inside, clean or with a little light wax, and has little or no smell. Once a week, while your Lab is relaxed, lift the flap, look inside and have a sniff. Any change in colour, smell or amount of wax is worth noting, and a difference between the two ears is especially useful.
What causes ear infections in Labs
Infections rarely appear out of nowhere. There is usually a trigger that lets yeast or bacteria overgrow, and finding it is the key to stopping repeats.
- Water: swimming, baths and wet walks leave moisture in a canal that doesn’t drain easily.
- Allergies: food or environmental allergies inflame the skin lining the canal, often in both ears, and often with itchy paws or skin too.
- Ear shape: heavy, dropped ear flaps reduce airflow, and the canal turns inward after dropping down, so wax and water stay put.
- Foreign bodies: grass seeds are the classic summer culprit and usually cause a sudden, one-sided problem.
- Too little or too much cleaning: neglected wax can trap moisture, while over-cleaning irritates the lining.
- Ear mites: these are most often seen in young dogs, cause intense itching with dark, crumbly debris, and can spread between pets.
- Underlying health conditions: hormonal problems such as an underactive thyroid are a less common cause of repeat infections.
Types of ear infection in Labs
Most Lab ear infections are otitis externa, an infection of the outer ear canal. They’re usually caused by bacteria or yeast (Malassezia), often after water exposure, allergy flare-ups or a foreign body such as a grass seed. They’re uncomfortable but treatable.
Otitis media (middle ear) and otitis interna (inner ear) are more serious. They can cause head tilt, loss of balance and facial nerve signs, and they need prompt veterinary treatment.
Yeast or bacteria? You can’t tell at home
There are rough patterns, shown below. But mixed infections are common and the signs overlap, so the only reliable way to know is for your vet to look at a swab under the microscope (cytology). It matters, because yeast and bacterial infections need different drops, and the wrong ones prolong the problem.
| Often yeast | Often bacteria | |
|---|---|---|
| Smell | Musty or sweet | Stronger, more unpleasant |
| Discharge | Dark, waxy, brown or black | Yellow or green, sometimes pus |
| Clue | Itchy, greasy-looking skin | Pain and redness often stand out |
For more on the yeast side, see my guide to Labrador yeast infection in the paws and ears.
What happens at the vet
A typical visit has four parts:
- History: your vet will ask how long it has been going on, whether your Lab swims, whether they’re itchy elsewhere, and whether it has happened before.
- Looking inside: with an otoscope, your vet checks the canal and eardrum and looks for foreign bodies. A very sore ear sometimes needs sedation for a thorough look and clean.
- Cytology: a swab of the discharge is checked under a microscope to see whether yeast, bacteria or both are involved.
- Treatment: usually medicated ear drops chosen to match what is found, sometimes with anti-inflammatory or oral medication for severe cases, plus a recheck.
Most straightforward outer ear infections improve within 7 to 14 days. Finish the whole course even if the ear looks better, go to the recheck, and don’t reuse leftover drops on a later infection. PDSA’s guide to ear infections in dogs is a useful second opinion for UK owners.
Safe ear cleaning at home
Cleaning helps prevent infections. It doesn’t treat one. Only clean ears that look healthy or have a little routine wax, and only when they’re dirty, because over-cleaning irritates the canal. If the ear is red, swollen, painful or smelly, skip the cleaning and see your vet first. Cleaner in an inflamed ear hurts, and if the eardrum is damaged some products can do harm.
For a healthy ear, the technique is:
- Use a vet-recommended ear cleaner. Fill the canal with it, without letting the bottle tip touch the ear.
- Massage the base of the ear for 20 to 30 seconds. You should hear a squelching sound.
- Let your Lab shake their head. This brings loosened debris up into the outer canal.
- Wipe out the visible part of the ear with cotton wool or gauze. Never clean further than you can see.
Don’t use cotton buds, which push debris deeper and can damage the lining. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, alcohol or other home remedies inside the ear, as these can worsen irritation. The Merck Veterinary Manual’s ear-cleaning guide gives the same advice in a clear step-by-step form, and my full guide to Labrador ear cleaning for wax and dirt covers choosing a cleaner and what to do when your Lab hates it.
When to see the vet
- Any ear that is red, swollen, painful or smelly, or has discharge.
- Signs that don’t settle within 24 to 48 hours.
- Your Lab won’t let you near the ear.
- Head tilt, balance changes, flicking eyes or facial asymmetry. Treat these as urgent.
- Bloody discharge, or discharge that changes colour or consistency.
- More than two infections in a year.
Your vet will usually swab the ear to identify what’s growing, then prescribe the right drops.
After-swim ear care
For Labs who swim regularly, a gentle ear-drying solution after every swim can significantly reduce infections. These solutions help evaporate water from the canal. They differ from treatment drops, so ask your vet which one to use. Dry the ear flaps with a towel too. If your Lab swims in lakes and rivers, my Labrador swimming safety guide covers the other precautions worth taking.
Preventing repeat infections
- Dry the ears after every swim and bath, and use a vet-approved drying solution if your Lab swims often.
- Look and sniff once a week, so you notice a change early.
- Clean only when there is a reason, with a cleaner made for dogs.
- Ask your vet before having ear hair plucked. It can inflame the canal, and many vets only advise it when hair is clearly trapping debris.
- If your Lab is itchy elsewhere, talk to your vet about allergies, because treating the ear alone won’t fix an allergic cause.
- Note the date and what your Lab had been doing (swimming, a new food, a grassy walk). Patterns help your vet find the trigger.
If infections keep coming back
Repeat infections usually mean an underlying cause, most often allergies, that hasn’t been found yet. My guide on why Labradors keep getting ear infections explains what a proper investigation looks like. For the swimming side, see Labrador skin problems after swimming. Ear checks fit naturally into the rest of your grooming routine, alongside nail trimming at home and the senior Labrador care routine.
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If you’re worried about your dog’s ears, ask your vet.
Common questions about Lab ear infections
Can I treat my Lab’s ear infection at home without a vet?
No. Gentle cleaning keeps healthy ears healthy, but an infection needs the right treatment for what’s causing it. Over-the-counter drops can make things worse or contribute to resistance.
How long does it take to clear?
With the right treatment, most straightforward outer ear infections improve within 7 to 14 days. Your vet will usually want a recheck at the end to confirm it has fully cleared, and finishing the full course helps prevent a quick relapse.
Is it painful for my Lab?
Yes, anywhere from uncomfortable to very painful depending on how severe it is. A dog who shakes their head constantly, paws at the ear or won’t let you touch it is in discomfort, and waiting makes the infection harder to clear.
Can my other dog catch it?
Bacterial and yeast infections generally aren’t passed between dogs. Ear mites can be, so if one dog has them, your vet may want to check the others.
Should I clean the ear before the vet appointment?
No, unless your vet tells you to. Leave the ear as it is so the vet can see the discharge and take a clean sample. Cleaning first can hide what they need to see.
Can an ear infection affect my dog’s hearing?
A mild outer ear infection usually doesn’t, but a badly swollen canal, long-running infection or middle or inner ear involvement can affect hearing, sometimes temporarily. It is another good reason not to leave an infected ear.
Are Labs more prone to ear infections than other breeds?
Labs are one of the breeds vets commonly see with outer ear infections, mainly because of dropped ears, a love of water and a tendency towards allergies. That is a pattern, not a certainty, and plenty of Labs never get one.
Can puppies get ear infections?
Yes. Puppies can get infections and ear mites. Because puppies are small and the cause can differ, it is best to have a vet look rather than using leftover drops.