Veterinarian cleaning a Yorkshire Terrier's ear with a cotton bud while wearing gloves
on September 18, 2026

Ear Infections in Dogs: Causes, Breed Risk & Safe Cleaning (UK Guide)

Short answer: ear infections are one of the most common reasons UK dogs visit the vet, affecting around 1 in 14 dogs each year — and certain breeds, ear shapes, and allergy-prone dogs face a genuinely higher risk, not just bad luck. Below is what actually causes them, which dogs are most at risk according to real UK veterinary data, how to clean your dog's ears safely (and what to avoid), and when it's time to see a vet rather than manage it at home.

Written by Jamie Sinclair, who writes about canine health, nutrition, and everyday care for Doggy Dailies — focused on translating veterinary research and real ingredient science into practical, honest guidance UK dog owners can use.

Table of Contents

How Common Are Ear Infections in Dogs?

Ear infections (technically "otitis externa," meaning inflammation of the outer ear canal) are one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions in UK general veterinary practice. A large-scale VetCompass study from the Royal Veterinary College, analysing electronic health records from over 900,000 UK dogs, found a one-year prevalence of 7.30% — meaning roughly one in every fourteen dogs is diagnosed with an ear infection in a given year (Pegram et al., 2021, Canine Medicine and Genetics). That makes it far from a rare or unlucky event — for many dogs, it's a recurring, manageable condition rather than a one-off problem.

Which Breeds Are Most at Risk? The Real Numbers

The same RVC study, drawing on a sample of 22,333 dogs, identified specific breed and physical risk factors — and the differences are substantial, not marginal:

  • Basset Hounds had almost 6 times the odds of crossbreeds (odds ratio 5.87)
  • Chinese Shar Pei had over 3 times the odds (OR 3.44)
  • Labradoodles had almost 3 times the odds (OR 2.95)
  • Poodle-type breeds generally had 1.91 times the odds
  • Designer breeds as a group had 1.63 times the odds versus crossbreeds

Two breeds stood out as genuinely lower-risk: Chihuahuas (odds ratio 0.20) and Border Collies (OR 0.34) — both around a fifth to a third of the risk of crossbreeds. Physical traits mattered too: dogs with pendulous (hanging) ears had 1.76 times the odds of erect-eared dogs, and those with V-shaped drop ears specifically had 1.84 times the odds. Being above the average bodyweight for their breed increased odds by 1.45 times, and male dogs had 1.21 times the odds of females.

The pattern here is consistent with what many owners already sense anecdotally — floppy-eared, heavier-set breeds like Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, and Labradoodles do seem to get more ear trouble — but having the actual odds ratios from a 900,000-dog dataset is a genuinely different level of evidence than the vague "some breeds are more prone" line most guides settle for. Beagles and English Springer Spaniels, both pendulous-eared breeds, share the same underlying risk — see our Beagle breed guide and English Springer Spaniel health guide for breed-specific detail.

What Actually Causes Ear Infections

Ear infections themselves are usually a secondary problem — something else creates the conditions for bacteria or yeast (usually Malassezia or Staphylococcus species) to overgrow inside the ear canal. Common underlying triggers include:

  • Moisture trapped in the ear canal — after swimming, bathing, or in humid weather, particularly in dogs with hanging ears that restrict airflow
  • Allergies — both food allergies and environmental/atopic allergies are strongly linked to recurrent ear inflammation (more on this below)
  • Excess wax or debris buildup — creating a warm, moist environment that yeast and bacteria thrive in
  • Ear mites — more common in puppies and cats, but can affect dogs too
  • Foreign objects — grass seeds are a particular summer hazard in the UK, especially for dogs that walk through long grass
  • Hormonal conditions — such as hypothyroidism, which can predispose dogs to skin and ear problems

This is a genuinely underappreciated piece of the picture: a 2024 study of 321 dogs found that 50.7% had otitis externa, and dogs with allergies — particularly food sensitivities and atopic dermatitis — showed significantly increased risk (Ponn, Tipold & Volk, 2024, Animals). Retriever breeds also showed increased risk in this study, while Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Collies showed reduced risk, broadly consistent with the RVC findings above. The same study found that among dogs with hormonal conditions, being at a normal weight was linked to lower ear-infection risk than being overweight — a genuinely actionable finding, since weight management is something owners can influence directly.

