Are your dog’s ears hot? They might have hot ears for a variety of causes. Some of these signify a more serious problem. However, sometimes it’s only a basic explanation that can be easily fixed. When you notice your dog’s ears are hot, monitoring their activity and checking for any other problems that may be going on with their ears or their whole body will help you figure out why your dog’s ears are hot.

Why are my dog ears hot?

These are some of the most frequent reasons for your dog’s hot ears:

• Allergies
• Fever
• Ear infection

When you find out why your dog’s ears are hot, you can usually start treating them. Some telltale signs might help you determine what is causing your dog’s ears to be hot.

Let’s break down each issue so you can figure out if one is causing your dog problems…

Reasons that your dog’s ears may be hot

These are the three most prevalent reasons for hot and red ears in dogs that I have seen as a vet.

Fever

If your dog has an elevated body temperature from playing outside in the hot summer sun or from sickness, their ears will be red and hot.

Taking your dog’s body temperature using a rectal thermometer will often be more than 103. (39 degrees Celsius).

They’re probably a bit heated if they’ve just come in from playing outside. You may attempt to keep them cool by giving them cold water and a fan. Their body temperature should return to normal within 30 minutes to an hour. A dog’s average body temperature varies from 99.5 to 102.5 to  (37.5c to 39c).

If your dog is sick and has a fever, it is advisable to take your dog to the vet. Your veterinarian may prescribe bloodwork or other tests to see what is causing the fever to spike.

Allergies

Allergies might cause your dog’s ears to become hot. They might be hot, red, or itchy. This is because they are most likely allergic to something or have been stung by a bug or insect around their ears.

You may see hives if your dog has a severe allergic reaction.

If your dog’s ears are red and itching, and no discharge or smell is coming from them, you may treat him for allergies to see if this improves.

Giving your dog Benadryl helps reduce irritation and inflammation. In dogs, a typical Benadryl dosage is 1mg/pound twice daily.

Ear infection

In the spring and summer, many dogs get ear infections.

Dogs will spend more time outside or swimming at this time, getting water and moisture in their ears. Unfortunately, this moisture and heat will foster the development of an ear infection in your dog.

Dogs with ear infections will have hot ears and a black, smelly discharge. They will not also have a fever. You can do a few things to assist your dog with an ear infection, such as using over-the-counter ear cleaners.

In extreme situations, you may need to see your veterinarian for prescription antibiotics to be put into their ears.

Breeds that most likely get hot ears

Dogs with floppy ears are more likely to have hot ears. This is because the weight of the ears covers up the canals and feel warm environment.

Find a way to keep your ears up for 20 minutes daily to help with hot ears. This allows air to flow inside and reduces moisture.

A hair tie may work, but be cautious not to cause pain or cut off circulation. Another method is to turn one ear over and allow air to access it while your dog is lying on their side.

Poodles are one breed that has problems with their ears.

The following breeds are susceptible to getting hot ears:

• Havanese
• Afghan Hound
• Golden Retriever
• Poodles
• Weimaraner
• Cavalier Spaniels
• Beagles
• Basset Hounds
• Dachshunds
• Cocker Spaniels 
• Blood Hounds
• Vizsla
• Labrador
• Saluki
• Setters

How can I treat my dog’s ear infection without going to the vet?

Mild ear infections can easily be treated at home. Zymox is an excellent ear cleaner used daily to clean your dog’s ears. After cleaning your dog’s ears, you may apply a Zymox ear solution to help reduce inflammation. If you repeat this therapy every day for 7 to 10 days, your ears will begin to look normal.

If your dog has a severe infection, you should take him to the veterinary. They can determine whether your dog has an ear infection caused by bacteria, yeast, or both. They may then prescribe the right medicine to help treat these infections in your dog.

Weekly maintenance and ear cleanings may occasionally prevent ear infections. It is preferable if you clean your dog’s ears and ensure that they are dehydrated after bathing or swimming.

How do you know if your dog has ear mites or an infection?

Many dogs suffer from ear infections. Ear mites may be seen in dogs; most dogs with ear mites will have dried black debris in their ears, with very minute white flakes moving over this debris if you look closely. This is an image of ear mites. A microscope is often required to determine if your dog has ear mites.

Ear mites are more common in kittens and feral cats. If you just adopted a new kitten or have a wild cat that visits your home regularly, your dog may have picked up ear mites.

These mites may be treated with over-the-counter ear mite medications. However, if your dog’s ears do not improve after using ear mite medications,  it most likely has an ear infection.

What does it mean when your dog’s ears are red?

Many dogs’ ears may become red if their ear canal is inflamed. This might be due to allergies, overheating, or even a bug bite. Red ears should alert you to the need to identify the cause of the redness and treat the underlying issue.

How can I soothe my dog’s red ears?

If your dog’s ears are itchy and red, you may use Benadryl cream, cortisone cream, or other pet-specific anti-itch ear medications.

Most of these may be found at your local human pharmacy or pet store. Applying them to your dog’s ears once a day will effectively decrease redness, inflammation, and itching.

Is a dog ear infection an emergency?

Generally, your dog’s ear infection is not a dire emergency. Of course, they must be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, but you do not need to hurry to your local ER in the middle of the night unless your dog is in horrible pain or has blood from their ears.

Because of the pain, some dogs will not eat or drink when they have an ear infection. In these cases, seeing your local emergency vet for help with your dog’s ear infection is recommended.

In Conclusion

If your dog has hot ears, it might be due to many factors, including an elevated body temperature, an ear infection, or allergies. Some of these reasons are easily handled at home, while others need you to see your veterinarian for medicine to aid your dog’s ears. Keeping your dog’s ears clean and well-maintained might help prevent hot ears.