Ear Mites in Golden Retrievers: How to Spot, Treat & Prevent

My Golden Retriever was almost  3 years old when I noticed her constantly scratching one of her ear. I went to her and before I could even see it, a strange smell caught my attention and I realized something was wrong,  as I looked into it, there was something dark, crumbly debris in her ear. I felt so worried and that is when it caught my attention. I went to the vet’s that evening itself and confirmed:my Golden retriever was having Ear Mites.

This was my first experience of ear mites in golden retriever’s ears and then I realized it is a problem with a lot of dog owners. My vet told me that the floppy ear flaps make it warm warm and moisture friendly which creates a perfect environment for mites to settle. So I’m writing this article based on how my experience was and whatever I learned throught about ear mites in golden retrievers. I realised how these ear mites in dogs is different from any other ear infection and how to really keep the ears of your golden retriever healthy.

Although I’ll be telling you everything from my experience only but do not rely on something you are reading only, always consult your vet before you take any steps with your dog.

Here what makes golden a special case. Three breed specific factors come together:

• Floppy Ear Flaps covers the ear canal and limit air flow.

• Dense Ear Hair traps moisture,Wax and Debris.

• A Highly Social Personality means golden have close contact with other dogs, making it easier for the ear mites to spread.

One thing I want to tell you people for sure, a lot of dog owners confuse ear mites with ordinary ear infection which are common in floppy ear dog breeds and take it too long to diagnose it, which is really bad if you love your dog. If it is your first time with a ear infection in your dog ears, I am really suggesting you to get it checked as the treatment is completely different in case of ear mites.

Let me make it simple for you - the medications which work for yeast infections, will not eliminate the ear mites - repeat - yeast infection medications will not work with ear mites, so please take your loved one to his/her vet.

Why people confuse Ear Mites with Ear Infection? Spot the Difference

For very obvious reasons - the symptoms look similar specially if it’s your first time dealing with such infections or you just became a pet parent. The same thing happened with me also, Lilly was my first pet and she was a golden retriever and it was her first ear infection, but I somewhat took it seriously and rather than deciding it myself, I took Lilly to her vet and she told me it is Ear Mites. The vet told me that people usually confuse it for normal ear infections and it is not the same.

Ear mites leave dark, dry stuff behind and yeast infections usually produce water and wax. If you can identify the difference you will know whether your golden retriever is having a normal infection or it is ear mites in the golden retriever’s ears.

Beyond that, I also noticed the following things with Lilly:

• Constantly ear scratching

• Frequently shaking the head

• Redness inside the ear

• Small patch of hair loss due to scratching

• Mild Odor

• Dark, dry coffee ground like debris inside the ear

Whereas if the infection is bacterial then you will see yellowish liquid coming out of the infected area and if it is a yeast infection then you might see brown waxy liquid thing coming out of the ear.

One more thing I noticed with my golden retriever, lilly, that the symptoms of mites started to reflect in just one ear and other one seems just perfect, so there is one more thing that if one ear is affected does not mean that the other will also be affected.

My other friends which have gone through this situation who took it too long told me that they waited too long to diagnose and then both the ears of their pets got ear mites. So any situation is possible.

Ear Mites in Golden Retriever Puppies

One more thing I realised as I started digging deep in this matter - the puppies tend to get mites easier and they also spread very quickly in the puppies. I realised the reason behind this is the immune system of the puppies are still in the development mode and close contact with other dogs can make it easier for the mites to spread and this exposure to other dogs allows infection to grow before any symptom even appears.

Getting the Right Diagnosis

Although you are here, reading this blog by someone who has experienced ear mites in her golden retriever, you probably might think that now you can spot the ear mites and take care of it by itself.

Indeed it is a very good thing, but but but, I would still not recommend you to take care of it yourself, after reading stuff online, you might feel like you can take care of it, and you might even really do it, but I still wont recommend it to you.

I would still suggest you to take your cute little one to the vet and take their suggestions. As several ear conditions can look similar and so a vet is something I would recommend before you take any steps further.

My vet used a Otoscope to go through Lilly’s ear, later I came to know Otoscope is an instrument they use to look inside the ear, that thing magnifies the ear canal and things are much clearer to them after that.

The vet can sometimes even see small tiny white things moving around the dark debris - those the mites - ear mites.

