Your Guide to Taking Care of Your Goldendoodle's Ears
Goldendoodles make excellent pets, thanks to their temperament, obedience, and high intelligence. These dogs are loving and loyal, and they are extremely intelligent. As a mix of a Golden Retriever and Poodle, Goldendoodles come in multiple sizes, and they’re great family dogs.
That said, each dog breed has its own health risks. For the Goldendoodle, one of the things you should pay attention to are the ears. As with other floppy-eared dogs, this breed can experience ear problems. Fortunately, being proactive can ensure your dog is always in good spirits.
Why do I need to clean my Goldendoodle’s ears?
Floppy ears are a health risk because yeast and bacteria can grow and thrive in the warm, moist environment. For routine prevention of these infections Goldendoodle’s should have their ears cleaned once a month to remove any debris that may have accumulated. However, if you live in a humid climate, your dog goes into the water often, or has a history of multiple ear infections, you may need to clean the ears more often.
Conversely, cleaning too frequently can cause the ear canals to dry out which can also lead to pain and other problems. If you feel your dog needs more frequent cleaning, please speak to one of our team members for advice.
How to clean my Goldendoodle’s ears
To clean your Goldendoodle’s ears, you first need to find an effective cleaning solution. At Sleepy Hollow Animal Hospital we carry several different ear cleaning solutions and depending on your pet’s needs, our veterinarians will recommend the most effective product. There are many DIY cleaners online, but some might do more harm than good. Always talk to your vet before putting anything in your dog’s ears.
Once you have the right ear cleaning solution, you will need to fill the canal with the liquid, then gently massage the base of the ear to loosen any material in the canal. Your pet may shake their head at this point which is ok and actually helpful for the next step.
Next, use cotton balls to absorb the liquid and any loose debris by wiping the inside of the ear canal. This should be done until the ear canal is dry and free of debris. Don’t use cotton swabs as you could damage your dog’s ear canal or ear drum.
Check for Signs of Infection
Despite your best efforts, your dog may get an ear infection. If an infection does take hold, more frequent, short-term cleaning may be recommended, but in order to effectively treat the infection, a veterinarian will need to examine your pet’s ears and likely prescribe medications. Here are some warning signs that an ear infection may have developed:
- Scratching the ears more often than usual
- Redness or swelling inside the ears
- The ears are hotter than normal
- Strong, pungent smell
- Brown, yellow or tan debris in the ears
- Matted hair within the ears
- Whimpering when the ears are touched
- Holding one ear lower than the other, or even tilting their head to one side
If an infection sets in, you must take your Goldendoodle to the vet right away. If you let the infection spread, it can worsen and lead to more significant pain and even cause permanent scarring of the ear canal.
Treat Your Goldendoodle at Sleepy Hollow Animal Hospital
All pets require some form of routine care in order to keep them healthy, and Goldendoodles are no exception. By maintaining the health of the ear canals with regular maintenance cleaning, you can help prevent unwanted ear infections and the pain associated with these infections. If you need help with how to do the cleaning, our team would be happy to book an appointment with one of our technicians to go over the steps involved.
In addition, bringing your dog in for regular checkups with our veterinarian can help prevent ear infections and other health problems, and we can counsel you on what cleaning products would be best for ongoing care of your pet’s ears.
We’d love to see you and your furry friend, so call us to make an appointment today!
