A dog's ears are normally light pink, but if they turn black, they may be dirty, infected with mites, or infected with disease.
In particular, if your dog's ears have an unusual odor or are swollen, they are likely to be ill, so you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.
In this article,
"What causes my dog's ears to turn black?"
"Should I take him to the vet?"
For owners who are worried about this, we will introduce possible causes of black ears in dogs and ways to prevent them from turning black.
Please refer to the contents of this article and regularly check and care for your dog's ears.
Possible Causes of Black Dog Ears
If your dog's ears are black, there are four possible causes:
- Simple Dirt
- Dust Mites
- Foreign Objects
- Disease
We'll explain each cause in detail.
Simple Dirt
The first likely cause is simple dirt.
Dog breeds with droopy ears, such as Labrador Retrievers and Dachshunds, have poor ear ventilation and tend to get humid, making them prone to dirt buildup. This is especially important during humid seasons, such as the rainy season, when ears can get very humid.
In addition, Miniature Schnauzers and Toy Poodles, which have thick ear hair, also have poor ear ventilation and require frequent hair trimming.
To prevent ear dirt, regularly clean your dog's ears to keep them clean.
Mites
When ear mites infest a dog's ears, they can cause a large amount of black earwax.
Black earwax is the mite's feces, and if left untreated, it can cause severe itching.
Ear mites are often transmitted through contact with other dogs that are already infested.
Another way to infect your dog is to have adult ear mites or eggs attached to your hands or clothing, which can then be scattered around the room.
If ear mites are left untreated, they can lead to illnesses such as otitis externa, otitis media, and interna, so it's important to seek appropriate veterinary treatment before the condition worsens.
Foreign Object
If a foreign object is present in the ear, it can cause inflammation and black earwax.
If plants or insects get into your dog's ears while on a walk, or if shampoo water gets into the ears, inflammation can easily occur, so be careful.
Check the inside of your dog's ears after a walk, and wipe them thoroughly after shampooing to ensure that no foreign objects remain inside the ears.
Diseases
If ear inflammation caused by ear mite infestation, dirt, or foreign objects leads to ear disease, the inside of the ear and earwax may turn black.
If your dog's ears are ill, they may emit an unpleasant odor or become swollen, so if you notice any abnormalities, seek medical attention immediately.
If you suspect your dog's black ears are due to more than just dirt, take him to the vet immediately.
What are the possible illnesses if a dog's ears are black?
If your dog's ears are black, it may be due to one of the following illnesses:
- Ear Mite Infection
- Otitis Externa
- Otitis Media
- Otitis Interna
Ear Mite Infection
Ear mite infestation is a disease caused by ear mites infesting dogs' ears.
When ear mites develop,
- Itchy ears
- Hair loss around the ears
- Ear inflammation
- Foul odor from the ears
- Black earwax
Symptoms include:
Otodeus occidentalis is not a common ear mite, and infection is often acquired from dogs already infested with mites.
Otitis Externa
Otitis externa is a disease caused by inflammation of a dog's outer ear due to bacteria or ear mite infestation. Otitis externa can cause an unpleasant odor and black earwax.
Breeds that are prone to this condition include golden retrievers, which have floppy ears, and toy poodles, which have thick ear hair.
Loose ears and hairy ears can easily cause ear infections, making them prone to otitis externa. Regularly clean and maintain the ears to prevent otitis externa.
Otitis Media
Otitis media is a disease caused by inflammation in a dog's middle ear. It often develops as a result of otitis externa progressing, and can be accompanied by severe pain.
In rare cases, inflammation can spread to the facial nerve or sympathetic nerves in the middle ear, making early treatment necessary.
To prevent otitis media from developing, seek treatment as soon as symptoms of otitis externa appear.
Otitis Interna
Otitis interna is a disease in which the middle ear becomes inflamed, and often develops as otitis media progresses.
The inner ear is the organ responsible for hearing and balance, so labyrinthitis can cause sensory disturbances and hearing loss.
Furthermore, if inflammation spreads to the nerves near the inner ear, it can cause damage to the facial nerve.
Caution if you experience these symptoms
If your dog's ears are black and you notice any of the following symptoms, you should be careful.
- An unusual odor
- Swelling
- Violently shaking the head or scratching the ears with a paw
If you notice any of the above symptoms, your dog may be ill and should be taken to the vet.
However, if wiping the ears cleans them, it's likely that the black spots are simply due to earwax or dirt. It might be a good idea to thoroughly clean your dog's ears and see how they respond.
However, if you notice symptoms such as an odd odor, swelling, or itching, do not touch the ears and take your dog to the vet to prevent the condition from worsening.
Let's take a closer look at each symptom.
An Unusual Odor
If your dog's ears have an odd odor, it's often due to earwax. If there's a lot of earwax or black earwax, it could be an ear mite infection.
Furthermore, an unpleasant odor can occur if your dog develops otitis externa, otitis media, or otitis interna.
If you notice your dog's ears smelling, visit your veterinarian.
Ear mite infections and other conditions such as otitis externa, otitis media, and otitis interna are important for early treatment to prevent the condition from worsening.
If your dog is experiencing symptoms such as swelling or pain in addition to an unpleasant odor, do not attempt to clean its ears; instead, consult a veterinarian immediately.
Swelling is present
If the blackened skin on the ear is swollen, it may be due to ear mite infection or inflammation of the outer or inner ear.
If the skin on the ear is swollen, touching it may worsen the condition, so avoid touching it and consult a veterinarian.
You should also be careful not to let your dog touch its ears.
Violently shaking its head or scratching its ears with its paws
Violently shaking its head or scratching its ears with its paws is often a sign of severe itching.
Otitis externa, otitis media, and otitis interna can also cause itching, but ear mite infections are particularly likely to cause severe itching.
If your dog is constantly concerned about its ears, it may be an ear disease, so seek appropriate treatment at a veterinarian.
How to Prevent Black Ears
To prevent your dog's ears from turning black, be sure to regularly inspect and clean them thoroughly.
If earwax does appear, gently wipe the surface of your dog's ear with a dry cloth such as cotton.
We also recommend using an ear washer to clean your dog's ears.
Ear washer is a liquid medicine that you apply directly to your dog's ear and gently massage the base of the ear.
This will cause your dog to reflexively shake its head, which will naturally expel earwax from deep inside the ear to the surface.
If any visible earwax has come out, gently wipe it away.
Using this product 3-4 times a week will help keep your dog's ears clean. Ear washers are readily available at pet stores.
If your dog has a lot of hair inside its ears, trim it regularly.
Summary (Why Dogs Have Black Ears)
If your dog's ears are black, there are four possible causes:
- Simple dirt
- Mites
- Foreign objects
- Illness
If your dog's ears are simply dirty or have foreign objects, cleaning the ears yourself may be enough to resolve the issue. However, if they are mites or an illness, specialized treatment is required, so it's best to take them to a veterinarian.
If your dog's ears are black and you notice symptoms such as an unusual odor, swelling, or itching, take them to the vet immediately.
Even if there are no obvious abnormalities and it seems to be just dirt, if you are concerned, we recommend consulting your veterinarian rather than making a personal diagnosis.
You can keep your dog's ears clean by regularly inspecting and cleaning them. Please clean them frequently.
