Pet Ear Infection Treatment in Sandy Springs, GA, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Sandy Springs is a vet in Sandy Springs, GA, that diagnoses and treats ear infections in dogs and cats, often the same day. Signs include head shaking, scratching at the ear, redness, a bad smell, or brown or yellow discharge.

Most ear infections are caused by yeast, bacteria or both, usually because something else, like allergies, made the ear inflamed first. Treating the infection and the cause is what keeps it from coming back.

Call (678) 673-3977, book online or walk in.

Signs pet parents notice first

At Petfolk Sandy Springs, the most common signs of an ear infection are:

• Shaking the head or tilting it to one side

• Scratching or rubbing an ear on the floor

• A sour or yeasty smell

• Brown, yellow or black discharge

• Red, swollen or warm skin inside the ear flap

• Pain when the ear is touched

• A puffy, fluid-filled ear flap (an aural hematoma) from hard shaking

My baby had bad head shakes for a few days. I took him to be seen for possible ear infection.

Curel H., Google review

How does the vet diagnose an ear infection?

The vet at Petfolk Sandy Springs looks deep into the ear with an otoscope (a lighted scope) to check the canal and the eardrum. A swab of the discharge is smeared on a slide and examined under the microscope, which shows whether yeast, bacteria or mites are present, and which medicine will work. Results from this in-house test come back during the visit.

Fear Free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic. Sore ears hurt, so the team goes slowly, and a very painful pet may need sedation for a proper look and cleaning.

How are ear infections treated?

Treatment at Petfolk Sandy Springs depends on what the swab shows:

1. A gentle cleaning at the clinic to clear debris so medicine can reach the skin.

2. Ear drops or other ear medicine, chosen by what the swab shows.

3. Pain or anti-itch medicine if the ear is very sore.

4. A recheck to confirm the infection has cleared, since stopping early is a common reason it returns.

Your medicine comes from the on-site pharmacy, and the team shows you how to give drops at home.

Why do my dog's ears keep getting infected?

Repeat ear infections in dogs at Petfolk Sandy Springs are most often linked to allergies, either to food or to things like pollen. Floppy ears, hairy ear canals and frequent swimming also trap moisture. Dogs who wade in the Chattahoochee River or splash at creeks benefit from a drying ear cleaner afterward. Across Petfolk, ear problems made up 9 to 10% of sick visits in every month of the year (Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026), so this is not only a summer issue.

Cats and ear mites

In cats, especially kittens, ear mites are a common cause: dark, crumbly discharge and intense scratching. Mites spread between pets, so every cat and dog in the home may need treatment.

What does ear infection treatment cost?

A sick exam starts at $135 at Petfolk Sandy Springs. The ear swab test, cleaning and medicine are priced separately. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment, and the final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Head tilt with stumbling

A sudden head tilt with stumbling, circling, flicking eyes or vomiting can mean the inner ear or the balance system is involved. Book a same-day visit. If your pet can't stand or has a seizure, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital on Abernathy Rd NE.

Get those ears checked

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Sandy Springs is at 6223 Roswell Rd, 365A, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Call (678) 673-3977. Ear trouble tied to itchy skin? See pet allergy testing and treatment.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Sandy Springs, or see all veterinary services in Sandy Springs.