It's best to check your dog's ears about once a week for any signs of dog ear infection - it will only take a couple of minutes and it will give you peace of mind that your dog's ears are clean and healthy.
Some common indicators of ear infection in Cocker Spaniels, or other problems in your dog's ears can appear as follows:
the inside of his ears are inflamed, or swollen;
there is a strong, foul-smelling odour coming from the ear(s);
his ears are tender or sensitive;
you notice a dark, strong-smelling discharge;
your dog shakes his head more often;
he frequently tilts his head to one side;
he rubs his head/ears along the ground;
your dog is frequently scratching his ears;
haematomas (blood blisters);
melanomas (tumours)
a change in your dog's behaviour, ie depression or irritability.
Insecting and cleaning dog's ears regularly will enable you to detect and treat any problems early and your dog will have a good chance of avoiding infections altogether.
If you discover any signs of ear infection when checking your pets ears, don't clean them. If you do, you will be making it more difficult for your vet to make an accurate diagnosis. Take your dog to see his vet as soon as you can.
