Dog aggressive after ear mites. Is it pain or a chemical imbalance?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Marley is crying when being touched, is that lethargic and is not eating well that is not normal with an ear infection. I would have her seen by your Vet today. I would want to see if she is painful in her neck, back or joints, if she has a fever or Lyme disease and I would worry if she is not spayed if she has an infected uterus. Since it is Friday I advise not waiting. Good luck!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ear mites generally are noted first with signs of thick, dark discharge which appears a bit "crusty". However-the lack of these symptoms does not mean all is well with the ears of your pup. Dogs can get frequent ear infections, just like we can. I can tell from your photos that your pup has hair that grown down into the ear canals-this will be part of the problem. Those hairs trap debris, water from bathing, extra wax, etc and act as a great reservoir for bacteria to grow. I always recommend to my clients to have the hairs "plucked" by their groomer when they go or to come in to the office so that we can do it. After the hairs are cleared and the ears are cleaned, I like to do an exam of the ear canal and to take a swab of the ears to see what kind of yeast and/or bacteria are present there. It is important to have this exam performed by your vet to verify that your pet's eardrum is intact and not perforated. Likely your pet will get prescribed some antibiotics if your doctor finds it necessary, as well as pain medications or something for that awful itch. After everything is well controlled, it is usually easy to get my owners on a good ear cleaning regimen to keep ear infections at bay. I hope this helps! My best to you and your pup!

If you can get a muzzle on him, then you can treat the ears. Discuss mild sedation or tranquilizers with your veterinarian. Either may make it easier, and safer, to treat Diesel. Revolution topical will also treat ear mites in dogs.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ear infections are fairly common. The good news is that these usually respond readily to therapy when treated appropriately. I recommend that you have Clay evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If an infection is confirmed, treatment would be based on the type of infection it is. Good luck and best wishes!

I would be more concerned that Myna has an ear infection not just ear mites. Ear mites are not that common in dogs, although can happen. I recommend taking Myna to a veterinarian and letting them check her ears to see if there is an infection. If they are concerned about ear mites they can check under the microscope for them. I would not keep applying medication for ear mites when Myna may not need that type of medication at all. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, sorry to hear about Marley. It sounds like she could have pain from another source. Another potential cause for pain that you can speak with your veterinarian about is back or neck pain. These can have very subtle signs and typically present as reluctance to walk, use the stairs, or jump on furniture. Intermittent whimpering or yelping, especially when being carries. In severe cases, some dogs could begin to drag their limbs or carry their head low. If you note these, then Marley likely has some form of back/neck pain and truly may need anti-inflammatory medications. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi there. Yes, this definitely sounds concerning. Sudden behavior changes are often due to an underlying medication problem - Wanda may be in pain or not feeling well, or may have ingested something toxic that is causing neurologic symptoms. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam right away. He/she can do blood work or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate treatment.