Dog ear infection? Seen today
Ear infections are painful and they do not clear up on their own. Cytology (checking an ear sample under a microscope) is available in-house, so treatment starts at the same visit.
Mon–Sat, 9 AM–8:30 PM · Tue to 6 PM
What you are seeing
The signs owners notice first
An ear infection is not a cosmetic problem. It is one of the more painful things we treat in a routine day.
- Shaking the head, or tilting it to one side
- A sudden smell from the ear
- Brown, black or yellow discharge
- Redness, heat or swelling inside the ear flap
- Rubbing the ear along furniture or the carpet
- Crying or pulling away when the ear is touched
A head tilt with a loss of balance or eyes that flick from side to side is different — that suggests the middle or inner ear and should be seen right away, not later today.
What we do here
We test a sample before we treat
Treating an ear without looking at the sample is guesswork. Bacteria, yeast and ear mites all look similar from the outside and none of them respond to the same medication.
- Examination of the ear canal, including with a video otoscope (a small camera)
- Cytology and impression smears (samples checked under a microscope) in our own laboratory
- Skin scrapings where mites are possible
- Cleaning and treatment started at the same visit
What to expect
How to keep it from coming back
You will leave with the right medication for what was actually in the sample, instructions for cleaning at home, and a recheck to confirm the infection has cleared.
If this is the third or fourth ear infection, the infection is a symptom of something else. Ear infections that keep coming back are usually caused by an underlying allergy, and that needs a different appointment: see chronic ear infections.
Cats too
Cats get ear problems too
Less often than dogs, and for different reasons.
In cats, ear mites, polyps and allergies are the usual culprits, and a cat scratching one ear raw needs the same exam of the ear canal. We are a Gold-level Cat Friendly Practice®, so the exam follows cat-friendly handling standards.
Which visit is this?
Choose the Right Care for Your Pet
From routine wellness to urgent and emergency care, it all happens under one roof at 6937 Warner Avenue. The difference is how quickly your pet needs to be seen.
Emergency Care
Open now · until 8:30 PM
Come in now — call on the way if you can.
For potentially life-threatening conditions. No appointment needed.
Difficulty breathing · collapse · severe bleeding · suspected poisoning · a swollen or bloated abdomen · seizures · inability to urinate
Calling on the way allows our veterinary team to prepare for your pet’s arrival.
Urgent Care
Same-day care · Walk-ins welcome
When your pet needs to be seen today.
For problems that should not wait for a routine appointment but are not immediately life-threatening.
Vomiting or diarrhea · limping or pain · ear or eye problems · wounds · decreased appetite · sudden changes in behavior or energy
Wellness & Preventive Care
Appointments available
Keeping healthy pets healthy.
Preventive care and planned medical visits, including wellness exams, vaccinations, dental care, surgery consultations, dermatology, and routine diagnostics.
Not sure which type of care your pet needs? Call us. Tell us what you’re seeing, and our veterinary team can help you determine how quickly your pet should be evaluated.
Common questions
Questions we are asked
Can I just use an ear cleaner from the pet store?
Not as a first step. If the eardrum is damaged, some cleaners and medications do real harm, and a cleaner will not treat an infection that is already established. Have the ear looked at, then clean it with something chosen for the cause of the infection.
Why does it keep coming back?
Recurrent ear infections are usually associated with an underlying allergy or with moisture, rather than being a separate problem each time. Treating only the infection tends to mean it returns. See chronic ear infections.
Do you need to sedate my dog?
Sometimes. A painful ear cannot always be examined or cleaned properly awake, and forcing it is neither kind nor useful. If sedation is the right call we will explain why, and what it costs, before we do it.
Come in, or call us on the way
If your pet needs to be seen, call and tell us what is happening. We will tell you what to do next and get ready for you before you arrive.
- Address
- 6937 Warner Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 - Hours
- Monday – Saturday, 9 AM – 8:30 PM · Tue to 6 PMSunday: closed.
- Phone
- (714) 274-9305