When it comes to ear infections, dogs are the usual suspects. Their floppy ears tend to trap water after swimming or fungi and cause gross infections that are itchy and uncomfortable. But cats get ear infections too—just not as often. Learn how to spot an ear infection and get the right help as early as possible before it gets worse.

Cats are known to be graceful and coordinated. They leap on and off of surfaces with ease, tend to land on their feet and generally have great balance. That’s why, if you see your cat tottering on its feet or consistently missing its landings when it jumps off its cat tree, you know something is amiss.

If you are petting your dog’s head and get a peek into its ears, the insides should look clean, pink and healthy. If you notice that the insides are coated in a dark-colored discharge, instead, you may be alarmed, and for good reason—discharge in the ears is a tell-tale sign of an infection or health problem. Although dogs are known for getting messy here and there, the inside of their ears should stay clean and dry.

We’ve all had an itch on our bodies before and know the painful sensation of itches that just won’t go away. Dogs can experience this sensation too and may get relentless: shaking, thumping and scratching away to relieve the frustrating sensation. One of the most commonly afflicted areas in dogs is the ear.

It’s natural for your cat to get a little itchy now and then—almost any body part can have a normal itchy spot. Or, perhaps the itch is caused by a mild irritation or allergy. You’ll definitely notice, though, when your cat’s casual scratching turns into obsessive, harmful behavior. If this scratching is centralized by the ears, you might have something more than a regular itch on your hands. Your cat might have ear mites.

Do your ears hang low, can you wave them to and fro? Can you tie them in a knot, can you tie them in a bow? Of course not. That would hurt like heck and obviously we pets are not about causing ourselves undue pain.
Yap.
Besides, our ears are particularly sensitive. Ask any pet: tug, pull or scratch us a little too hard and out come the fangs. We can't help it.