A dog or cat that shakes its head, scratches at one ear or has a sour smell from the ear should see a vet within a few days, because ear infections are easier to treat early and home drops can harm a torn eardrum. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord is a vet clinic in Concord, North Carolina, that treats ear infections in dogs and cats, with a swab checked under the microscope so the medicine matches the cause.
Call (980) 360-2922 or book online.
Head shaking, scratching, a sour smell
These are the ear signs that bring pets to Petfolk Concord most often:
shaking the head or tilting it to one side;
scratching or rubbing an ear on the floor or furniture;
red, swollen skin inside the ear flap;
brown, yellow or black discharge, or a yeasty smell;
crying out when the ear is touched.
In cats, dark crumbly debris that looks like coffee grounds often points to ear mites, especially in kittens. Dogs made up 87% of ear-problem visits at Petfolk Concord from October 2025 to September 2026.
Why does my dog keep getting ear infections?
Allergy is the most common trigger behind repeat ear infections in dogs. Allergic inflammation makes the ear canal warm, moist and swollen, which lets yeast and bacteria overgrow. Guidelines from the American Animal Hospital Association treat recurring ear infections as part of the same allergy picture. Water trapped after swimming, which many dogs do through a Charlotte-area July with normal highs near 90°F (National Weather Service), floppy or hairy ears and a grass seed in the canal are other causes. If infections keep coming back, the allergy testing and treatment page explains how to find the trigger.
Ears aren't only a summer problem here: across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, ear problems made up about 11% of sick visits in both winter and summer (same window).
What happens at an ear visit at Petfolk Concord?
Gentle Handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic, which matters with a sore ear: the team takes it slowly and uses treats and breaks.
Otoscope exam. The vet looks down the canal for swelling, debris, a foreign body and whether the eardrum looks intact.
Ear cytology. A swab is stained and read under the microscope in the clinic's in-house lab. At Petfolk Concord, 79% of ear-problem visits included this check. It shows yeast, bacteria or both, so the medicine fits.
Cleaning and treatment. The vet may clean the ear and show you how to give drops at home. Ask the team which cleaners and medicines suit your pet.
Recheck. A follow-up confirms the infection is gone, not just quieter.
You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. The clinic accepts all major pet insurance.
They took the time to explain what could have caused her ear infection, went over the treatment options, and made sure I understood everything before leaving. Patrick B., Google review
Skip the peroxide
If the eardrum is torn, some drops and cleaners can damage hearing or balance, so don't treat an ear at home without an exam. Skip hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and cotton swabs deep in the canal. Once the Petfolk Concord vet confirms the eardrum is intact, the team can show you how to clean between visits.
Finish the drops
Many ear infections clear within one to two weeks of the right treatment. An ear can feel better before the infection is fully gone, and stopping drops early is a common reason it returns, so keep the recheck.
When is an ear problem urgent?
Book soon if an ear is painful, swollen shut or bleeding. A sudden head tilt, circling or eyes flicking side to side can mean infection has reached the middle or inner ear. If your pet can't stand, keeps falling over or is vomiting with a head tilt, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital. Petfolk Concord is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and doesn't provide overnight care.
Ear infection care for Concord and Northlake
Families from the Northlake area of Charlotte and across Concord are welcome at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord, 2425 Herrons Nest Pl NW, Suite 100, Concord, NC 28027. Call (980) 360-2922 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord, or see all veterinary services in Concord.
Itchy, smelly ear questions
Our Concord clinic on Herrons Nest Pl