Dachshunds are cute with their sausage-like bodies and their floppy ears but even though they are friendly and full of positive characteristics, some not-so-positive things include health issues that your dog will face because of its specific breed.
One big problem that many Dachshund owners face with their doxies is ear infections. This happens because of the way that the ears are shaped and because of the size and the way that they hang. Pay attention to your Weiner dog and notice if there is any change in their behavior or if they have any sign of ear problems.
To prevent ear problems from occurring, it’s a good idea to clean your doxie’s ears regularly, using one of the best dog ear cleaner products.
Signs of Ear Problems in Dachshunds
Here are some common signs that your Dachshund might have ear problems:
- Discharge out of the ear.
- Shaking of the head.
- Tilting the head.
- Ears are painful to touch.
- Smell coming from the ear.
- Dark spots or bites in the ear.
Top 6 Common Ear Problems in Dachshund Breed
Small dogs with floppy ears often have ear infections because of the lack of air that can get to the ears. Here are some common ear issues that you might have with your Dachshund:
1. Ear Mites in Dachshunds
These can be found in the ear canal, and they feed on the skin and cause your doxie to be uncomfortable. You can know if your dachshund has mites by looking for a black discharge or a smell in the ear.
Ear mites live on dogs, and they can be found inside the ear canal or on the surface of the ear. The dog can pick these up by being around other dogs that have been infested with ear mites or they can sometimes be found in places or in the grass.
You can tell if your dog has ear mites by looking for these things:
- Dark wax or a discharge coming out of the ear.
- Irritation in the ear and head shaking.
- Crustiness around the outside or inside of the ear.
- Large blisters.
- Skin lesions.
The vet can treat these ear problems with medication which can get rid of the ear mites and the eggs. The vet might also give your dog an injection or a cream to put on your dachshund’s ears if they determine if necessary.
2. Yeast Infections in Dachshund’s Ears
Dachshunds who have floppy ears will get yeast infections because of the lack of airflow to the ear canal. You can see a light brown discharge, or you might smell something wet in your Weiner dog’s ear.
A yeast infection that is on the outside of the ear is easy to see but if it is on the inside, it can be harder to notice. Yeast will grow in moist and dark places, and it can also come because of dust, mold, cigarette smoke, cleaning supplies, and other things.
Here are some ways that you can tell if your dachshund has an ear yeast infection:
- Tilting of the head.
- Overgrown yeast.
- Scratching at the ear.
- Loss of balance.
- Walking around in circles.
- Strange eye movements.
- Swelling or discharge.
The vet might treat your dog for an ear yeast infection by giving you an ointment to apply to the ear. You may also need to have certain medications. If your dog is constantly getting yeast infections, take extra caution in keeping the ears clean and dry.
3. Bacterial Infections
These are common in Dachshunds because of how floppy their ears are. This can cause the ear to be red and you may see puss coming out. Some of the most common bacterial ear infections include Otitis externa which is a Staph infection or Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is a rod bacterial infection.
It is important to get your dog treated if they have a bacterial infection because it can cause bigger health issues and can even lead to deafness.
Your vet will look inside of your dog’s ears to see what kind of infection that they have and if it is a regular infection, the vet will treat it with medication. Other infections can require surgery, so it is important to keep an eye on the ears to make sure that they are healthy and normal.
4. Hematomas
This is a swelling in the ear flap that can come with fluid. This can happen if your dog falls hard or plays too rough. A hematoma can happen when the blood vessels in the ear burst and are sometimes noticed as a blood blister.
Hematomas normally only happen at the flap of the ear and between the skin and since the Dachshund has floppy ears, it is at greater risk for the hematomas to develop.
If you suspect your dog has a hematoma, you need to take it to the vet right away for treatment which could include surgery. Sometimes the blood blister can be drained, or the vet might give you a bandage and some ointment to put on your dog’s ears.
Some hematomas will form because of allergies and so it is important for your vet to find out why your dog is having these troubles and what can be done to prevent them from coming back.
5. Fly Bite Dermatitis
This happens in Dachshunds that live in warm areas and can happen if there are a lot of flies that are biting your dog. Fly bite dermatitis can cause the ears to be red and to bleed and to have sores on or in the ears.
Fly bite dermatitis happens when flies bite at your dog’s ears and feed on the dog’s blood. This can be very painful for your dog and so it is important that you get your dog treated right away. This is sometimes called Fly Strike dermatitis as well.
You can tell if your dog has fly bite dermatitis by looking for these things:
- Maggots
- Visible larvae
- A bad smell out of the ear.
- Your dog having no energy.
- Not drinking or eating normally.
- Shaking of the head.
- Open wounds.
In order to treat fly bite dermatitis, your vet might have to shave the area where the bites occur and put on wound treatment and antibiotic cream. This can be done to clean out the wound and to prevent it from swelling more than it already has. Your vet will then give you medication to give your dog so that this can be stopped as soon as possible.
