American Water Spaniel Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Ear Care

The American Water Spaniel is Wisconsin's state dog, and it was made for Wisconsin's lakes, rivers and marshes. Hunters in the Upper Midwest wanted a compact brown dog that could ride in a small boat or skiff, leap out for a duck, swim it back and climb aboard again without tipping anyone into the water. The result is a medium-sized spaniel with a curly or wavy brown coat and long, curly feathered ears that spend a lot of time wet.

In this guide, you will find what makes AWS ears vulnerable, signs to watch, likely causes, when to call your vet and an ear routine for both the hunting season and the quieter months.

Why AWS ears need regular attention

This is still a working retriever and flusher at heart, and its build reflects that:

• Wide, curly feathered drop ears. The ears are long and broad and hang close to the head, covered with curly or wavy feathering. They form a warm flap over the opening.
• A dense coat with an undercoat. The outer coat ranges from uniform marcel waves to tight curls, with a dense undercoat that protects against cold water. Once it is wet through, it holds that moisture near the skin.
• Marsh and lake work. Duck hunting in shallow, weedy water brings duckweed, mud and plant bits into the coat. The ears drag through all of it on every retrieve.
• Small-boat life. A dog that spends a morning in a skiff or blind is often wet, chilled and lying in the bottom of the boat, with little chance for the ears to dry.
• Seasonal shedding. The undercoat sheds, and loose fur can mat under the ear feathering if it is not brushed out.
• Itchy skin. Allergies can show up in the ears in this breed, as in many others.

Two other spaniels often get mentioned alongside the AWS. The Boykin Spaniel ear guide covers South Carolina's state dog, a slightly smaller brown spaniel from the Southern swamps with a wavier coat and usually a docked tail. Our Cocker Spaniel article looks at a smaller dog with long, silky ear feathering that today is mostly a companion. The AWS is the curliest of the three and the most at home in cold northern water. For its taller Irish cousin, see the Irish Water Spaniel ear guide.

Warning signs to watch for

A hard-working AWS may ignore discomfort in the field. At home, look under the feathering and watch for:

• Head shaking that continues after the coat has dried
• Pawing at an ear or rubbing the head along the carpet or grass
• A swampy, sour or yeasty smell from inside the ear rather than the coat
• Brown or greasy residue in the curls around the canal opening
• Redness or swelling on the underside of the flap
• Bits of weed or mud packed into the ear feathering
• Tilting the head or holding one ear lower
• Being touchy when you handle the head or collar

Telling marsh smell from ear smell is not always easy. Our article on why dogs' ears stink explains what different odors can point to.

Common causes in American Water Spaniels

Water and cold. Long retrieves and repeated swims keep the canal damp. A warm, wet ear under a curly flap suits the yeast and bacteria that normally live on the skin in small numbers.

Marsh debris. Duckweed, cattail fluff, mud and seeds can lodge in the feathering and work toward the opening. Anything inside the canal is a job for your vet.

Matted undercoat. Shed fur under the ears forms damp mats that hold dirt against the skin.

Allergies. Environmental and food allergies can inflame the ear lining and cause repeat flare-ups.

Wax. Heavy, curly flaps limit airflow, and wax builds up over time.

When to see your vet

Home ear care is for healthy ears. If something is wrong, have your vet examine the ear before you clean it. Call if you notice:

• Pain: your American Water Spaniel yelps, flinches or will not let you touch the ear
• Head tilt, loss of balance, circling or unusual eye movements
• Bleeding, or a swollen, puffy ear flap (this can be a blood blister called an aural hematoma)
• A bad smell together with discharge
• Redness or swelling that is getting worse
• Symptoms that have not improved after a few days, or keep coming back

Leave vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol and homemade oil mixes in the cupboard. They can sting an irritated canal and are not safe if the eardrum is damaged. Do not put cotton swabs into the ear.

Ear care in and out of hunting season

During hunting or training season, dry the ears after every outing, check them that evening and clean them a couple of times a week if they get muddy. In the off-season, a weekly clean and a look while you brush are usually enough. Your vet may suggest a different plan if your dog has had ear trouble.

1. Dry in the boat. Keep a towel in your blind bag and squeeze the ears dry between retrieves when you can.
2. Rinse the coat, not the ears. After a muddy marsh day, rinse the coat with clean water and keep the hose away from the ear openings.
3. Brush and pick. Brush out loose undercoat behind the ears and pick weeds and seeds from the feathering.
4. Look inside. Lift the flap. Redness, swelling, discharge or a strong smell means call your vet first.
5. Fill and massage. Fill the ear canal with a dog ear cleaner and massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds.
6. Let your dog shake. Outdoors is best for this.
7. Wipe and dry. Wipe the inner flap and opening with cotton or gauze and towel the feathering dry.

Trimming tip: Ask your groomer to tidy the hair on the underside of the ear flap and around the opening so air can move. Any hair inside the canal should be left to your vet or groomer.

About EcoEars: EcoEars is a botanical dog ear cleaner with no antibiotics or steroids, made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility. As directed on the label, fill the ear canal, massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds, let your dog shake, and wipe away loosened debris. Use it twice daily for 10 days in a row, then weekly or as needed. It is for dogs 12 weeks and older and for dogs only, since it contains tea tree oil.

American Water Spaniel ear FAQ

Should I clean my AWS's ears after every hunt?

Drying after every hunt is the priority. A full clean is helpful when the ears are muddy or full of debris; otherwise weekly cleaning is usually enough. Ask your vet if you are unsure.

Can I trim my dog's ear feathering for hunting season?

A shorter trim on the ears makes drying faster and catches fewer burrs. Many hunters keep the feathering shorter in fall and let it grow out afterward.

How is AWS ear care different from a Boykin's?

The routines are close. An AWS usually has a curlier coat, a thicker undercoat and works in colder water, so drying and brushing out the undercoat get more attention.

My AWS's ears smell like the marsh. Should I worry?

A marshy smell on the coat is normal after a hunt and should fade with a rinse. A sour smell from inside the ear, or discharge, is a reason to see your vet.