Why are my dog's ears hot?
Hot ears on their own are often nothing more than a normal response to heat, sun or exercise, since ears carry a lot of blood vessels close to the surface and warm up easily. They can also be a sign of an ear infection or allergy, particularly if the heat comes with other changes like odour, discharge or head shaking.
Usually not urgent
This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.
The everyday, harmless reasons
Exercise, excitement, warm weather and time spent in direct sun can all make a dog's ears feel noticeably warmer than usual, simply because of increased blood flow to the area. This kind of warmth usually settles on its own once your dog cools down and shows no other signs — no odour, no scratching, no discomfort when touched.
Dogs with thin fur or pale skin on their ears, particularly white or light-coloured dogs, can also get genuine sunburn on the ear tips after time in strong sun, which causes warmth, redness and sometimes tenderness in the affected area specifically rather than the whole ear.
When heat points to something else
Ear infections, whether bacterial or yeast-related, are a common cause of noticeably hot, often smelly ears, and dogs with floppy ears, allergies, or who swim regularly are more prone to them because moisture and reduced airflow create the right conditions for infection to take hold.
Allergies — whether to food or something in the environment — frequently show up as ear inflammation before or alongside other signs like itchy skin, and hot, red, irritated ears in a dog with a known allergy history are a fairly typical presentation. An insect bite or sting on or near the ear can also cause localised heat and swelling in one specific spot.
Signs worth a vet visit
See your vet if hot ears come with a noticeable odour, any discharge or wax build-up beyond the usual, head shaking or scratching at the ears, visible redness or swelling inside the ear canal, pain when the ear is touched, or a head tilt. Heat affecting only one ear, rather than both, is also worth mentioning specifically.
A dog who seems otherwise completely well, with ears that feel warm only after exercise or time outside and return to normal fairly quickly, is unlikely to need anything beyond keeping an eye on the pattern. It is the combination of heat with other changes that turns this from a non-issue into something to get checked.
What helps day to day
Keeping ears dry after swimming or bathing, and checking floppy or hairy ears regularly for early signs of a build-up of wax or odour, helps reduce the chance of an infection developing in dogs prone to them. A regular, gentle check is far more useful than intervening only once something has clearly gone wrong.
If your dog spends a lot of time in strong sun, particularly with pale or thin fur on the ears, some shade during the hottest part of the day helps prevent sunburn, which is a simpler fix than treating it after it has already happened.
Breeds that need extra attention
Dogs with heavy, floppy ears — Spaniels, Basset Hounds and similar breeds among them — are more prone to ear problems generally because their ear shape naturally restricts airflow into the canal. This does not mean every floppy-eared dog will develop an infection, but it does mean a slightly closer routine of checking is worth building into regular grooming for these breeds specifically.
Dogs who swim often, whatever their ear shape, carry a similar increased risk because trapped moisture is one of the main things that lets an infection take hold. Drying the ears gently after a swim, rather than leaving them to dry on their own, is a simple habit that meaningfully lowers that risk over time.
If your dog is in one of these higher-risk groups, it is worth learning what a healthy ear looks and smells like when everything is normal, since that makes it much easier to notice small changes early, before they build into the kind of infection that needs a longer course of treatment to clear.
What can help
Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.
MPS Head Cover — Breathable Dog Head & Ear Protector
A comfortable, breathable alternative to the cone of shame — protects head and ear wounds or bandages while letting your dog move freely.
From£5.99
Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
A versatile, alcohol-free antiseptic spray that cleans, soothes, and helps protect your pet's skin from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
From£7.99
Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100
Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.
From£4.49
3M Synthetic Under Bandage Padding for Pets
A soft, breathable non-woven polyester padding layer designed to protect and cushion beneath bandages on dogs and cats.
From£9.49
Common questions
- Are hot ears always a sign of infection in dogs?
- No, warmth alone is often just from exercise, sun or excitement and settles on its own. It is worth checking for other signs — odour, discharge, scratching, or redness inside the ear — before assuming an infection is behind it, since those are what usually point to a genuine problem.
- Why are dogs with floppy ears more prone to ear infections?
- Floppy ears reduce airflow into the ear canal, which creates a warmer, more moist environment that bacteria and yeast can thrive in more easily than in an upright, well-ventilated ear. Regular checking and drying after swimming or bathing helps reduce this risk.
- Can allergies cause hot ears in dogs?
- Yes, both food and environmental allergies commonly cause ear inflammation, which can make the ears feel hot alongside redness, itchiness or discomfort. If your dog has recurring hot, itchy ears, your vet can help work out whether an allergy is behind it.
- My dog's ear is hot and they're shaking their head — what should I do?
- This combination is worth a vet visit, since head shaking alongside heat often points to an infection, irritation, or something lodged in the ear canal. Avoid putting anything into the ear yourself, and let your vet examine it properly rather than trying to treat it at home.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.