Looks as if Kira does have an ear issue.

[Sunflowers]

Eyes and ears for me are always something that can't be put off, because they are painful and can get nasty very quickly.

[Lucy Dog]

How much shaking and scratching is she doing? Is it just a couple times you've noticed it or is it really bothering her?

[Anthony8858]

Geez.. You guys mean business.

I'll shuffle my appointments for tomorrow, and get her in the vet sometime during the afternoon.

I feel bad for her.. Her ear is floppy looking, and she has a pathetic face

[Lucy Dog]

I thought you just noticed her scratching it a couple times and that's it. A droopy ear is usually a pretty good indicator of an inner ear infection. The pathetic face means she's probably in pain.

A vet appointment would probably be your best bet.

[Midnight12]

Yes take her in because if they shake their head too much they can end up with a hematoma of the ear and fixing that can be very costly and with or without surgery the ear may never stand up again. This happened with my last dog .

[Mooch]

Could be a grass seed or something in the ear too best to have it checked, hope she'll be good as new again soon!

[Freestep]

Wow, you guys worry about ears a lot more than I do. I have been able to successfully treat minor ear infections at home using regular commercial ear cleaners, or a vinegar/alcohol solution. I've never needed to rush off to the vet unless it was something that wouldn't clear up with home care.

[jocoyn]

If I had a dog prone to ear infections I would do things on my own as I would probably develop a sense of what I am looking at but I have not had a single ear infection with any dog (3) since Toby who passed away in 2007--so if one of mine were to start it would go to the vet. I think this is Kira's first one....

[msvette2u]

But, it's a new issue, and that coupled with the fact if you stick something in the ear and the ear drum is not intact you can permanently damage the inner ear, the vet needs to make the diagnosis and check the inner ear to make sure the ear drum is there before putting anything into it.

Our vet told us ages ago, if we get a dog that has a gunky ear, to make sure the eardrum was intact first - if we couldn't ascertain that and they were closed at the time, we were only to use saline solution to clean the ear, because it's one of the few things that won't damage the inner ear permanently.

-so if one of mine were to start it would go to the vet. I think this is Kira's first one....

This.
Libby, after a lifetime of good ears, recently developed itching, scratching and holding her ear wonky, indicating pain at the least or pain/itching.
I brought her right in, now that we have the medication, if she starts acting like that again, we administer the medication right away and see if it clears in a few days.

Going to the vet is never a bad idea

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

Going to the vet is never a bad idea

Oh I agree, not saying he shouldn't go to the vet--just saying, minor ear infections (little to no gunk, no bad smell) is not one of those things where I drop everything and run. My Akbash dog had recurring yeast infections in one ear; I would do the "sniff test" on his ears often, especially if I noticed him holding one ear funny. I'd then clean his ears well with solution and squirt in some medicated ointment, which I always try to keep on hand. The infection would clear up within a week or so.

Then again, I have an ear scope so I can tell if there's a foreign body in there as opposed to a mild infection or irritation. If there's a foxtail or something, then yeah, I don't waste too much time getting to the vet if I can't get it out myself. And if you don't have medication on hand, that's another good reason to go to the vet. If he prescribes a tube of ointment or drops, see if you can't get two, so if it recurs, you have something at home to treat with.