Golden Ears

[Geddy's Mom]

Just wondering about Golden ears. We have three more weeks to wait before we bring our golden baby home... and I'm wondering about those "L" shaped ears. I hear that you have to keep the water out of them or else an ear infection could start. A co-worker of mine had to put her down down due to an ear infection that got soo out of control it ended up going to his brain. So I'm a bit extra paranoid.

For you "L" shaped ear-canal dogs... do you worry about getting out any water after baths as well as swims?? Do you use regular Q-Tips??

Any advise to be sure they are dry??

Thanks,
Sandra

 

[rij73]

You can buy ear powder to put in their ear canals to dry them. I use these two products as directed to keep Hudsie's ears squeaky clean and dry. Especially use the liquid cleaner and powder after a bath or swim...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=1585&N=2001+113754
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=2282&N=2001+113754

There are plenty of other brands that I'm sure are equally good, though.

 

[MomOf7]

The first and foremost line of defense from ear infections is a high quality diet. In many, many cases, ear infections are a symptom of food intolerance or allergies, aggravated by moisture.

Exactly!
My dogs are in the water nearly daily. They arent Goldens but labs and have the same ear canal.
Here is a recipe to the bestest ear cleaner in the world.
I call it the purple potion

16 oz. bottle isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel)
4 tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
16 drops Gentian Violet 1% Solution

Mix all ingredients in the alcohol bottle & shake. (make sure you shake before every application).

Treatment: Fill ear with solution & massage gently for 30 seconds and wipe with a tissue. Fill a second time and just wipe without massaging. The dog will shake the excess out. Be careful, the Gentian Violet could stain. I use a eye dropper to fill the ear.

Treatment:
2 times per day for the first 2 weeks
1 time per day for the next 2 weeks
1 time per month thereafter

If you are concerned about the alcohol burning the inside of the ear then you can use witch hazel.

 

[Mordy]

The first and foremost line of defense from ear infections is a high quality diet. In many, many cases, ear infections are a symptom of food intolerance or allergies, aggravated by moisture.

 

[Herschel]

Our dog doesn't get infections, but he does get some wax build-up. (The Blue Power Wash defintely helps) Our vet told us it is because he is a poodle-mix and that he has so much hair in there.

Could it be that Canidae isn't the best food for him?

 

[Mordy]

Herschel, it's not only diet, it's also depending on genetics. Some dogs just have stronger secretions than other. What you can do is carefully pluck out the hairs inside.

If you feed the regular ALS Canidae, you could also check if one of the single-protein formulas works better, or a grain free food period.