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

Tall, liver-colored and covered head to toe in tight ringlets, except for a smooth, tapering "rat tail" and a clean-shaven-looking face, the Irish Water Spaniel is hard to mistake for anything else. It is the tallest of the spaniels and one of the oldest water retrievers, bred to work cold Irish rivers, bogs and estuaries. A topknot of long, loose curls tumbles down between its eyes and blends into a pair of long ears, which are themselves covered in long curls. Those ears spend a good part of a working dog's life soaked.

Read on to learn why this breed's ears need steady attention, which signs to look for, the most likely causes, when your vet should step in and a routine for a curly retriever that comes out of the water dripping.

What makes Irish Water Spaniel ears high-maintenance

Several features of this unusual spaniel come together around the ears:

• Long, low-set ears dressed in long curls. The ears hang well down the sides of the head, and the heavy curls on the leather add weight. The opening sits under a thick, warm flap.
• A topknot that merges with the ears. The loose curls on the crown run down into the ear hair, so the base of each ear is buried in coat.
• Dense, crisp ringlets. The coat sheds water from the surface, but once it is soaked through, the ringlets hold moisture close to the skin for a long time.
• Cold-water retrieving. The breed was made for long retrieves in chilly water. Repeated dunking means the ear canal can stay wet for most of a training day.
• Low shedding. Loose hair is not dropped, so it gathers and mats behind the ears unless combed out.
• Hair in the canal and sensitive skin. Some dogs grow hair inside the ear, and allergies can make the ear lining itchy.
• A clownish but sometimes reserved personality. Many are playful at home and cautious with strangers. Getting your dog used to ear handling early pays off at the vet.

The breed is often compared with other water and spaniel types. The Portuguese Water Dog ear page covers a shorter-eared dog with a fully coated tail, usually shown in a lion or retriever clip. Our English Springer Spaniel guide deals with a land-based flushing spaniel whose ears are silky and feathered rather than curly. And the Chesapeake Bay Retriever article looks at a cold-water specialist with a short, wavy, oily coat and small ears. The Irish Water Spaniel has the longest, curliest ears of the bunch.

Signs in an Irish Water Spaniel

Curls hide redness and residue well. Push the ear hair aside, lift the leather and look for:

• Shaking the head long after a retrieve, once the coat is dry
• Scratching at the ear with a hind foot or rubbing the head on the ground
• A sour, musty or yeasty smell from under the flap
• Dark, waxy residue tangled in the curls around the opening
• Redness or swelling on the inside of the ear
• Damp, matted curls at the ear base that stay wet for hours
• Carrying one ear oddly or tilting the head
• Flinching or pulling away when you stroke the side of the head

Common causes of ear trouble in the breed

Trapped water. Lakes, rivers, the sea and bath time all leave water behind. Under a long, curly flap the canal dries slowly, and a warm, wet ear suits the yeast and bacteria normally found on the skin in small numbers.

Mats at the ear base. Loose coat, topknot curls and ear hair can knot together and hold moisture and dirt against the skin.

Allergies. Environmental and food allergies can inflame the canal and lead to flare-ups that keep coming back.

Plant matter. Reeds, burrs and grass seeds catch in the ear curls on marsh and field retrieves. A seed inside the canal needs a vet.

Wax buildup. Heavy flaps limit airflow, and wax collects in any canal hair near the opening.

When to see your vet

Ear cleaning belongs to healthy ears. If an ear looks or smells abnormal, ask your vet to examine it before you clean. Call if you see:

• Pain: your Irish 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

Hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, rubbing alcohol and homemade oil drops can all burn a sore canal and are unsafe if the eardrum is damaged, so leave them out. Never put a cotton swab down the ear.

A retriever's ear routine

Dry the ears after every swim, comb the ear hair and topknot a couple of times a week and give the ears a full clean roughly once a week. During heavy training or hunting season, a quick look after each outing is worthwhile. Your vet may recommend a different schedule if your dog has had ear problems.

Canal hair: If your dog has hair inside the canal, ask your vet whether it should be thinned, and leave the job to your vet or groomer.

1. Squeeze, don't rub. After a swim, wrap each ear in a towel and squeeze out the water. Rubbing frizzes the ringlets.
2. Comb ear and topknot. Work a wide-toothed comb through the ear curls and the topknot where they meet, lifting out tangles and plant bits.
3. Check the canal. Lift the leather. If it looks red, swollen or has discharge or a strong smell, stop and call your vet.
4. Fill and massage. Fill the ear canal with a dog ear cleaner and massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds.
5. Let it shake. Stand back; a tall spaniel's shake reaches a long way.
6. Wipe the opening. Use cotton or gauze on the inner leather and the visible opening, then dry the curls.

Groomer tip: Ask for the hair on the underside of the ear leather to be thinned or trimmed so air can reach the opening while the outer curls keep the breed's look.

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.

Irish Water Spaniel ear FAQ

Does the topknot affect ear health?

It can. The topknot curls run into the ear hair and can mat at the ear base. Combing that junction regularly keeps the area drier and easier to check.

Should I shorten the curls on my dog's ears?

Thinning the underside of the ear leather helps airflow without changing the outside look much. Your groomer can tidy the length if the curls hang well past the leather.

Is cold water harder on the ears than warm water?

The temperature matters less than how long the ear stays wet. Squeezing the ears dry soon after each swim is the main step, whatever the season.

How is this breed's ear care different from a Portuguese Water Dog's?

The steps are similar, but an Irish Water Spaniel's ears are longer and more heavily curled, and the topknot adds extra hair at the ear base, so combing gets more attention.