Allergies, hormonal problems, and excess moisture can all promote abnormal growth of yeast or bacteria in your dog’s moist, warm ear canal, leading to painful infections. Dirt, plant matter, and various parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites can also inhabit doggy ears and cause problems. So clearly it’s important to check your Brittany’s ears at least once a week.
What does a healthy ear look like? The skin inside the ear should be pink or flesh colored, not red or inflamed. You should not see large globs of wax or dirty-looking discharge or smell strong or nasty odors. If your dog scratches or rubs his head or ears a lot, shakes or tilts his head, or cries or pulls away when you touch his ears or the area around them, he may also have an infection or other problem.
How to Care for the Ears
Don’t treat ear problems without veterinary advice. To treat an infection effectively, it must be accurately diagnosed. Inappropriate treatment will prolong your dog’s discomfort and may also cause more damage, making the infection more difficult to treat later.
If your Brittany’s ears are dirty but not inflamed or sensitive, you can clean them with a mild cleanser designed for canines. Ask your vet for a recommendation, and follow the directions on the product. Do it
outdoors or in a bathroom or other area you can clean easily—most dogs shake their heads after ear cleanser is applied, flinging cleaner and wax far and wide.
When both ears are cleaned and shaken, gently wipe them with a cotton ball or tissue. Never push anything into your dog’s ear canals; you could damage the ear drums and cause deafness. If your Brittany has very waxy ears or if he does things that get his ears wet, clean them about once a week. If his ears stay nice and clean on their own, you don’t need to do anything except check them regularly.
Eye Care
Healthy eyes are clear and moist. If your dog’s eyes show signs of redness, swelling, or squinting, or excess tearing or mucus, take your dog to the vet. Those abnormalities could be signs of infection, abrasion, or some other potentially serious problem.
How to Care for the Eyes
You can also do a few things at home to protect your Brittany’s eyes and help keep them healthy into old age. First, keep the area around your dog’s eyes clean. Mucus left in the corners of the eyes can harbor bacteria, so gently wipe the corners once or twice a day with a moist washcloth or tissue.
When you travel with your dog, keep him away from open windows – debris or insects hitting at the speed of a car can cause serious, painful injury to delicate eyes. When you groom your dog, be careful to keep soap and other chemicals out of his eyes.
As your Brittany enters his senior years, his eyes may appear cloudy for any of several reasons. Most common is uclear sclerosis, an age-related change in the lens that usually does not impair vision. Clouding may also indicate a cataract, which can cause partial or complete vision loss. Tell your veterinarian if you see changes in your dog’s eyes.