Spanish Water Dog Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Ear Care

The Spanish Water Dog has always been a jack-of-all-trades. In Andalusia it moved sheep and goats between pastures, and along the coast it helped fishermen haul lines and fetch from the water. That practical, rustic history shows in its coat: a single layer of woolly curls that is never brushed, forms cords if left to grow and is usually clipped down all at once, then allowed to grow back evenly. That unusual approach changes how you keep an eye on the ears.

Here is what puts a Spanish Water Dog's ears at risk, how to spot a problem under all those curls, the most common triggers, when your vet needs to see it and an ear routine that works without a brush.

Ear risks that come with a woolly, unbrushed coat

A medium-sized, athletic herder and swimmer, the Spanish Water Dog has a few features that make regular ear checks a good habit:

• Curly or corded drop ears. The ears are triangular, set at medium height and hang down beside the head. The same woolly coat covers them, and as it grows the curls can twist into small cords that fall across the opening.
• No brushing. Owners are advised not to brush this coat, since brushing pulls the curls apart and leaves a frizzy mess. The downside is that you lose the daily brushing session many owners rely on to notice sore ears.
• The clipping cycle. Just after a full clip, the ears are bare and easy to see. Several months later they may be buried under thick curls or cords again. How hard your ear checks are depends on where you are in that cycle.
• A single coat that holds water. There is no undercoat, but the woolly curls soak up water from swims and rain and dry slowly against the skin.
• Field and farm work. Herding, hiking and running through scrub bring burrs, seeds and mud into the ear hair.
• Canal hair and allergies. Some dogs grow hair inside the canal, and itchy skin from allergies can show up in the ears.
• A watchful temperament. Many are loyal to their family and reserved with strangers, so handling practice at home makes vet exams easier.

The Spanish Water Dog is easy to mix up with the Portuguese Water Dog, but there are real differences. The Portie, covered in our Portuguese Water Dog ear guide, is larger, its coat is brushed and shown in a lion or retriever clip, and its history is almost all at sea. The Lagotto Romagnolo is another curly cousin, but it is kept trimmed and combed and works with its nose in the soil. The Spanish dog is the herder of the group, with a coat that is simply clipped short and left to grow.

How to spot ear trouble under the curls

With a long coat, you have to go looking. Part the curls or cords at the ear base with your fingers and lift the flap. Watch for:

• Head shaking or scratching that is new or more frequent
• Rubbing one side of the face on the ground or against furniture
• A musty or sour smell when you lift the ear
• Brown or yellow wax caught in the curls near the opening
• Redness or a damp, swollen look on the inner flap
• A cord or clump at the ear base that stays wet long after a swim
• Holding the head tilted or one ear lower than usual
• Reluctance to have the head touched, even by family

Typical triggers for Spanish Water Dogs

Water that stays put. Lakes, the sea, sprinklers and baths soak the curls. Under a woolly flap, the canal can stay damp for a long time, which favors the yeast and bacteria that live on skin in small numbers.

Burrs and grass seeds. Field work and country walks send plant matter into the ear coat. Some seeds can migrate into the canal and need a vet to remove them.

Cords that block air. Corded ear hair can hang over the opening like a curtain, holding in warmth and moisture.

Wax and canal hair. Wax that cannot escape gets trapped in the hair at the opening.

Allergies. Environmental or food allergies are a common background cause of repeat ear flare-ups in many breeds, this one included. Your vet can help work out a plan.

If your dog also swims in murky ponds or marshy water, the Boykin Spaniel ear guide covers a brown water and field dog that deals with a similar mix of water and plant debris, though with a wavy coat and feathered spaniel ears.

When to see your vet

Home cleaning is for healthy ears only. If you see or smell something wrong, let your vet check the ear before you clean it. Get in touch if you notice:

• Pain: your Spanish Water Dog 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

Please avoid hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, rubbing alcohol and do-it-yourself oil mixtures, all of which can sting an inflamed canal and are risky with a damaged eardrum. Never push a cotton swab into the ear.

Ear care without a brush

Check the ears at least twice a week by hand, dry them after every swim and clean them about once a week. When the coat is long or corded, add a check after outings in fields or brush. Your vet may suggest a different routine for a dog with past ear problems.

Canal hair: If your dog has hair inside the canal, ask your vet whether it should be thinned. Leave any removal to your vet or groomer.

1. Separate by hand. Use your fingers, not a brush, to split the curls or cords at the base of each ear so they do not felt into one mat over the opening.
2. Pick out plant matter. Remove burrs and seeds from the outside of the flap with your fingers or a comb tooth.
3. Lift and inspect. If the canal is red, swollen, smelly or has discharge, call your vet instead of cleaning.
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. Shake time. Let your dog shake.
6. Wipe and dry. Wipe the inner flap and opening with cotton or gauze, then squeeze the ear curls dry in a towel.

Clipping tip: When the whole coat is clipped, ask for the ears to be done at the same length, and consider a light trim of the ear hair between full clips so cords never hang over the opening.

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.

Spanish Water Dog ear FAQ

Can I brush my Spanish Water Dog's ears?

It is best not to. Brushing frizzes the curls and breaks up the coat texture. Separate the curls by hand and use a comb only to lift out debris from the outer flap.

Is a corded or a clipped coat easier for ear care?

A shorter clipped coat makes ear checks much simpler. If you prefer cords, keep the ear cords shorter than the body coat and split them at the base regularly.

How often should the coat be clipped for ear health?

There is no single rule. If the ear hair starts covering the opening between clips, a quick tidy of the ears alone helps.

My dog is wary of strangers. How do I make vet ear exams easier?

Practice at home: touch and lift the ears daily, reward calm behavior and let your vet team know in advance so they can give your dog extra time.