If they are not visible via the otoscope, the next step is to examine by a microscope. One of my friend told me that her vet took small sample of the debris with a swab and it is examined with a microscope - this allows them to identify mites, larvaes or eggs and confirm the diagnosis with confidence and this is the reason why professional diagnosis matters.

Modern Treatments for Ear Mites

Over the years, we have seen the treatments develop faster as we move in this more advance world. I heard that previously it used to take weeks of visits for the treatment of ear mites. But now veterinarians use new treatments which are way more convinient and more effective in ear mites treatment. The best treatment for each dog depends on the age, health and the severity of the mites.

Systemic Treatments (Oral or Spot-On)

Today many veterinarians prefer systematic treatments which work throughout the body to eliminate ear mites and also more convenient than the ear drops.

Sarolaner (Simparica)

A single oral dose has shown to be more effective than ear drops for ear mites. In one clinical study, sarolaner achieved a 99.4% cure rate by day 60 which makes it the most effective treatment available.

Fluralaner (Bravecto)
Another oral medication which is fluralaner has demonstrated complete elimination of ear mites in clinical studies. Its long lasting protection can remain effective for up to 12 weeks reducing the need for repeat treatments.

Selamectin (Revolution)

The typical treatment is applied to the skin between the shoulder blades rather than the inside of the ear. Multiple clinical studies have reported it an excellent treatment for ear mites making it a popular option for dogs that don't tolerate oral medications.

One suggestion - always speak with your veterinarians about the best treatment choice for your golden retriever ear mites as it may depend on the age, health status and condition of your golden retriever.

Ear Drops for Treating Ear Mites

For owners whose vets prefer a direct approach treatments often begin with an ear cleaning to remove debris and reduce the number of mites present. After the ear canal is cleaned then the prescribed ear drops are used to target the mites directly because ear mites have a short cycle. Multiple treatments are usually needed over several weeks to ensure all mites and newly hatched eggs are eliminated.

What about the other pets?
Ear mites don't care what species they are on. If your golden retriever has ear mites, and you have more pets, then you should check all your pets and keep them under observation for some time.

You should also notify your other friends which your pet meets regularly, maybe the mites came from any of your pet’s friends or other owners can also see if their pet is free from the ear mites.

And mites spread quickly so you need to wash your bed and blanket with the hot water.

I will be honest, the hardest part of my golden treatment was not giving medications. It was cleaning the house by washing the bed, blankets and pillows in the house.

Preventing Ear Mites in Golden Retrievers

After dealing with ear mites in lilly - my golden retriever, I realised it all comes down to two key things: 

1. Keeping the ear of golden retriever as clean and dry as possible

2. Reducing the exposure to ear mites

Weekly check of your golden retriever should be a part of routine to see how treatment is working for removal of ear mites. I used to lift the ear flap and look for changes in color, odor or discharge in lilly’s ears. Healthy ears are usually pink in color and free of strong smells.

When it comes to cleaning, more is not way better. Always use a Vet approved ear cleaners for your golden retriever and use only when needed as excessive cleaning can irritate the ear and disrupt its natural balance.

Also, lilly loves water, so if your golden also loves water, make sure their ears are properly dried after any contact with water.

Year round parasite prevention can also help. Many modern flea and tick presentive provides protection against ear mites as well if your golden is already taking such products such as simparcia,bravecto or nexgard,ask your vet whether your current preventative includes coverage for ear mites.

Preventing Earmites in golden retrivers start with weekly ear checks,cleaning with a vet approved Solution when needed rather than a rigid schedule, thorough dry after swimming and year round parasite prevention. Product such as sarolaner and fluralaner can help protect against ear mites while these products also provide coverage against fleas and ticks.

Ear Mites vs. Ear Infections: Know the Difference

A lot of pet owners get confused in this so I thought of crating an own section of this. I did a lot of research and from my experience also, I think I can give atleast some suggestions. If ear mites are mistaken for an infection or Vice versa then the real problems remain untreated which leads to worsen the condition getting the diagnosis right is usually the most important step in helping your golden retriever feel  more better quickly    

 Golden Retrievers are prone to ear mites,bacterial infection and yeast infection largely because their floppy ear creates the warm, low air flow environment where ear problems can develop more easily. While these conditions often share similar symptoms, they require completely different treatments thats why getting the diagonosis right is not just helpful. Its essential for treating the actual cause and helping your golden recover as quickly as possible and I hope the table I created and info I shared as per my experience helps you.