Golden Retriever Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Prevention

About the health information here: it comes from vet groups and vet schools, but we’re dog owners, not vets, so for anything about your own dog’s health, check with your vet.

The short answer: A golden with an ear infection usually shakes their head, scratches at the ear and has a red, smelly ear canal, often with dark or yellowish gunk. Moisture, hairy drop ears and allergies all raise the risk. Don’t treat it at home: your vet needs to check the eardrum and test the gunk first.

In this guide

1. What does a golden retriever ear infection look like?
2. Are golden retrievers prone to ear infections?
3. Does swimming cause ear infections in goldens?
4. Can allergies cause ear infections in dogs?
5. Could something be stuck in your golden’s ear?
6. What will the vet do for a golden retriever ear infection?
7. What can you do at home for a golden retriever ear infection?
8. How do you check your golden’s ears?
9. How do you clean a golden retriever’s ears safely?
10. Should you trim the hair around your golden’s ears?
11. Golden retriever ear infection won’t go away: what now?
12. FAQs
13. Bottom line

What does a golden retriever ear infection look like?

Most ear infections in dogs are in the outer ear canal (vets call it otitis externa). It’s one of the most common infections vets see.

Signs to watch for:

• Shaking their head and scratching at one or both ears

• Rubbing the ear on the floor

• A red, swollen ear canal

• A bad or yeasty smell

• Dark brown, black or yellowish discharge

• Pulling away or whining when you touch the ear

• In long-running cases, an ear that looks crusty or thickened, with a narrower canal

A healthy ear, by comparison, is pink inside, doesn’t smell, and isn’t dirty or inflamed. The AKC notes a small amount of wax is normal.

Are golden retrievers prone to ear infections?

Cocker spaniels and basset hounds get the attention, but goldens have a few things working against them too.

In the Golden Retriever Club of America’s 1998 health survey, about 1 in 6 goldens had chronic or repeated ear infections confirmed by a vet at some point in their lives. That figure comes from 427 club members’ dogs that had died, so it covers whole lifetimes.

So when one owner on r/goldenretrievers wrote, “He now has ANOTHER ear infection,” about a 7-month-old, plenty of other owners knew the feeling.

Here’s what raises the risk, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual:

• Ear shape. Ear flaps that hang down are on Merck’s list of risk factors. The golden breed standard calls for ears that fall close to the cheek.

• Hair. Hairy ear flaps and lots of hair in the canal are on the list too.

• Moisture. Water in the ears, from the weather or from swimming.

• Allergies. Merck says ear disease tends to follow skin disease by breed, and names allergies in retrievers as an example.

Does swimming cause ear infections in goldens?

It raises the risk. A dog’s ear canal is L-shaped, so it tends to hold on to fluid, and trapped moisture and warmth help the bacteria and yeast that live in small numbers in a healthy ear to overgrow.

What vets suggest for water-loving goldens:

• Dry the ears well after every swim and every bath. The AKC says to take extra care with floppy-eared dogs.

• Try to keep water out of the ears during baths.

• If your golden swims a lot, ask your vet about a drying product. Both Merck and the AKC say these can help, used the way your vet recommends.

Can allergies cause ear infections in dogs?

Yes, and for goldens this is a big one. VCA Animal Hospitals says allergies are involved in as many as 43% of ear infections in dogs, especially ones that keep coming back. It also says ear infections happen in 65% to 80% of dogs with food allergies.

The AKC puts it this way: “In many dogs, recurrent ear infections are the first or only sign of a food or environmental allergy.” So an itchy-eared golden with otherwise normal skin can still be an allergic golden.

One clue: the AKC explains that when both ears flare up, allergies are often behind it, because the whole body is reacting. A problem in just one ear makes allergies less likely.

If your vet suspects a food allergy, the usual test is a strict elimination diet for 8 to 12 weeks, set up by your vet. Don’t start one on your own. We cover allergies and itching in golden retriever itchy skin: causes, hot spots and when to see the vet.

Low thyroid (hypothyroidism) can also cause repeat ear infections, and it’s common in goldens. There’s more on it in golden retriever health issues: what to watch for (and when to call the vet).

Could something be stuck in your golden’s ear?

If the head shaking started suddenly after a walk through tall, dry grass, think about foxtails. These are barbed grass seed heads that can work their way into the ear canal and can’t back out on their own.

UC Davis’s veterinary school says that if your dog shakes their head after being in an area with foxtails, get them to your vet as soon as possible. Removal is easier the sooner it’s found.

