Ear Problems Relatively Common in Dogs

Ear problems are relatively common in the dog, especially during the summer months and in breeds with “floppy’ earflaps. An ear infection is rarely a primary problem in that the infecting agents (such as a bacteria or fungus) is unlikely to cause an infection on their own but do so secondarily to changes in the environment of the ear canal. The most common environmental changes are the accumulation of earwax and/or water in the ear which let the normal resident bacteria or fungi flourish and cause problems. This is compounded by the anatomy of the dog´s ear canal (which can be viewed as having an inverted “L’ shape) resulting in poor drainage (hence the reason that dogs shake their heads) and complicated even further by “floppy’ earflaps as these tend to trap the moisture and heighten the potential for ear problems. Add to this mix a breed (such as the retriever) that likes to spend time in the water, and the recipe for ear infections is complete.

However, take heart as the good news is that through recognizing these predisposing factors we can design a preventative program to reduce the risk of ear infections occurring. The first is to get the current ear infection cleared up and it sounds like you are already on the right track. If a lot of debris exists in the ear, it can delay recovery and should be removed through either an ear cleanser, prescribed by your veterinarian to be used at home, or by having your pet´s ears flushed at the veterinary clinic (this usually requires sedation). If the infection is more severe, antibiotics given by mouth may be needed to assist in recovery. Once the current problem is under control, initiate a preventative program. This usually involves the period use of an ear cleanser/drying agent to keep your dog´s ear free of moisture and waxy accumulation with the frequency of use dependent upon your own dog´s wax build-up and exposure to water.

If swimming is a common sport you and your dog participate in the summer, when the day´s activities are done, I would suggest placing a cotton ball in the top of your dog´s ear canal followed by a gentle massage of the outer ear canal (which can be felt on the side of your dog´s head underneath the ear flaps) to force any water up and into the cotton. Once the cotton ball is removed, place an ear-drying agent into the ear canal to help alleviate moisture build-up.

Many excellent products exist – ask your veterinarian for his/her advice on the right product for you. Should this not reduce the occurrence of ear problems, other compounding health issues may exist such as allergies or hypothyroidism (which blunts the immune systems ability to deal with these infections on its own) and can be pursued further through diagnostic testing and specific medications. Hope this helps keep those ears happy and healthy!