Reasons My Pet Is Scratching Their Ears

Pets can scratch their ears for a variety of reasons. In most cases, scratching behaviors are normal and usually occur as a response from an outside source. Occasional scratching does not necessarily warrant a visit to the vet but if the scratching becomes excessive, there may be something bothering your pet.

Before rushing into treatment, take into account other accompanying symptoms or behavior changes that your pet exhibits. Look inside their ears to see if they look red and inflamed, have bumps, or are bleeding. You should also consider whether your pet is acting more sluggish than usual. When in doubt, always bring your pet to the vet for an evaluation and treatment.

Reason #1

Allergies

Allergies can occur in animals in reaction to things such as outdoor environmental changes with the weather, certain plant species, other animals, food products, or even some insects. Itching is usually a common allergic reaction when animals are exposed to irritating allergens. Itching is the body’s immune response to foreign allergens such as pollen.

Reason #2

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis can be displayed in pets and can be similar to allergies. Dermatitis is usually a short-term reaction to outside irritants or products like shampoo, flea treatment, or topical creams and ointments. With contact dermatitis, once the triggering product is no longer applied to the pet, the reaction will usually calm down and the ear itching will subside.

Reason #3

Insects

Sometimes insects may crawl inside the ears of your pet. This is especially true if they spend a lot of time outside. Bugs may cause itching because of the crawling sensation in the ears or they may bite the insides of the ears and create an itchy and inflamed red bump. If your pets have been bitten by an insect, their ears will itch and swell for days or weeks until the bite becomes less prominent on their skin and heals.

Reason #4

Inflammation From an Injury

If your pet has recently bumped or bruised its head, it may itch around its ears in an attempt to find relief from the swelling and discomfort. If a dog injured its ears, it may take some time before the inflammation subsides as dogs naturally perk their ears up and move them around frequently, which can aggravate any injuries they’ve incurred.

Reason #5

Ear Infection

Dogs and cats can sometimes be more prone to infections than humans due to their differing ear canal shapes. Ear infections can cause excessive itching and irritation in the ear. Some other common symptoms to look out for are yellow crusting inside the ears, discharge, scabbing, or rednesses accompanied by swelling.

When to See a Vet

Ear itching and scratching can be normal for animals and are typically caused by small environmental triggers like allergies. If you occasionally see your pet itching at their ears, it is probably normal and would not require any treatment. However, if your pet can’t seem to sit still without ear irritation or scratching their ears, there could be a problem that your vet could help treat.