Labradoodle Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Ear Care

Labradoodles have a talent for finding water. Puddles, ponds and the dog bowl all count. Combine that habit with a fleece or wool coat that sprouts inside the ears and a Labrador's sensitive skin, and you have one of the more ear-prone family dogs around. If your Labradoodle has been scratching, shaking or smelling a little funky lately, the ears are a good place to start looking.

Below, we cover what sets Labradoodle ears apart, how a flare-up usually begins, which signs need a professional, and how to fit ear care into a busy household.

What puts Labradoodle ears at risk

Labradoodles are a cross between the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle, and the Australian Labradoodle adds a few other breeds into its background. Their ears borrow from each parent in ways that add up:

• Coat that grows into the canal. Fleece and wool coats, the ones prized for low shedding, usually come with hair inside the ear canal. Wax and water cling to it, and the canal stays damp and crowded.
• Floppy flaps over a narrow entrance. The ear leather folds down and rests close to the cheek. With hair on both sides of the flap, very little air gets in.
• Labrador skin. Labs are among the breeds vets see most often for environmental and food allergies. A Labradoodle can inherit the same itchy skin, and allergic inflammation often shows up first in the ears.
• Water-dog habits. Retrieving balls from the pool, wading in streams and rolling in wet grass all leave water sitting under the flap.
• Frequent baths and grooming. A coat that needs regular washing and clipping means more chances for shampoo and water to end up in the ear.

Since the Lab half brings so much of the allergy and swimming risk, owners may also want to read our Labrador ear infection guide.

How Labradoodle ear trouble shows up

Labradoodles are social, busy dogs, and they rarely complain loudly about a sore ear. The clues tend to be in their habits:

• A head shake every few minutes, or ears that flop loudly at night
• Rubbing the side of the head on carpet, grass or your legs
• Scratching with a hind foot, followed by a yelp or a quick stop
• Darker, stickier wax than usual, or wax caught in the canal hair
• A musty or yeasty odor coming from the ear
• Red, thickened or bumpy skin on the inside of the flap
• Holding one ear lower or tipping the head to one side

That smell is often the first hint. Our article on why dogs' ears stink explains where odor comes from and when it calls for a vet check.

Common causes in Labradoodles

Allergic skin. When ear problems return every spring, follow a change in food or come with itchy paws and belly, allergies are the most likely root cause. Yeast and bacteria tend to move in once the skin is inflamed.

Trapped moisture. A wet, hairy canal under a closed flap is warm and humid, which suits yeast. Swimmers and dogs bathed often are most affected.

Canal hair and wax plugs. In some dogs the hair and wax mat together deep in the canal. Only your vet can safely judge and handle a blockage like this.

Plant material. Grass seeds, burrs and bits of bark tangle easily in a Labradoodle's ear fluff and can slip into the canal.

Ear mites and other causes. Mites are mostly a puppy problem. Less often, hormonal conditions such as an underactive thyroid play a part in repeat flare-ups.

Canal hair: leave it, trim it or pluck it?

Groomers and vets do not always agree here. Plucking used to be routine for doodles and Poodles, but many vets now advise against it for healthy ears, since pulling hair can leave the canal sore and inflamed. For a dog with frequent infections or a canal packed with hair, your vet may recommend careful hair removal, sometimes done in the clinic.

Ask your vet what is right for your dog, and pass that guidance on to your groomer. Do not pull ear hair at home.

When to see your vet

Cleaning helps keep healthy ears tidy, but it is not a substitute for a diagnosis. If an ear might be infected, your vet needs to examine the canal and eardrum and usually check a sample before choosing a treatment. See your vet if you notice:

• Pain: your Labradoodle 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

Avoid at-home fixes such as vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or garlic oil while you wait. They are harsh on sore skin and unsafe if the eardrum is damaged.

Fitting ear care into a Labradoodle's week

A healthy Labradoodle typically needs a quick look at the ears every few days and a clean about once a week. Add a clean after swimming or bath time, and dry the ears thoroughly whenever the head gets wet. If you clean and the ears look worse rather than better, stop and call your vet.

1. Choose your spot. A bathroom or the backyard works well, since the shake will spray.
2. Check under the flap. Look for redness, swelling, dark discharge or a strong odor. Any of those means skip cleaning and book a vet visit.
3. Fill the canal. Raise the flap and fill the ear canal with a dog ear cleaner.
4. Massage for 60 to 90 seconds. Knead the base of the ear so the cleaner moves through the hair and loosens wax and dirt.
5. Let your dog shake. Give your Labradoodle space to shake out the cleaner and debris.
6. Wipe the visible parts. Use gauze or cotton on the opening and inner flap. Keep swabs and fingers out of the canal.
7. Finish with praise. A favorite chew or a game makes the next session easier.

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

Labradoodle ear FAQ

Do Australian Labradoodles have fewer ear problems?

There is no reliable evidence that one type of Labradoodle is clearly better off. Coat type, allergies and lifestyle matter far more than the label on the pedigree.

Why does my Labradoodle scratch his ears after the pool?

Chlorinated water and trapped moisture can both irritate the canal. Dry the ears after each swim and clean as needed. If the scratching continues the next day, have your vet take a look.

Can I use a hair dryer on my dog's ears?

A cool, low setting held well away from the head can help dry the ear leather, but never point it into the canal. A towel and some time with the flaps lifted are usually enough.

Is it normal for a Labradoodle puppy to have dirty ears?

A little light wax is normal. Dark, coffee-ground debris with intense itch can mean ear mites, especially in a newly adopted puppy, so ask your vet to check.