After walks in grassy areas, UC Davis suggests checking your dog’s ears, between the toes, the armpits and the groin.

What will the vet do for a golden retriever ear infection?

Expect a look inside the ear first. Your vet will use an otoscope (a lighted scope) to check the canal and, most importantly, the eardrum. VCA explains that if the eardrum is torn, some ear medications can cause hearing loss.

Next, your vet will usually take a swab of the gunk and look at it under a microscope. That shows whether it’s bacteria, yeast, ear mites or a mix, and VCA calls this step essential for choosing the right medication. For severe or repeat infections, the vet may send a sample off for a culture.

If the ear is very sore or packed with debris, your golden may need sedation for a proper exam and cleaning.

Treatment usually means a cleaning at the clinic, then medicated drops chosen for what showed up under the microscope.

How long it takes:

• The AKC says most uncomplicated infections clear up within 1 to 2 weeks of starting treatment.

• Merck says dogs with bacterial or yeast infections usually need rechecks until no infection shows, which often takes 2 to 4 weeks. Long-term cases can take months.

Two things that make a real difference: finish the full course even when the ear looks better, and go to every recheck. Merck notes many owners stop treatment when the ear looks better but before the infection is gone, and the AKC warns that stopping early can lead to resistant infections.

What can you do at home for a golden retriever ear infection?

The honest answer: book a vet visit, and don’t put anything in the ear until then. VCA says over-the-counter ear drops aren’t the answer because the right treatment depends on what’s causing the infection.

What to skip while you wait:

• Home remedies. Merck warns that vinegar mixtures and other home remedies can make swelling and discharge worse. Even products that are fine in a healthy ear can irritate an inflamed one.

• Leftover medication. The AKC says not to use old medications or home remedies without checking with your vet first, since they could damage the eardrum.

• Cleaning a sore ear. The AKC says cleaning an ear that’s already infected often does more harm than good. VCA says to talk to your vet before cleaning an ear that’s red, inflamed or painful.

• Hydrogen peroxide and cotton swabs. The AKC says peroxide can irritate ear tissue, and swabs push debris deeper and can injure the canal.

Call your vet right away if you see a head tilt, loss of balance, trouble walking, eye movements your golden can’t control, or a drooping face or eyelid. Merck says those can mean the infection has reached the middle or inner ear.

And if the ear flap suddenly swells up soft and puffy, like a water balloon, that’s likely an ear hematoma: a blood vessel in the flap broke from all the shaking and scratching. Merck says it usually needs a vet’s treatment, along with treating whatever caused the shaking.

How do you check your golden’s ears?

Make it part of your regular grooming. The AKC suggests gently handling your dog’s ears every day, since a dog that pulls away from ear touches may have a sore ear.

Lift the flap and look and sniff:

• Is the skin pink and clean, or red?

• Any smell, especially a yeasty one?

• More wax or gunk than usual, or any dark discharge?

• Does the ear feel warmer than normal, or damp for no reason? Merck lists temperature change, discoloration and sudden moisture as things to check for.

How do you clean a golden retriever’s ears safely?

First, ask whether the ear needs it. VCA says some dogs with healthy ears may never need cleaning, and over-cleaning can irritate the canal and lead to infection. Clean when you see buildup or notice a mild odor, and let your vet set the schedule.

Use a dog ear cleaner your vet recommends. VCA warns that cleaners with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide can irritate the ear, especially an inflamed one. You’ll also want cotton balls or gauze, a towel and treats.

The steps, from VCA’s and the AKC’s guides:

1. Get into position. For a big dog like a golden, VCA suggests having them sit with their rear in a corner, one side against the wall, while you stand on the other side.

2. Lift the ear flap straight up. This straightens the canal.

3. Fill the canal with cleaner. Don’t let the bottle tip touch the ear. Some spilling is fine.

4. Massage the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. You’ll hear a squishing sound as the cleaner loosens debris.

5. Let your golden shake. Have the towel ready.

6. Wipe out what’s loosened with a cotton ball or gauze, only as far as your finger reaches (the AKC says no deeper than one knuckle). Never use a cotton swab in the canal.

7. Praise and treat, then do the other ear.

If your golden seems to be in pain at any point, stop and call your vet.

Should you trim the hair around your golden’s ears?

It can help, with your vet’s OK. The AKC suggests asking your groomer to keep the hair in and around the opening of the ear canal thinned and trimmed. The GRCA’s grooming guide also trims the hair right around the ear opening close, taking care that no clippings fall into the canal.

