When it comes to regular ear care for Pointers (after bathing, swimming, and being in the field), you should use a cleansing / drying antiseptic ear wash (such as OtiRinse). Put several drops in the dog’s ear and massage the ear at the base. (Don’t let him shake his head yet!) The massaging will help to loosen up wax and crust that has accumulated in the dog’s ear. After massaging for 10-20 seconds, place a cotton ball in the opening of his ear, place your thumb on the cotton ball, and massage it. The cotton ball will wick up the broken-up debris in the dog’s ear. Replace with another cotton ball until the ball is clean.
The dog’s ear canal is structured differently from a human’s ear canal and is not a straight tube to the eardrum. The dog’s ear has a bend that can sometimes make deep cleaning of an ear more difficult, particularly on a dog that is out in the field and has greater potential to come in contact with contaminated water and vegetation, or worse yet, manage to get something lodged in its ear canal.
Use a cotton swab dipped in the cleansing / drying ear wash and clean out the deep folds in the dog’s ear. Wipe with a dry cotton ball and then let your dog shake his head. Repeat with the other ear. If you find that your shorthair is producing copious amounts of a darker, brown waxy substance, a more determined cleaning may be necessary, but only after a trip to the veterinarian to ensure that the dog does not have a foreign body lodged in his ear or a
potential ear infection. Have your veterinarian show you how to clean your dog’s ear canals thoroughly and safely.
Warning Signs for Early Ear Infections
- Do the ears smell really bad? They shouldn’t, and if they do, this is a warning sign of an ear infection.
- Is there any redness, inflammation, blood, and/or excessive wax or dark, waxy secretions? There shouldn’t be, and if there is, you will want to take your dog to the veterinarian.
- Is there head shaking, scratching, holding the head at an odd angle, or increased sensitivity to touch? Have your veterinarian examine your dog. Ear infections can cause permanent, lasting damage
Eye Care
A normal eye will not have any discharge or film. A GSP should have a clear, dark, and expressive eye. Just like a person, a German Shorthaired Pointers can have a little bit of occasional residue in his eyes that is easy to wipe clean. If you find that your dog’s eyes are producing a greenish discharge, he may have conjunctivitis or another type of eye infection. See your veterinarian immediately.
When it comes to your shorthair’s eyes, anything other than the normal should be examined more closely. Reddened whites, inflammation, excessive tears, or any other type of discharge could be caused by an injury or by a more serious eye condition. If your dog’s eyes are itchy or inflamed, he will try to scratch them or rub them, which risks injury to the eye. You will want your veterinarian to be sure your German Shorthaired Pointers doesn’t have an injury, a malformed eyelash, an infection, or some other kind of disease that is causing these problems.