Where does your dog like to be scratched? Some dogs love scratches on the chin or the forehead while others don’t mind a nice belly rub. Your dog may prefer to get scratched behind the ear, but while doing that you may notice something strange.
After your hand brushes up to your pet’s ears, you may find that they are warmer than normal. You’ve probably felt your dog’s cold ears before, but warm ears are pretty unusual.
So, why do your dog’s ears feel warm to the touch? We’ll be answering that question along with other relevant queries in this article. Stick around so you can better understand why your pet’s ears are so warm.
Why Are My Dog’s Ears So Warm?
At first, you may find yourself amused by your dog’s warm ears. That’s probably because they feel so unusual.
Unfortunately, your dog’s ears warming up is not a good thing. In all likelihood, they are indicators that there is something wrong with your pet.
Let’s go over the possible explanations for your dog’s warm ears below.
Injuries
Your dog’s ears may be warming up because they are injured in some way. It’s possible that your dog was injured while they were playing around with your other pets or while they were running around your yard. Their ears might have gotten scratched up somehow.
The layers of cartilage inside a dog’s ear will start to bleed if it is injured. As the blood pools in there, you may see a bruise start to form and the ear itself may also swell up. The abundance of blood in that one area can also cause its temperature to rise.
Note that your dog may be in a lot of pain due to their injured ears. Don’t try to touch those ears by surprise because your pet may get defensive.
Infections
Dogs are susceptible to potential infections. They are known for infections, in particular. Your pet’s ears may become infected due to being covered in too much wax or containing too much moisture. A dog that gets too fixated on cleaning their ears may also develop an infection.
Your dog’s immune system will respond to that infection. As part of that response, your dog’s internal temperature will start to rise. Their ears will also start to warm up as a result.
If your dog’s hot ears are the side effects of an infection, then they will likely stay that way until your pet recovers.
It’s worth pointing out here that an ear infection is not the only type of infection that can lead to warm ears. Infections related to your dog’s urinary tract, kidneys, or other organs can also produce that particular symptom.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions can also cause your dog to get warm ears. Dogs may have allergic reactions to different kinds of external factors.
Your dog may have stuck their ear close to something that they are allergic to. Expect your dog’s ear to warm up not long after something like that happens.
Your pet may also present an allergic reaction to something they ate. Eating too much of that allergen can lead to your dog’s ears growing warm.
Waiting out your pet’s allergic reaction could be an option if they’re just presenting warm ears. If they are showing more troublesome symptoms, you should probably book an appointment with a veterinarian.
Ear Mites
Don’t forget about ear mites when you’re trying to figure out why your pet has warm ears. Those pests may take up residence inside your dog’s ears. They may also expel waste while they are staying there.
Your dog’s ears may become irritated due to those ear mites. Their ears may become itchy and infected along with growing warmer. Get rid of those ear mites if you want your pet’s ears to return to normal.
Is It Normal for a Dog to Have Hot Ears?
We’ve established that your dog’s warm ears can be symptomatic of several issues. From that perspective, your dog’s hot ears are definitely not normal. If anything, they are so unusual that they should tip you off to the fact that there could be something seriously wrong with your pet.
But could your pet’s warm ears also be related to something else? Could they possibly have warm ears because they slept too long on one side?
It’s highly unlikely that your dog’s ears will grow warm just because they slept on them for too long. Even if that did happen, the warmth would only linger for a few minutes at most.
Hot ears that double as symptoms of injuries or ailments last way longer. They may persist until the underlying condition causing them is finally addressed. Use that knowledge to determine if your pet’s warm ears could be signs of trouble.
How Warm Should a Dog’s Ears Be?
Your dog having warm ears is not a good thing. Still, how can you tell if the temperature level of their ears has exceeded normal levels?
We can help with that.
Generally speaking, the temperature of your dog’s ears should stay within the range of 99.5 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Your dog is likely doing fine if their temperature is within that range.
However, you must be ready to take action if their temperature exceeds 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Head to the veterinarian as soon as you can to address your pet’s condition.
By the way, the best way to measure the temperature of your dog’s ears is by using an ear thermometer. If you don’t have that, you may also have to consult with a veterinarian to check your pet’s temperature.
What to Do about My Dog’s Hot Ears?
There are ways to alleviate your dog’s warm ears.
One thing you can do is to get a towel soaked in water and use it to rub your dog’s ears. You can also wrap it around their paws to lower their temperature.
You should also encourage your pet to drink more water in an effort to alleviate their symptoms.
It’s important to note that the measures we’ve mentioned above are only suited for lowering your dog’s internal temperature. The only way to effectively treat the condition causing your dog’s warm ears is to get them checked out by a veterinarian.