Most ear infections don’t start in the ear, they start with inflammation. Allergic disease is the most common underlying driver, particularly in dogs with recurrent or bilateral ear issues. When the skin inside the ear canal becomes inflamed, it swells, produces more wax, and loses its normal protective barrier. That altered environment allows yeast and bacteria that normally live there to multiply.

Other contributors can include moisture from swimming, foreign material, anatomical factors, or parasites such as mites, though these are less common.

Before a full-blown infection, you may notice subtle changes:

• Mild head shaking after walks or baths
• Redness at the ear opening
• Increased wax or a yeasty smell
• Scratching at the ears or rubbing the face on furniture

These early signs are your window to act, often before pain sets in.

The itch–ear cycle

Itching matters because it damages the skin barrier. Repeated scratching causes micro-injury, increasing inflammation and disrupting the ear’s normal defences. That inflammation leads to more wax and moisture, which feeds microbial overgrowth. Breaking this cycle often requires more than just treating the infection, it means addressing the underlying itch and trigger, whether that’s allergy, environment, or diet.

Recurrent ear infections are rarely random. Elita Blueprint helps surface patterns by holding the timeline around flare-ups. You can see whether ear symptoms worsen during pollen season, after swimming, or alongside increases in general itchiness. By capturing these patterns over time, you give your vet context, not just a snapshot, making it easier to identify the underlying cause and reduce repeat infections.