Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Ear Care

Ask any Toller owner what their dog does at the waterline and you will hear the same story: a red fox-like streak darting back and forth along the shore, chasing a ball, pouncing, splashing in and out. That playful display is exactly what the breed was built for. Nova Scotia hunters used it to "toll," or lure, curious ducks within range, and then the dog swam out to bring the bird back. Your Toller may never see a duck blind, but it still spends a lot of its life wet, and its ears pay for it.

This page walks through how a Toller's ears are put together, the early clues that something is off, the triggers vets see most, when an exam is the right call and a routine that fits a small, busy retriever.

What sets the Toller ear apart

The Toller is the smallest of the retrievers, compact and quick, with a red to coppery orange coat and white markings that often show on the chest, feet, tail tip and face. Its ears are medium sized and triangular, set high on the skull and carried as a drop, with the base held slightly up before the leather folds down. Behind each ear sits a patch of soft feathering.

That shape matters in a few ways:

• A folded drop still covers the opening. The higher set gives a little more lift than a hound-type ear, yet once the flap falls it lies over the canal and slows drying.
• Feathering behind the ear stays soggy. The fluffy hair at the back of the ear and under it holds water after every swim. That damp pad sits right against the ear base for an hour or more.
• A water-resistant double coat. The dense undercoat keeps the body warm in cold water, but the same density near the head means a Toller's ears can stay humid long after the outer coat looks dry.
• Constant water play. Tolling is a game played at the edge of a pond or lake, and most Tollers see any shoreline as an invitation.
• Gundog heritage. A large UK study of dogs seen in primary-care practices found gundogs and breeds with drop ears at higher odds of ear inflammation than many other groups. The Toller fits both descriptions.
• Itchy skin. Some Tollers have allergic skin, and the ears are often where the scratching starts.

How it compares with bigger retrievers

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever shares the Toller's love of cold water, but carries a wavy, oily coat and small ears that sit high on a much larger, broader head. A Toller's ears are proportionally bigger for its size and backed by fluffier hair, so drying the area behind the ear deserves more attention. The Flat-Coated Retriever is another lifelong swimmer, with small ears that lie flat over the canal.

Early signs worth noticing

Tollers are vocal, and the breed is known for its high-pitched "Toller scream" when excited. That means a sound alone will not tell you much. Watch the body instead:

• Head shaking that continues well after the coat has dried
• One ear carried lower or pinned back more than the other
• Pawing at the side of the head, or dragging the face along the lawn
• Darker wax collecting in the folds just inside the flap
• A musty or sour odor when you sniff the ear base
• Pink, warm or puffy skin on the inside of the ear
• Reluctance to have the head handled, or ducking away from a towel

Smell is often the first clue. If you are not sure whether an odor is normal, our guide to why dogs' ears stink explains what different smells can point to.

Common triggers in Tollers

Trapped water. The most frequent problem in this breed. Water sits in the canal under the folded flap, softens the lining and gives the yeast and bacteria that normally live on the skin a chance to overgrow.

Allergies. Environmental itch from pollen or grasses, and sometimes food reactions, can inflame the ear lining. Flare-ups that return each season often point this way.

Shoreline debris. Sand, mud and plant bits from the water's edge collect in the feathering behind the ear and can work toward the canal.

Grass seeds. Tollers who hunt or run through fields can pick up barbed seed heads. Anything lodged inside the canal is a job for your vet.

Wax buildup. Reduced airflow lets wax gather near the opening.

Tollers are also one of the breeds in which certain immune-related conditions have been described. If your dog has unusual skin, joint or general health changes along with ear problems, mention all of them to your vet together rather than focusing on the ears alone.

When to see your vet

Home cleaning is for ears that look and smell healthy. A sore or inflamed ear needs to be examined before anything goes into it. Call your vet if you notice:

• Pain: your Toller 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

Skip hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, rubbing alcohol and homemade oil drops. They sting inflamed skin and can cause harm if the eardrum is damaged. Never push cotton swabs into the canal.

A routine for a small water dog

For most healthy Tollers, a towel-dry after every swim and a full ear clean once a week works well. In a summer of daily lake trips, add a quick evening check under each flap. If your dog has had ear trouble before, follow your vet's schedule instead.

Tollers are smart and get bored fast, so short sessions with a game or reward at the end tend to work better than long ones. For a full look at supplies, see how to clean your dog's ears and the tools you'll need.

1. Squeeze out the feathering. After a swim, press a towel into the fluffy hair behind and below each ear.
2. Brush the backs of the ears. A slicker brush or comb keeps that soft hair from matting, which helps it dry faster.
3. Check the canal. Lift the flap and look. Redness, swelling, discharge or a strong smell means stop and call your vet.
4. Fill and massage. Fill the ear canal with a dog ear cleaner, then massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds.
5. Step back. Let your Toller shake.
6. Wipe gently. Use cotton or gauze on the inner flap and the visible opening only.
7. Finish with a toss. A short retrieve makes a good reward for this breed.

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.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever ear FAQ

My Toller swims every day. Should I clean the ears every day too?

Usually not. Daily drying matters more than daily cleaning, and over-cleaning can irritate a healthy canal. Weekly cleaning plus a towel after each swim suits most Tollers. Ask your vet if the ears start to look red.

Is it normal for the hair behind my Toller's ears to mat?

That soft feathering mats easily, especially when it dries wet. Brushing it a few times a week keeps it loose so air can reach the ear base.

Can I trim the feathering to help the ears dry?

Light tidying under and behind the ear is fine for many owners. Leave any hair inside the canal to your vet or groomer.

Why does my Toller scream during ear cleaning?

Many Tollers vocalize when excited or impatient, not only when hurt. If the noise comes with flinching, pulling away or a red ear, though, have your vet take a look.