Merck adds that trimming or plucking hair near the canal can improve airflow, but to check with your vet before removing hair. Plucking hair from inside the canal is debated among vets, so leave that to your vet to decide.

For the rest of your golden’s grooming routine, see how often should you brush a golden retriever? (and how to do it right).

Golden retriever ear infection won’t go away: what now?

This is where a lot of golden owners end up. As one owner on r/goldenretrievers put it, with a dog heading into his fourth vet visit for the same ears: “How do we prevent these Ear infections from occurring in the first place?”

The vet groups agree on the answer: find the underlying cause. Merck says that unless every cause is treated, the condition often returns. VCA adds that if the cause isn’t found and treated, the dog will keep having ear problems.

Things to ask your vet about:

• Allergies. VCA ties allergies to as many as 43% of ear infections, especially repeat ones.

• Thyroid. A blood test can check for low thyroid.

• A culture. VCA and the AKC both say severe, chronic or stubborn cases may need one to find the right medication.

• The middle ear. Merck says otitis media (middle ear inflammation) is found in over half of dogs with recurrent outer ear inflammation. It can take imaging to find.

• A specialist. Board-certified veterinary dermatologists are the ear specialists in the vet world. The American College of Veterinary Dermatology says they have tools for recurrent and severe ear disease that most general practices don’t. You can ask your vet for a referral, and the ACVD has a “Find a Dermatologist” tool.

It’s worth the effort: VCA says long-running inflammation can thicken and narrow the canal until medication can’t get in, and some of those dogs end up needing surgery. The good news, also from VCA: nearly all ear infections that are diagnosed and treated can be managed, though it may take several rechecks.

FAQs

Is a golden retriever ear infection an emergency?

It needs a vet visit soon. The AKC says to get veterinary attention right away, since untreated infections can lead to hearing loss. Call immediately for a head tilt, loss of balance or a drooping face.

Can I clean my golden’s ears if I think they’re infected?

Not before the vet sees them. The AKC says cleaning an infected ear often does more harm than good, and your vet needs to check the eardrum first.

How often should I clean my golden retriever’s ears?

Only as often as they need it, which for some goldens is rarely. Clean when you see buildup or smell a mild odor, and ask your vet about a schedule if your golden swims a lot or gets repeat infections.

Bottom line

Head shaking, scratching, a bad smell or dark gunk means it’s time for a vet visit, not a home remedy. Keep your golden’s ears dry after swims and baths, check them regularly, and only clean them when they need it. If the infections keep coming back, push for the underlying cause, and check with your vet about allergies, thyroid and a dermatology referral.

Sources

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Ear Infections in Dogs (Otitis Externa): https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ear-infections-in-dogs

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Ear Cleaning and Administering Ear Medication in Dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ear-cleaning-in-dogs

• Merck Veterinary Manual (dog owners), Ear Infections and Otitis Externa in Dogs: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/ear-disorders-of-dogs/ear-infections-and-otitis-externa-in-dogs

• Merck Veterinary Manual (dog owners), Otitis Media and Interna (Middle and Inner Ear Infections) in Dogs: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/ear-disorders-of-dogs/otitis-media-and-interna-in-dogs

• Merck Veterinary Manual (dog owners), Disorders of the Outer Ear in Dogs: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/ear-disorders-of-dogs/disorders-of-the-outer-ear-in-dogs

• Merck Veterinary Manual (professional), Otitis Externa in Animals: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/ear-disorders/otitis-externa/otitis-externa-in-animals

• American Kennel Club, Dog Ear Infections: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-ear-infections/

• American Kennel Club, How to Clean a Dog’s Ears Safely: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-to-clean-dogs-ears/

• American Kennel Club, Official Standard of the Golden Retriever: https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/GoldenRetriever.pdf

• Glickman, Glickman and Thorpe (Purdue University), Golden Retriever Club of America National Health Survey 1998-1999: https://www.grca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/healthsurvey.pdf

• Golden Retriever Club of America, Grooming Your Golden (Joanne Lastoka): https://grca.org/about-the-breed/articles/grooming-your-golden-joanne-lastoka/

• UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Foxtails and Dogs: https://healthtopics.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/foxtails

• American College of Veterinary Dermatology, FAQs: https://acvd.org/faqs/

• Owner quote, r/goldenretrievers (“He now has ANOTHER ear infection.”): https://redd.it/1pjxf13

• Owner quote, r/goldenretrievers (“How do we prevent these Ear infections from occurring in the first place?”): https://redd.it/1uq1g6s