In practice, this means a dog with recurring ear infections and no obvious moisture or mite cause is genuinely worth investigating for an underlying allergy — treating the ear alone, repeatedly, without addressing what's driving it tends to just mean another infection a few months later. If your dog also struggles with itchy skin, our guide to itchy skin in dogs covers the allergy side of this in more depth.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

  • Scratching at or pawing the affected ear
  • Head shaking or tilting
  • Redness, swelling, or heat inside the ear
  • An unpleasant or yeasty odour from the ear
  • Dark, waxy, or crusty discharge
  • Rubbing the ear against furniture or the floor
  • Sensitivity or pain when the ear is touched
  • In severe or long-standing cases, a head tilt held even at rest, or loss of balance (which can indicate the inner ear is involved and needs urgent attention)

How to Clean Your Dog's Ears Safely

Routine cleaning helps prevent buildup that leads to infection, but it's worth doing properly:

  • Use a vet-approved ear cleaning solution — not water, and not homemade mixtures (see below)
  • Apply the solution into the ear canal, then gently massage the base of the ear for around 20-30 seconds — you should hear a soft squelching sound, which means it's reaching the canal properly
  • Let your dog shake their head — this naturally brings debris up and out of the canal
  • Wipe away visible debris from the outer ear and ear flap using a cotton ball or soft cloth — only the parts you can easily see and reach
  • Only clean as often as needed — for most dogs this is weekly to monthly, though breeds prone to ear problems (per the risk factors above) may benefit from more frequent checks

What Not to Do

  • Never insert cotton buds (Q-tips) into the ear canal — they can push debris and wax further in, or risk damaging the eardrum. They're fine for the visible parts of the outer ear flap only
  • Don't use hydrogen peroxide or undiluted vinegar — these can irritate already-inflamed tissue and sting significantly if the ear is infected
  • Don't clean an ear that's actively painful, swollen, or has a ruptured eardrum — this needs a vet first, not home cleaning
  • Don't over-clean — cleaning too frequently can disrupt the ear's natural protective wax and flora, sometimes making infections more likely, not less

When to See a Vet

Book a vet visit if you notice:

  • Any of the symptoms above lasting more than a day or two
  • A strong odour, significant discharge, or visible swelling
  • Your dog seems in pain, or won't let you touch the ear at all
  • A head tilt that persists even when your dog is calm and at rest
  • Recurring infections — this points to an underlying cause (often allergy-related) that's worth properly investigating rather than repeatedly treating the symptom

How Ear Infections Are Treated

Treatment depends entirely on the cause, which is why a vet examination (usually including a look at the eardrum and sometimes a swab to identify whether bacteria, yeast, or both are involved) matters before starting anything. Vets will typically prescribe a topical ear medication — often combining a cleaner, an antimicrobial or antifungal, and sometimes a mild anti-inflammatory — tailored to what's actually growing in the ear canal. For dogs with an underlying allergy driving recurrent infections, addressing the allergy itself (through diet trials, environmental management, or vet-guided treatment) is usually necessary to actually break the cycle, rather than treating each flare-up in isolation.

FAQ

How common are ear infections in dogs?

A UK study of over 900,000 dogs found a one-year prevalence of 7.30%, meaning roughly 1 in 14 dogs is diagnosed with an ear infection each year.

Which dog breeds are most prone to ear infections?

Basset Hounds, Chinese Shar Pei, Labradoodles, and other poodle-type or designer breeds showed significantly increased risk in UK veterinary data, largely linked to ear shape and conformation.

Can allergies cause ear infections in dogs?

Yes. Research has found dogs with food sensitivities or atopic dermatitis have a significantly increased risk of ear infections, and recurring infections often point to an underlying allergy.

Can I clean my dog's ears with a cotton bud?

Only on the visible outer ear flap. Never insert a cotton bud into the ear canal, as it can push debris further in or risk damaging the eardrum.

How often should I clean my dog's ears?

Most dogs benefit from cleaning weekly to monthly. Breeds prone to ear problems, or dogs that swim often, may need more frequent checks, but over-cleaning can disrupt the ear's natural protection.

Is a head tilt in dogs always serious?

An occasional brief tilt while listening is normal. A head tilt that persists even when your dog is calm and at rest can indicate the inner ear is involved and needs urgent veterinary attention.

Sources

This article is for general information only and isn't a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog shows signs of ear pain, discharge, odour, or a persistent head tilt, please contact your vet rather than treating at home.

Related: More Skin, Allergy & Everyday Care Guides