The signs to look for are:

* Scratching one or both ears excessively.

* Head shaking.

* Head tilted to one side.

* An unpleasant odour.

* A discharge from the ear; yellowish, brownish or black

* Painful ears or head to touch.

* Redness and inflamation of ear flap and ear canal.

* Stumbling or circling to one side.

* Lethargy and depression.

The design of the ear canal allows debris, wax and moisture to accumulate within the ear. There are many causes of ear infections; grass seeds, dirt and sand, excessive wax, soap or water in the ear canal, ear mites, flea allergy or dermatitis.

A sore ear can be particularily distressing to a dog. To determine what is the cause of your dogs problem, it is best to see your vet as quickly as possible.

By Colin Curtis