Golden retrievers are quite lovable, especially due to their cheerful temperament, and appealing appearance — retrievers due to the structure of their ears unfortunately prone to ear infections.
If you have a golden retriever and you suspect your dog might have an ear infection, you need all the information you can get. Fortunately, we will be providing with you with all of that in this article.
Golden retrievers are often bred as service dogs and as seeing-eye dogs for assisting the visually impaired. The golden retrievers' ears are very sensitive, and they have an acute hearing; this is why some people breed them as hearing service dogs.
When caring for your golden retriever, paying close attention to their ears is a very good idea.
Your dog's ears, apart from providing the sense of hearing, also contribute to the dogs' sense of balance as in all mammals. Even if you do not need your dogs are cute hearing abilities, the ears are still very important for their other functions; hence, you need to care for them properly.
Because of the shape of the golden retrievers' ears, it is really prone to ear infections. This is a general condition for dogs with heavy hanging or drooping ears. Because the golden retriever has drooping ears and a combination of really thick fur this breed is even more susceptible to ear infections.
It is normal to examine your dog regularly. However, your examination is not complete if you do not thoroughly check the ears. If your golden retrievers' ears are healthy, your dog will probably not mind you touching his or her ears.
However, if you notice your dog reacting awkwardly to their ears being touched, it may be a sign of underlying problems with the ear. What you can do is; while petting your dog inspect both ears by turning the ear over and taking a look inside. Normal healthy golden retriever ears look pink inside with smooth inner skin and no foul odour.
Your golden retriever may show the following signs if they have an ear infection;
- Scratching at the ears
- Frequently shaking his head as though there's something stuck in the ear
- In severe cases, your dog may tilt and hold his or her head to one side.
Upon closer inspection using a flashlight, you might notice the following signs
- Dark build-up indicating the presence of ear mites.
- Sensitivity to touch.
- Abnormally warm temperature
- Swollen ears
If your dog ticks an uncomfortably high number of the above-mentioned boxes, your dog might be dealing with an ear infection.
Untreated ear infections can cause your dog extreme pain and can even lead to more chronic conditions like aural hematoma, caused by the build-up of blood inside the ear from a ruptured blood vessel as a result from constant scratching and shaking of the ears. In this case, you need to consult a veterinarian.
Ear infections often occur in the outside ears first, and if untreated the infections spread deeper into the ears of your dog how to ear infections are easily detected, you will find a coloured pus-like discharge that smells really bad accompanied with redness and irritation. You can easily detect early indications of ear infections from the behavioural symptoms (shaking of the head, rubbing the ear along the floor and the walls and other objects in the house, scratching the ear etc.)
Ear infections are sometimes caused by hair growth inside the ear canal. Also, if your dog likes to swim, an infection can occur in the ear as a result of water in the ear. Ear mite infections can also cause ear infections as well as the presence of foreign bodies like grass, and other objects can cause irritation and subsequent ear infections.
If you are sure or suspect that your golden retriever might have an ear infection common, you should consult a veterinarian who will closely examine the ears and take a sample of the debris to evaluate under a microscope for bacteria and yeast.
Ear infections typically require cleaning the ears with a solution to remove all debris and applying daily medication for a couple of weeks. In more severe cases available, your dog may be placed on oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to ease the pain and work from the inside out.
If the ear infection is caused by structural abnormalities in the ears, the best option may be surgery.
Prevention they say is always better than cure, so if your golden retriever does not have an ear infection, here are tips to help in preventing this condition as it is a truly uncomfortable and painful experience for all dogs.
The basic tip for ensuring your dog's ears are healthy is by keeping them clean. This regularly involves the removal of excess wax and debris.
Some ear infections are caused by allergies. Some dogs are allergic to two foods, while some are allergic to environmental or seasonal allergies just like humans. In the case of an allergy, your veterinarian will be in the best position to recommend the proper course of action.
Since golden retrievers have long fur, it is important to groom your dog's regularly and pluck their hair out of their ears if you find any. This can be done by a veterinarian or your dog groomer.
Also, regular checks by a veterinary doctor ensure that your dog's overall health remains stable.
Since golden retrievers are prone to infections, flushing and their ears regularly with ear cleansing solution will help keep their ears healthy, and their ear canals too. This can be done weekly; however, you need to discuss with your veterinary doctor, so and sure you have the right products for your dog and also to show you how to apply such products properly.
If your dog loves to swim and you allow your dogs to swim regularly ensured that you dry the inside of both ears thoroughly afterwards. Ensure you dry the inside of your dog's ears after bathing you can use a soft, thin towel or old t-shirts. There are also ear cleaning products on the market.
Ear infections are not a good experience for the dogs; it is good to prevent it, but, if your dog already has it, with proper actions you should be able to rid your dog of this condition in no time. Ensure you take good care of your dog, and you will have a very good companion.