My dog's ears are greasy & she has chin zits. Are they related?

Zeeke is adorable! Thanks for including a picture. I have a few suggestions for you. First, if your vet has not performed an ear cytology to look under the microscope at the ear discharge, that would be a good idea to evaluate for yeast or bacterial overgrowth since there is a slight smell to the ear discharge. If there isn't any evidence of an infection or overgrowth that needs to be treated, then you might consider a product like Zymox. It is available as a cleaner or a medication. I usually recommend the medication Zymox Otic with 1% HC if the ears are itchy. As far as food, I am attaching a couple of handouts below with more information on food allergies and diet trials for food allergies. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=652 https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2499 Food allergies are one of the most common reasons for ear problems, so I think changing foods is always recommended with ear problems. You could consider a hydrolyzed diet or a novel protein diet. I would discuss your options with your veterinarian. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

This looks like a quite severe canine chin acne which is best classified as muzzle folliculitis and furunculosis. Usually antibiotics and long-term topical care (e.g. medicated wipes and ointments) will prevent this condition from progressing. In Asher's case oral antibiotics may be indicated. Failure to respond may be due to a resistant infection, so bacterial culture and antimicrobial sensitivity testing may be indicated. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

This looks like a mild infection which is likely an extension of chin acne. This is usually treated with benzoyl peroxide wipes (i.e. Stridex pads) and oral antibiotics. Antihistamines are also often used to help resolve this and some pets requrire steroid thereapy to get this to subside. This is usually caused by a skin allergy which can be from something in then environment or a food allergy. Remove any plastic bowls from you home, since this seems to be a common irritant for chin acne. I hope that your pet Scooby's skin resolves soon! Best wishes and take care.

Please do not use Sudocrem, as it contains zinc oxide, which would be toxic if she ingests it. If there is a bacterial or yeast infection present in the ear canal, which may be the case especially if she's shaking her head and scratching, you should have your vet examine her. Some ear solutions and medications can damage the middle and/or inner ear if the eardrum has been damaged. Your vet will likely be able to see the eardrum when he or she uses an otoscope to look in the ears. Sometimes the canal is very swollen and /or has a large amount of debris that prevents us from being able to see the eardrum, but we should always attempt to verify that the eardrum is ok before treating the ear, so as to not damage the middle or inner ear. If she does not seem to be shaking or scratching, it may be just the pinna (ear flap) that is affected, in which case I would recommend you try using [Zymox](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone), as it may get things cleared up. If you aren't seeing improvement in 3-5 days at home, take her to the vet. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

Hello. This is probably a case of chin furunculosis, a deep pyoderma or skin infection that can be from many causes, including food sensitivities. It often clears up with a round of antibiotics, & sometimes steroids, but may come back if the underlying allergen is not identified. I would start out by slowly switching her food to one indicated for skin issues. Both Purina Pro Plan & Hill's Science Diet have over the counter foods directed at dogs with sensitive skin & stomach issues. You can also clean the skin using a benzoyl peroxide based soap or one with chlorhexidine ( Hibiclens - available at all pharmacies ). If this does not work, or you want to see quicker results, talk to your vet about oral antibiotic therapy, topical therapy with Mupiricin & a prescription hypoallergenic diet. Also, make sure all food & water dishes are either ceramic or stainless steel, no plastics. Hope the skin looks better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It definitely sounds like allergies. Most dogs that have a food allergy will be allergic to a meat protein, not a grain protein, so grain-free may not be the best answer for Layla. There could also be an atopy component (environmental allergies), so I would discuss aggressive management of her allergies with your vet. She may need medications to help with the inflammation in her body. I can see that her ear canal is extremely narrow, which could be genetic but could also be from the chronic, low-grade inflammation. When this occurs, bacteria and moisture can get trapped inside the ear canal and make treatment much harder.

This looks like chin acne. This can be from allergies causing the irritation and secondary infection. If you are using a plastic dish for meals switching from a plastic feeding bowl to ceramic or metal can help. I recommend wiping her chin off after eating and you can use an human acne pad like Stridex to clean the area. If those thing don’t help a course of oral antibiotics should clear this up. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Hope.