Your Lab’s ears must adapt to countless environments and travel with him to endless locals. They go to lakes, pools, campsites, and vacations to the beach. They are submerged, wind-blown, scratched with webbed toes, and shaken from side to side. These floppy items are instrumental in creating the iconic, water-repelling shake, the one you can picture in slow motion right now. They define him in a way, framing his kiss-worthy face and indicating with precision each emotion that begins in his eyes. The care of these important features is paramount to keeping your Lab happy and well.
One of the most important elements of ear care is that of keeping them dry. A Lab is a water dog by nature, seeking the rush of a plunge. However, this exact activity can breed endless problems, such as yeast and bacterial infections. Thus, it is vital to dry a Lab’s ears gently each and every time after he encounters water. Keeping a cloth or soft towel in the car for visits to the lake or pool can be the difference between relaxed water fun and a trip to the vet with an itchy, red set of ears.
Another aspect of ear care is that of keeping them clean. The jury is out on this one as many professionals will advise not to change the chemistry of a dog’s ears by cleaning. Thus, it depends upon the dog and his endeavors. If your dog does not have a history of ear problems including infection, itchiness, or smell, then it might be best to leave them be. However, if your Lab has issues in this area, which might occur annually during the warmer months, then it can be best to keep ahead of the problem by preventing yeast and bacteria from overgrowth. Talk with your vet about the best cleaner to implement into your Lab’s care to head off ear issues, especially if he swims in natural bodies of water on a regular basis.
If your Lab is a swimmer, especially if he is entering natural bodies of water, it is essential to inspect his ears after the swim. Wood shards, garbage, and general organic material may float into his ears and create future issues. You are your Lab’s best way to be healthy, thus it is of utmost importance that you take a close look at his ears after each water event.
A part of ear care that is often overlooked is that of keeping insects from entering. Spending time in the outdoors may be your Lab’s favorite activity next to curling up with you; however, it is also the best place for buzzing insects to climb on in. Your Lab undoubtedly will not appreciate the audacity of these beings, which can lead to scratching, shaking, and general discomfort. One way to prevent this is to apply, usually with a roll-on or a washcloth, a small amount of natural dog-safe insect repellent to the ear area. Make sure to avoid around the eyes.
The heat of spring and summer can be a time when pre-existing ear problems become a full-blown mess. If your Lab begins to shake his ears or stop what he is doing to scratch them, he may have an infection that is taking hold. His ears may also give off a musty smell that could become very clear once he has disturbed them. It is vital not to delay a trip to the vet once this becomes apparent. Lacking hands, he is truly unable to scratch the areas that are tormenting him, thus he may end up creating wounds with his toenails as he tries to get deep inside of his ear canal where the discomfort is the most severe. This can lead to infection and pain, which all Lab parents desire to avoid.
Your Lab deserves to experience the world for all it has to offer. This can be difficult if he is preoccupied with his ears. When he is comfortable and well-maintained, he is free to explore with the contagious, child-like wonder that is innate to his species. With some planning and careful attention to detail, a Lab parent can facilitate joy in countless settings and head off a variety of unsavory problems. His ears healthy and well, he can flip them back flat as he runs to greet you, arch them up in the air at the aspect of playing (or dinner), and lounge with them spread out on your pillow. Your Lab will thank you with the light in his eyes and the wag of his tail.