6. Things in Ears
Some Dachshunds can get twigs and other things stuck in their fur in the ears and this can cause an ear infection.
How to Clean the Dachshund Ears
It is very important as the owner of the Dachshund breed that you put grooming your dog as a top priority. This is especially important when it comes to ear care.
The Dachshund is known for its cute floppy ears that fold and hide the inner part of the ear. Because of the ear being hidden from both air and other things, this is often the place where parasites will hide and also the place where you will find hidden wax and water that gets into the ears.
It is very common for Dachshunds to have ear problems because of the way that their ears hang down and the fact that they do not get air in those crevices of the ear.
Healthy Ear of the Dachshund
Inside the Dachshund’s ears, there is a wax that you will find deep inside. The wax is called cerumen, and this is the wax that helps to keep the eardrum working and safe and it helps to keep parasites and bacteria out of the ears. There are two types of this cerumen, and one is wet while the other is oily and often dry.
It is important that your Dachshund has the two types of cerumen to keep their ears healthy and clean but having too much of either of the cerumen is where the problems can happen such as ear infections.
Unlike people and other animals, dogs are not able to clean their own ears and require their ears to be groomed often. Since the Dachshund has such long and floppy ears, there is no air or circulation that gets to the ear canal. Because of this, it is not uncommon that the Dachshund gets a fungal build-up or bacterial infection in the ears. This is also a place that parasites such as ticks, fleas, and other insects often gather because of the moisture and the darkness under the ears.
Keeping your Dachshunds ears clean is very important to keep your dog healthy and to prevent ear infections that can cause your dog to be in pain or can lead to more serious health problems such as a ruptured eardrum or even deafness.
What Should My Dachshunds Healthy Ears Look Like?
If your Dachshund has healthy ears, there should be some things that you see when you life up their floppy earlobe such as:
- Soft skin.
- Pink ears.
- Clean and clear ears without bites or black dots.
- No smell or buildup of wax.
Step By Step Guide to Clean Your Dachshunds Ears
Step 1
The first step is to make sure that you wash outside of your Dachshund’s ears. You can do this after being outside or every couple of days to make sure that the ears are clean.
Step 2
Make sure that you use a cotton ball or a piece of cloth with some cleaning solution for ears and get inside the ear and in every crease and line. Make sure that you clean the ears good, and you don’t miss any spots. Never use a Q-tip because it can push the debris deeper into the ear and cause an ear infection.
Step 3
Be gentle when pulling the ear so that you do not pull the ear too hard or cause pain. You can massage the outside of the ear for a few seconds to make sure the inside is nice and clean.
Step 4
Look each day inside the ear to make sure it is free of dirt and debris and there are no signs of parasites.
Step 5
If your dog is in any pain when you touch its ear or you smell any kind of strange smell such as cheese, take your dog to the vet right away.
Step 6
Prevention is the best way to make sure that your dog stays healthy. Pay attention to any kind of changes in the ear so that you can catch any issues before it turns into an infection.
Step 7
Always make sure that your dachshund’s ears are dry after going outside, swimming, or getting a bath.
FAQ’s About Dachshund Ears Problems
Why Does My Dachshund Shake?
Never ignore your Dachshund if it is constantly shaking its head or scratching at its ears. If this happens, chances are that your dog either needs to have its ears cleaned out or it might already have an ear infection.
Because the shape of the Dachshund’s ears is long and floppy or often called “drop ear,” they have a bigger chance of having ear infections than other dogs. Due to the ear not getting air or circulation, it can cause ear infections to easily set in.
There are some reasons that your Dachshund might shake its head and pay special attention to your dog if it is doing this and take it to the vet right away if cleaning does not make the shaking stop:
- Ears are dirty and need to be cleaned.
- Ear infection.
- Ear mites, or other parasites.
- Other health conditions.
Why Do my Dachshund’s Ears Smell Like Cheese?
When your Dachshund has a foul smell coming out of the ear, like cheese or any other strange smell, chances are that your dog already has an ear infection. If you smell something, take a cloth, and clean the ear and if the smell doesn’t go away with regular cleaning, take your dog to the vet to have its ears looked at.
Your vet can tell you by looking if your Dachshund has an ear infection and can give you medication to treat it.
Why Are My Dachshund’s Ears Brown Inside?
If your Dachshund has brown ears, chances are that the wax inside has built up and needs to be clean. Use cotton balls or cloth and clean out the ears. You can use soap and water, or you can use an ear cleaning solution for dogs.
When Should You Take Your Dachshund to the Vet?
Take your Dachshund to the vet if you smell an odor in the ear or if you believe that your dog has parasites. You should also go if you see any swelling or signs of a painful ear.
Final Thoughts
Everyone wants to have a healthy and lively dog and keeping their ears clean is an important part of keeping your dog healthy. Make sure to take time every day to look in your dog’s ears to prevent any kind of problems and to keep the ears clean.
It is important to keep your dog well and if you feel that your dog is suffering from any kind of ear infection or ear pain, take them to the vet right away.
