Care For Dogs With Long Ears

Some dogs are characterized by having very long ears and “falling”… In some cases they even rub the ground! Therefore, in this article we will tell you about the care of dogs with this beautiful quality . This will prevent the proliferation of bacteria, infections and bad smell.

Breeds of dogs with long ears

First of all, it would be nice to make a kind of counting with those breeds of dog that have long ears. We can name the cocker spaniel, the basset hound, the dachshund, the bloodhound and the beagle as the main “referents”, but there are also others whose ears are smaller but fallen: English setter, labrador, Maltese bichon, Saint Bernard or golden retriever.

There is no doubt that they are very beautiful and popular dogs, chosen as pets all over the world and known in each country. However, this peculiarity in terms of the ears can cause them some health problems that, if not treated in time, lead to more serious complications.

Dogs with “ears” are more prone to the accumulation of wax, dirt and moisture. Therefore, they are more likely to suffer from infections, fungi, redness, bad smell and even suppuration of pus.

The main problem of dogs with large ears and down is that the auditory pavilion does not have adequate ventilation, so after bathing or a rainy day the humidity does not dry well and this leads to the proliferation of certain microorganisms.

Bacteria can cause, among other ear infections, otitis, which is synonymous with acute pain, changes in their behavior — some dogs become aggressive in the face of suffering — and problems hearing properly.

Otitis en perros

Other symptoms that can alert us to the situation are: scratching the ears with the hind legs, shaking the head to the sides, whining and yellow or brown discharge falling from the ears with very bad smell.

Care for dogs with long ears

If you have a pet with long ears it is very important that you pay attention to its cleanliness. Some of the care of dogs with this feature are as follows:

1. Cleans your ears frequently

Since puppies, dogs should be used to bathing and cleaning certain areas such as ears or teeth. In this way, they will not see it as something traumatic, but as a fun game.

Consult with your veterinarian for the best way to clean your dog’s ears. A good option is to assemble a cotton ball and fasten it with scissors or tweezers . Then imbibe in alcohol and carefully introduce into the ear of the animal. Finally, repeat the operation with a dry cotton pad to remove all possible moisture.

Some people also use sticks for humans. But the problem is that the canine ear is much larger and deeper than that of people, so this element does not serve for complete cleaning.

Higiene de las orejas de perros

2. Oars (outer part)

There are different alternatives for cleaning the outer part of the dog’s ears, such as disinfectant or soft wipes. Spend very carefully to remove all dirt and, when finishing, do not forget to dry with a canvas or cloth.

3. Pay attention to the changes in the ears

Care for dogs with long ears also has to do with analyzing certain symptoms or changes that may occur. For example, be aware that it does not accumulate mites — parasites that are like very small black dots — or that it has lodged dirt, such as plant fragments.

Watch your pet’s ears every few days, inside and out, and focus on debris, secretions, bad smell or redness.

4. Cut out the hair

Finally, in the case that your dog is a breed with a lot of hair, as is the case with the cocker spaniel, we recommend that you cut the hairs that can enter the ears and accumulate dirt.

In both winter and summer, care for dogs with long ears is essential. Prevents moisture in the ears and reduces infections or complications to the maximum.