Itchy ear

Hello Vets: My Labrador has been scratching her ear for about a week now, today it seemed to have gotten worse, she seems pretty uncomfortable and I was not able to get a vet appointment until Thursday. Is there anything I can do in the meantime? Does this look like she might have some kind of an infection?

Hello!  There may be an infection here;  perhaps a yeast (Malassezia) or bacterial infection.  However, infections are rarely the cause of itchy ears; indeed, they can often be seen as a consequence. Often, it is an allergy or physical abnormality (such as a lump or foreign body down there) that makes an ear itch.  Physical abnormalities can be ruled out on examination;  allergies are much, much harder to diagnose.  They are generally skin allergies (ears are basically skin down a hole, specialized to make extra wax whenever that skin is inflamed). Anyway, having itched and been scratched, ear skin becomes damaged; this is where bacterial or yeast (secondary infections) come in.  Scratched ears are itchy and itchy ears are scratched, perpetuating a cycle.  Therefore, we would indeed advise seeing a vet as soon as it can be arranged.  Vets have a number of approaches, including antibiotic or anti-yeast treatment (but only if they suspect an infection).  Other treatments may include attempting to control the itch or discover the nature of the allergy.  The most common allergy in dogs is still to fleas (usually other dogs' fleas - it's unusual for owners to see them), so flea treatment is usually offered as part of the treatment.  Frustratingly allergies cannot be cured and therefore recur throughout a dogs' life, so although itchy ears only seem minor, this is rarely the case.   Best of luck and please do let us know how you get on.