How to Treat and Prevent a Golden Retriever Ear Infection

Across various dog breeds, ear infections rank among the top five most common medical conditions in dogs.¹ Golden Retriever ear infections can be especially common because of their breed characteristics, such as large, floppy ears and an inclination to water.

Recognizing the symptoms of an ear infection—along with common underlying causes—can help you treat and prevent them for your sunny four-legged friend.

If your dog has an ear infection, they may show any of the following symptoms: ¹

• Discharge from the ear
• Redness around the ear
• A new odor
• Itching/scratching their ears
• Pain or sensitivity around their ears
• Shaking their head
• Tilting their head
• Hearing loss (somewhat rare)
• Balance issues (somewhat rare)
• Reduced appetite (rare)

If you think your dog might have an ear infection like chronic otitis, call your vet to set up an appointment as soon as possible. ²

While any dog can contract an ear infection, certain characteristics make golden retrievers especially prone to it.

These features include:

• Predisposition to thyroid disease and allergies – Thyroid disease and various allergies—which are both common for Golden Retrievers—can often act as an underlying condition that causes a dog’s ear infections. ²
• Long luscious locks – The long, golden hair that’s so well designed to keep your pup warm in cold and wet conditions can also hold in extra heat and moisture around the golden’s ears. Unfortunately, that creates an environment where bacteria and yeast can grow, causing a yeast infection in the ear. ²
• Floppy ears – Golden Retriever’s signature floppy ear also acts to hold in moisture and warmth, making it easier for bacteria and yeast to grow and cause a yeast infection in the ear. While all dogs can contract an ear infection, a floppy ear can make certain breeds especially susceptible. ²
• Love of water – Bred to hunt waterfowl, most Golden Retrievers love water. But when water gets in their ear canals, it can lead to a dog ear infection if it’s not cleaned out immediately. ²

However, not all ear infection causes relate to dog breed.

Any dog can contract an ear infection from:¹

• Mites
• Growths in the dog's ear canal, known as polyps
• Certain types of cancer
• Something getting into the ear, like grass or fox tails
• Physical trauma to the ear

Your vet can check for these possibilities, along with causes more typical to golden retrievers.

With the exception of parasites like mites, most causes of golden retriever ear infection aren’t contagious, which means you rarely have to worry about your dog catching an ear infection from their friends at the dog park.¹

To help prevent ear infections in your Golden Retriever, try to: ²

• Treat underlying conditions – Work with your vet to develop a treatment plan for any underlying Golden Retriever health issues, like allergies and thyroid disease, as soon as they occur.
• Dry their ears – Dry your pup as soon as possible, and as quickly as possible, after wet activities like swimming, bathing, or rainy walks to not only prevent ear problems but also other common Golden Retriever skin issues.
• Clean their ears – Help your dog’s ears stay healthy and clean with an antimicrobial ear rinse. It’s typically recommended to clean your dog’s ears after swimming or bathing; when your dog starts excessively scratching their ears or shaking their head; when you see a build-up of earwax; or if your vet recommends a regular cleaning schedule.
• Monitor their ears – It’s hard to recognize an ear problem or infection-driven changes in your dog’s ears if you don’t know what the golden retriever’s ears normally look like. Try checking their ears regularly so you know what’s normal for your dog and can act quickly if something changes.

Knowing how to reduce your dog’s risk of ear infection can save your dog some pain—and save you some worry and vet bills.

Just like excessive Golden Retriever shedding, if you notice that your dog has caught an infection, the first step toward helping them heal is visiting your vet for a diagnosis and treatment plan. ²

So you’ve met with your veterinarian. They confirmed that, like many brave Golden Retrievers before them, your pup has an ear infection.

What does treatment for a Golden Retriever ear infection look like?

Typically, your vet will: ²

• Take samples to determine what type of bacteria or yeast caused this infection, so they know what type of treatment to recommend
• Clean your dog’s ears thoroughly to confirm the infection didn’t damage their eardrum
• Recommend a combination of ear cleaning, topical treatments, and occasionally oral medication to further treat the infection

Your vet will likely demonstrate exactly how to clean and apply a topical treatment to your dog’s ears. If they don’t, feel free to ask so you can fully understand how to support your pup.

In cases where an underlying issue, like allergies, could have led to the ear infection, your vet can also recommend a treatment to address that issue. For example, if allergies cause your dog to scratch their ears excessively and contract an ear infection, your vet may want to treat those allergies by changing your pet’s diet or recommending itch-relieving medications.³

Lastly, most vets will request that you schedule a follow-up visit at a later date so that they can confirm your dog has 100% beaten the infection.²

Use a targeted ear treatment –  Vetericyn Triple Action Ear Treatment can help relieve itching, remove infection-causing buildup, and restore a healthy ear environment, especially if your dog is prone to irritation or minor infections

Sources: 

1. PetMD. How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Dog Ear Infections. https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/how-treat-and-prevent-dog-ear-infections
2. Golden Retriever Society. Golden Retriever Ear Infections. https://goldenretrieversociety.com/ear-infections/
3. Golden Retriever Society. Golden Retriever Allergies: Causes And Treatments. https://goldenretrieversociety.com/allergies/