Cocker Spaniel Ear Infections
Over the years of working in a vet's office I have come in contact with more cocker spaniels
with ear infections than possibly any other breed and its becoming more and more common to
hear them referred to as 'normal cocker ears' and this really need not be the case. While
any breed who's ears hang down (low air circulation creates a warm moist environment that
both bacteria and yeast thrive in as well as a 'ripe environment' for pests such as ear mites)
can be more susceptible to chronic ear infections perhaps because of the amount of hair
found on the cocker spaniel's ears this contributes to the issue.
Whatever the 'cause' be it genetic predisposition *something I disagree with* or environmental
*the more likely choice* keeping a cocker spaniel without an ear infection IS possible.
Several of my dogs have NEVER even had extra 'wax' to their ears let alone an ear infection.
In fact other than adults brought in or rescued from other places we haven't had an ear
infection here ever.
The first step to avoiding ear infections is to make it a priority in regularly
maintaining and caring for your cocker spaniel. I check the ears of our cockers at every
chance to keep on top of anything that might develop. It's easy to flip their ears over (and part
of helping to socialize them and accept you as pack leader) and take a quick peek while
petting them. Any funky smell or color (ear red or gunk) should be dealt with right away.
How often you should take care of your cocker's ears depends on you and your cocker. I
check weekly and use a cotton ball to 'dry' their ears from humidity and moisture about
once a week or two. Since we don't have any ongoing ear infections I normally only clean
their ears out with an ear cleaner once a month when I groom and bathe them. Your
weather can play a part in how often you need to clean their ears as well as the time of year. It
seems that the warmer and more humid the environment (indoors and in your area of the
world) makes a bigger impact on how likely your cocker is to develop an ear infection, it makes
sense in that the outside would definitely play a role on how the inside is doing.
Types of ear cleaners will also make a difference. Often the generic ones found at your
local store (say Walmart) are too harsh or drying and the ones picked up at your
veterinarian's office are more gentle (which is good if you have an irritated ear due to
infection but bad if you are simply wanting to break down the wax in an un-inflammed ear) than
you need. I personally use an ear cleaner that is available online at Ryan's Pet Supply, which
when I first started using the products they offer was local to me (When we lived in Phoenix
AZ). Paw Brother's Healthy Ear Cleaner in my experience is a great product. The
shampoo brands I use on all my cockers (puppies and adults and rescues) is Paw Brothers (no
they don't pay me to say that~ tho I wouldn't mind it if they did LOL). With ear care I would
advise against the powders and other items as the more 'extra stuff' in the ear the more you
are going to give the bacteria or yeast 'to grow in'. There is a home remedy formula for
spaniel ears that many others have tried and really like. Not having used it myself (it is
specially intended for infected ears and then maintaining the ear) I won't post it online but if
you would like the recipe for it you can certainly email me and ask.
with ear infections than possibly any other breed and its becoming more and more common to
hear them referred to as 'normal cocker ears' and this really need not be the case. While
any breed who's ears hang down (low air circulation creates a warm moist environment that
both bacteria and yeast thrive in as well as a 'ripe environment' for pests such as ear mites)
can be more susceptible to chronic ear infections perhaps because of the amount of hair
found on the cocker spaniel's ears this contributes to the issue.
Whatever the 'cause' be it genetic predisposition *something I disagree with* or environmental
*the more likely choice* keeping a cocker spaniel without an ear infection IS possible.
Several of my dogs have NEVER even had extra 'wax' to their ears let alone an ear infection.
In fact other than adults brought in or rescued from other places we haven't had an ear
infection here ever.
The first step to avoiding ear infections is to make it a priority in regularly
maintaining and caring for your cocker spaniel. I check the ears of our cockers at every
chance to keep on top of anything that might develop. It's easy to flip their ears over (and part
of helping to socialize them and accept you as pack leader) and take a quick peek while
petting them. Any funky smell or color (ear red or gunk) should be dealt with right away.
How often you should take care of your cocker's ears depends on you and your cocker. I
check weekly and use a cotton ball to 'dry' their ears from humidity and moisture about
once a week or two. Since we don't have any ongoing ear infections I normally only clean
their ears out with an ear cleaner once a month when I groom and bathe them. Your
weather can play a part in how often you need to clean their ears as well as the time of year. It
seems that the warmer and more humid the environment (indoors and in your area of the
world) makes a bigger impact on how likely your cocker is to develop an ear infection, it makes
sense in that the outside would definitely play a role on how the inside is doing.
Types of ear cleaners will also make a difference. Often the generic ones found at your
local store (say Walmart) are too harsh or drying and the ones picked up at your
veterinarian's office are more gentle (which is good if you have an irritated ear due to
infection but bad if you are simply wanting to break down the wax in an un-inflammed ear) than
you need. I personally use an ear cleaner that is available online at Ryan's Pet Supply, which
when I first started using the products they offer was local to me (When we lived in Phoenix
AZ). Paw Brother's Healthy Ear Cleaner in my experience is a great product. The
shampoo brands I use on all my cockers (puppies and adults and rescues) is Paw Brothers (no
they don't pay me to say that~ tho I wouldn't mind it if they did LOL). With ear care I would
advise against the powders and other items as the more 'extra stuff' in the ear the more you
are going to give the bacteria or yeast 'to grow in'. There is a home remedy formula for
spaniel ears that many others have tried and really like. Not having used it myself (it is
specially intended for infected ears and then maintaining the ear) I won't post it online but if
you would like the recipe for it you can certainly email me and ask.
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Some other 'tricks of the trade' with keeping cocker spaniel ears healthy:
- Keep the ears dry during bathing by placing half of a cotton ball in the ear (not too
deep but where you can see it). - During bathing be sure not to soak the cotton ball or lift the ear up allowing water to run
down into the ear canal. - After a bath make sure to remove the cotton ball and use another to dry any moisture
that might have seeped around it with a new clean cotton ball. Also make sure to dry the
hair on the ear. - When having your cocker spaniel groomed (see Cocker Spaniel Grooming pages
for an illustration) make sure they trim not just the hair on the outside but on the
inside. For my adults I shave the entire inside hair on the flap and in all directions
leading to the ear. - Try using a raised set of water and food dishes, thus helping to keep the ear clean
and dry even during eating or drinking and avoiding it picking up debris. For adults a
'milk crate' is the right height or you can use feeding stands the way we do. For pups I
recommend gradually raising the height and you can use a brick under the bowls and
add one as you go. - The show people use 'snoods' to wear while feeding over the ears. It's like an
elastic scarf and they are easy to make or you can buy them online. (ask me for a
recommendation if you'd like). - Feed a good quality diet to keep the skin and inside of your cocker spaniel's
ears healthy much like we keep our own skin healthy by eating a balanced diet. I
recommend Iams or Eukanuba and Eukanuba even has a specialized diet just for Cocker
Spaniels.
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