What this means
The ear flap is thin: skin, cartilage and small blood vessels. That is why it reacts quickly to inflammation, allergy or injury. The swelling may involve the whole ear or only part of it, and may be soft, tight or hot.
One possible cause is a dog that shakes the head hard or scratches the ear because it itches or hurts, making the damage worse. Sometimes fluid or blood collects between the skin and the cartilage and the ear puffs up like a cushion. Sometimes the cause is a bite, an allergic reaction or inflammation of the ear canal.
Write down which ear, when and how the swelling appeared, whether the ear is hot, red or sore, whether the ear canal has discharge or smells, and whether your dog shakes the head or scratches. Do not press or massage a swollen ear, as it can hurt.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Fluid or blood collecting in the ear flap
After hard head shaking or scratching, fluid or blood can collect between the skin and the cartilage. The ear puffs up, turns soft and may hurt.
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Ear canal inflammation
When the ear canal is inflamed the dog shakes the head and scratches, and the ear is red, hot, with discharge or smell.
About the condition: Ear infections -
Allergic reaction
Allergy can cause red, itchy, swollen ears. Other parts of the body may itch too.
About the condition: Allergies (food, skin and environmental) -
A bite or injury
An insect sting, a wound or marks from a fight can cause sudden swelling and pain in the ear.
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Repeated scratching or rubbing
An itchy ear gets scratched more and more, so bruising and scratches appear and the swelling gets worse.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Which ear is swollen, and whether all of it or only part
- Whether the ear is hot, red or sore to touch
- Whether the ear canal has discharge or smells
- Whether your dog shakes the head, scratches the ear or holds it differently
- Whether the swelling appeared suddenly or grew gradually
- Whether other parts of the body itch or the skin is red
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the ear flap has been swollen for more than a day or two, if your dog shakes the head or scratches the ear, if the ear is hot, red or smelly, or if the swelling keeps returning. Tell your vet whether your dog has had ear or skin problems before.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Ear infections Ears and hearing An ear infection is inflammation of the ear canal kept going by bacteria or yeast, which can be started by an allergy, a foreign body such as a grass seed, ear mites or trapped moisture. An inflamed ear itches and hurts, and long-lasting or repeated inflammation can change the ear canal for good. That is why it matters not only to calm the inflammation but also to find out what set it off.
- Allergies (food, skin and environmental) Skin and coat An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to substances that are essentially harmless, such as pollen, house dust mites, moulds, flea saliva or an ingredient in food. In dogs it shows up mainly in the skin and ears, and constant itching wears a dog down and can open the way to skin infections. More than one trigger can be involved at once, so finding the cause takes patience.
Body systems: Ears and hearing Skin and coat