Cocker Spaniel Ear Care: How to Prevent and Spot Infections

If you've got a cocker spaniel, you already know about The Ears. Long, silky, and constantly hanging in things they shouldn't food bowls, muddy puddles, Jasper's own drool. It took me longer than I'd like to admit to realise those ears needed actual care, not just the occasional wipe.

Cocker spaniels are one of the breeds most prone to ear infections, and it's mostly down to how their ears are built. They're long, floppy, and they trap moisture and warmth which is basically a five-star hotel for bacteria and yeast. Add in all that hair, and airflow barely gets in there at all.

Here's what's helped me keep on top of it with Jasper.

Check them regularly

I make it part of grooming day. I lift the ear flap and have a proper look and sniff (yes, sniff a strong, yeasty smell is usually the first sign something's off). Healthy ears should look pale pink inside, not red, and shouldn't have much wax or discharge.

Dry them after water or baths

Jasper is obsessed with water, which is lovely until you remember what's hanging off the sides of his head. I always dry his ears properly after a swim or bath not aggressively, just a gentle pat with a towel, making sure I get right up into the ear rather than just around it.

Clean, but don't overdo it

I use a vet-approved ear cleaner every couple of weeks, not daily overcleaning can irritate the skin and actually make things worse. A few drops, a gentle massage at the base of the ear, then let him shake his head and wipe away what comes up with cotton wool. Never cotton buds, ever I learned that one the hard way.

Keep the hair trimmed

The hair around and inside the ear canal traps moisture, so I keep it trimmed short, either myself with round-tipped scissors or at the groomers. Less hair means more airflow, which means a drier ear.

Know when it's more than you can handle at home

If Jasper's shaking his head a lot, scratching at his ears, or if I notice redness, swelling, or a smell that won't shift with cleaning, that's my cue to get him to the vet rather than trying to sort it myself. Infections can get uncomfortable fast, and they usually need proper treatment, not just a good clean.

It sounds like a lot, but honestly it's a five-minute habit once it's part of your routine. And it's saved us more than one uncomfortable vet visit for both of us.

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