Sussex Spaniel Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Ear Care

Stand next to a Sussex Spaniel and you are looking down a long way. This rare English gundog is built long and low, with a massive chest, a frowning brow and a coat the color of polished golden liver. Its ears are thick, lobe-shaped and draped in wavy feathering, and because the whole dog sits so close to the ground, the tips of those ears trail through wet grass, puddles and mud on almost every walk. Owners of the breed tend to become very good at ear checks.

Here is a practical look at why Sussex ears need regular care, the clues that something is wrong, the triggers behind most flare-ups, when your vet should take over and a weekly routine shaped around a dog that lives at ground level.

Why a Sussex Spaniel's ears are vulnerable

The Sussex was bred in the south of England to work dense, heavy cover on foot, slowly and with plenty of voice. Hunters valued a dog that "gave tongue" so they could follow it through thick hedges, and many Sussex Spaniels still bark, yodel and grumble happily on the trail. That history explains a lot about the ears:

• Large, thick, lobular ears. The leather is heavy and set fairly low, hanging close to the side of the head. Very little air reaches the canal beneath it.
• Abundant wavy feathering. The ear hair is longer and wavier than the body coat. It soaks up water readily and holds seeds, twigs and mud.
• A body built close to the ground. With short legs and a deep chest, a Sussex carries its head low. Dew, rain and puddle water reach the ears before anything else.
• Heavy cover work. Pushing through brambles and undergrowth means steady contact between ear feathering and plant matter.
• Allergies. Allergic skin is common across spaniel breeds, and itchy ears are often the first sign.
• A rare breed. Fewer groomers and vets see the Sussex often, so it helps to learn what normal looks like for your own dog.

Studies of dogs in UK veterinary practices have found spaniels as a group at higher odds of ear inflammation than many other breeds, and the Sussex shares the traits behind that finding. The Cocker Spaniel ear guide covers a smaller, lighter cousin with silkier ears. The Sussex carries more weight in the ear, more wave in the feathering and much less clearance from the ground. For another heavy, low spaniel, see the Clumber Spaniel ear guide.

Signs your Sussex has a sore ear

Because a Sussex already grumbles and talks a fair amount, owners sometimes miss a change in tone. Pay attention when you see:

• Head shaking that keeps going after the coat is dry
• Scratching at one ear and then sniffing or licking the paw
• Low moaning or whining when the ear is touched, different from the usual chatter
• A yeasty, cheesy or sour smell under the flap
• Brown, waxy residue matted into the wavy feathering near the opening
• Redness or thickened skin on the inner leather
• Tilting the head or holding one ear away from the face

Discharge color and texture can tell your vet a lot. Our guide to ear discharge in dogs explains what different types may point to.

What usually sets off ear trouble

Wet ears from the ground up

Morning dew, rain and puddles soak the ear tips and feathering long before the rest of the coat. Under a thick lobe the canal stays warm and damp, which lets the yeast and bacteria normally present on the skin multiply.

Mud and plant matter

Dried mud, burrs and grass seeds tangle in wavy ear hair. A seed that slips into the canal can cause sudden, violent head shaking and needs a vet to remove it.

Allergic flare-ups

Food and environmental allergies can inflame the canal over and over. Working through the allergy with your vet usually matters more than any cleaning schedule.

Wax and debris

Heavy flaps slow the ear's own clearing of wax, so it builds up near the opening.

When to see your vet

A cleaner is meant for healthy ears. If your dog's ear already looks or smells wrong, have it examined first. Contact your vet about:

• Pain: your Sussex 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, peroxide, rubbing alcohol and homemade oil drops on the shelf. All of them can irritate a sore ear and are unsafe if the eardrum is not intact. Never push a cotton swab into the canal.

If odor is the first thing you notice, our article on why dogs' ears stink runs through the usual reasons.

A ground-level ear routine

For a healthy Sussex, plan on a full ear clean once a week, a towel-dry of the ear tips after every wet walk and a feathering comb-out two or three times a week. Your vet may suggest a different plan if your dog has had ear problems before.

1. Towel the tips first. After a wet walk, blot the ear tips and feathering with a towel before your Sussex lies down.
2. Pick out debris. Work through the wavy ear hair with a comb and your fingers, removing burrs, seeds and dried mud.
3. Check under the lobe. Lift the ear. If the skin is red, swollen or smells strong, stop and phone 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. Step back for the shake. Thick ears swing hard, so give your dog room.
6. Wipe gently. Clean the inner leather and the visible opening with cotton or gauze, nothing deeper.

Trimming: A groomer can tidy the feathering at the bottom edge of the ear so it drags less through mud, and thin the hair under the flap. Ask your vet before any hair is taken from inside the canal.

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.

Sussex Spaniel ear FAQ

Should I shorten my Sussex's ear feathering?

A light trim along the lower edge keeps the hair out of puddles and food bowls without changing the breed's look much. Thinning the underside helps airflow.

My Sussex is always vocal. How do I tell if an ear hurts?

Look for a change: moaning when the ear is touched, more scratching, head shaking or a new smell. Pain tends to come with guarding the head, not just noise.

Is it hard to find a groomer who knows the breed?

The Sussex is rare, so many groomers will not have handled one. Show them how you want the ears tidied and ask them to keep the feathering under the flap thin.

Do I need to dry the ears after every walk?

On wet days, yes. A quick blot of the ear tips takes seconds and keeps the canal from sitting damp under the lobe for hours.