Did you know that your puppy can get ear infections, just like human children? It's true. Unfortunately, your puppy can't tell you when its ears hurt. It's up to you to know what to look for. Luckily, there are some signs that will help you determine, not only that your puppy has an ear infection, but what's causing the infection in the first place. Here are three signs that your puppy has an ear infection. If your puppy exhibits any of the following signs, you should take it to the vet as soon as possible.

Foul Smelling Discharge

Your puppies ears should not smell foul. If they do, you need to get a closer look. Carefully look inside your puppies ears. If you notice discharge that looks like mucus, and is foul-smelling, your puppy may have a fungal infection in its ears. Contact your veterinarian. Fungal infections can pose serious threats to your puppy.

Green or Bloody Discharge

If your puppy has been shaking its head, it's time to look in its ears. It could be trying to tell you that it has a problem you'll need to address. If you see a green or bloody discharge coming from your puppies ear canal, it's got a bacterial infection that will require treatment. Without proper treatment, your puppy could develop chronic ear infections, which will cause it to experience continual pain. However, with proper care from its veterinarian, the problem can be alleviated.

Brown or Black Discharge

If your puppy spends a lot of time outside, or you saved it from an animal shelter, it could have ear mites. Ear mites pass easily from puppy to puppy, which is why they're a common problem in animal shelters. Luckily, they're easy to treat, but they can cause ear pain and infection before they're diagnosed. Look inside your puppy's ears. If the inside of its ears are coated with a brown or black flaky discharge, chances are that your puppy has ear mites. You'll need to take it to the vet for treatment as soon as possible. If you have other pets, including cats, you'll need to take them in for treatment as well. Ear mites can pass between all your furry friends. It's also a good idea to wash all their bedding in hot water to prevent a repeat infestation.

If your puppy is shaking its head, or scratching at its ears, it may have an infection. If you notice a discharge coming from your puppy's ears, contact a veterinarian near you as soon as possible.