If you’ve ever asked yourself: why does my dog sniff my ears? You might be surprised to learn that this behavior can indicate several health concerns. Dogs often sniff and lick their ears as a sign of respect and submission, especially if you’re the dominant dog. In addition, dogs’ sense of smell and mouth make them always find something interesting to lick, so it’s not surprising that a dog might feel bored and sniff his ears as a way to pass the time.
Your dog’s olfactory sense is one of the most sensitive in the animal kingdom. It can detect drugs, explosives, and even illness in humans. It’s a good thing, then, that you can figure out why your dog might want to sniff your ears! If your dog is constantly smelling your ears, it may be a sign of an ear infection. You can try several methods to stop your dog from sniffing your ears.
There are three major reasons why your dog might smell your ears. It may be to show affection, detect an ear infection, or simply to pass time. Or it could be to reward you for doing something nice for him. However, if your dog is sniffing your ears because he’s bored, you’ll have to analyze the context of the behavior before figuring out the real reason. However, it’s always a good idea to check if you’re the only one around.
While there are many reasons why dogs lick your ears, it’s often the case that the behavior is related to a more serious medical condition. Dogs often lick the ears of other dogs to explore a new smell. Other dogs enjoy the taste of human ear wax. Ear licking is one of these problems. If you think it’s a behavioral quirk, you’ll want to see a veterinarian right away.
Dogs’ sense of smell is so powerful that they can smell your body odor hours after it’s gone. Moreover, they can detect even trace particles of food that they’ve already eaten. Their acute sense of smell can help prevent illnesses and even death, and you’ll be glad you did. However, if you’re embarrassed by your dog’s behavior, you should always keep your dog away from you and your ears.
Other causes of this smelly ear problem may include hormones and thyroid problems in dogs. Dogs with hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels) have an increased risk of picking up strange objects in their ears. These particles may include grass seeds and foxtails, which cling to the fur around the ear. To prevent your dog from picking up these particles, you can trim the hair around your dog’s ears.
Besides detecting diseases, dogs are able to detect hormones from their owners’ breath. Hence, they use their nose to sniff people. Moreover, the smell of a human is as unique as a fingerprint. In other words, your dog can learn a lot about you through your smell. If you’re in the middle of a frightful conversation, your dog might smell your breath to identify you.
Do dogs smell ear infection?
An ear infection (otitis externa) is one of the most frequently diagnosed medical conditions in pets—especially dogs with floppy ears. Signs of an ear infection can include scratching at the ears, head shaking, ears that are red and/or painful to the touch, an unpleasant smell or a dirty discharge inside the ear.
Why does my dog keep sniffing my other dogs but?
These glands release pheromones that convey all different types of information such as age, sex, mood, and if a mammal is able to mate. Dogs have apocrine glands all over their bodies, but the highest concentration is found in the genitals and anus, hence why they sniff each other’s butts.
Can dogs smell ear infections in dogs?
With that knowledge, it should come as no surprise that your dog is perfectly capable of sniffing out an ear infection on you or another animal before you’re even aware of it yourself.
Why do ear infections smell?
If you’ve experienced itching, pain, or drainage from your ear, this could indicate an ear infection affecting the ear canal. Sometimes, even if the infection inside the ear canal has cleared, bacteria or fungi might remain . This can cause a cheeselike smell behind your ears.
What does ear fungus smell like?
If you’ve experienced itching, pain, or drainage from your ear, this could indicate an ear infection affecting the ear canal. Sometimes, even if the infection inside the ear canal has cleared, bacteria or fungi might remain . This can cause a cheeselike smell behind your ears.
How do you clear up an ear infection?
– Apply a warm cloth to the affected ear.
– Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
– Use OTC or prescription ear drops to relieve pain.
– Take OTC decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).
– Avoid sleeping on the affected ear.
Why do my ears smell?
Sebaceous glands are also found wherever there’s skin. They secrete sebum (oil), a mix of wax and fats that can smell bad. The overlay of the ear, along with the folds and grooves behind it, makes it easy for all these substances and their smells to hide and build up.
Can dogs smell an ear infection?
With that knowledge, it should come as no surprise that your dog is perfectly capable of sniffing out an ear infection on you or another animal before you’re even aware of it yourself.
What does it mean when a dog smells another dog’s ear?
Other dogs are attracted to the change in smell (and probably taste) of the discharge in an ear when there is an infection present. A sudden interest in another pet’s ears may indicate there is a problem in the ear canal. Dogs depend on their mouths to experience the world, and ear licking is one way of exploring.J
Why does my dog sniff other dogs ears?
Other dogs are attracted to the change in smell (and probably taste) of the discharge in an ear when there is an infection present. A sudden interest in another pet’s ears may indicate there is a problem in the ear canal. Dogs depend on their mouths to experience the world, and ear licking is one way of exploring.J
Why does my dog keep sniffing and licking me?
When a dog can smell fear in a human, their instinct as a companion is to offer reassurance and make friends. Even if the dog starts to understand that they are the one that is sparking such anxiety, they’ll be keen to show that they are no threat – which may involve lots of sniffing and licking.S
Does an infected ear smell?
Ear infection The infections are most often painful due to inflammation and buildup. An ear infection can cause drainage and you might notice a bad smell.A
What does a yeast ear infection smell like?
Yeast Infections In many cases, a yeast infection causes what is described as a sweet or musty smell. There can also be redness and discharge from the ear that’s generally brown in color.J
How do you tell if u have an infected ear?
– Ear pain, especially when lying down.
– Tugging or pulling at an ear.
– Trouble sleeping.
– Crying more than usual.
– Fussiness.
– Trouble hearing or responding to sounds.
– Loss of balance.
– Fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher.
Why is my male dog sniffing my other male dogs butt?
Every dog has two anal glands from which come secretions that, while masked to the human nose by the pup’s stool, tell an entire story to dogs who sniff it. With a couple inhales, any dog can ascertain if another dog is an old acquaintance or a new one, if they’re male or female, and if they’re aggressive or passive.M
What does my ear smell like?
Earwax That Smells Bad Anaerobic bacteria, that means the organism doesn’t require oxygen to thrive, tend to emit a foul odor that can make earwax smell bad. A bad smell can also mean an infection is causing middle ear damage.A
What does an ear infection smell like?
Infection. Infections often cause a cheeselike smell. Bacteria, yeast, and fungi are most often to blame. This is because they like warm, moist places.
What is the smell of ear discharge?
Discharge and ear health A foul smelling discharge could likely be caused by malignant otitis externa. This occurs when an ear infection spreads to the outer ear and surrounding tissue. Head injuries, which damage the brain, skull or scalp, can also cause ear discharge.
Why does my dog sniff and lick my ear?
Your dog may lick your ears as a way to show that they respect you as a valued and high-ranking member of their family unit. This is especially likely to be the case if you see other classic submissive behaviors, such as crouching down low, exposing their soft belly, and tucking their tail.O
