Looking After Your Dog's Ears After Swimming

Why ears need particular attention

The ear canal is a warm, enclosed space, and water that gets trapped inside doesn't evaporate as readily as water sitting on fur or skin. Left damp, that environment can become uncomfortable for a dog prone to ear issues, which is why drying ears properly is treated as a standard part of aftercare rather than an optional extra.

This isn't unique to swimming — the same principle applies after a bath or a very wet walk — but swimming involves a longer, more complete water exposure than most everyday situations, so it's worth taking seriously.

What happens at our pool

Every session ends with a proper towel-down followed by time with the hair-dryer, and ears are included in that routine rather than an afterthought. We take particular care with dogs who have naturally floppy or heavily coated ears, since these need more thorough drying than a prick-eared dog.

If your dog has a known history of ear problems, tell us when you book. We can spend extra time on drying and, where appropriate, adjust how the session runs to reduce water exposure to the ears in the first place.

Breeds and ear shapes that need extra care

Not every dog's ears carry the same risk. Breeds with long, heavy, low-set ears generally need more attention than those with upright ears, simply because airflow into the canal is more restricted.

• Spaniels (Cocker, Springer and similar) — long, low-set ears with limited airflow.
• Retrievers and setters — moderately floppy ears prone to trapping moisture.
• Bassets and hounds — very heavy, low ears that need thorough drying.
• Poodles and poodle crosses — hair inside the ear canal itself can hold moisture.
• Prick-eared breeds such as German Shepherds and huskies — generally lower risk, but still worth drying.

Signs an ear needs attention

Knowing what to watch for after a swim means you can act quickly if something isn't right, rather than waiting for a problem to become obvious and uncomfortable for your dog.

• Head shaking or tilting more than usual after swimming.
• Scratching at one or both ears repeatedly.
• A noticeable smell from the ear.
• Redness, heat or visible discharge inside the ear.
• Sensitivity or flinching when the ear area is touched.

What to do if you notice a problem

If you spot any of the signs above in the day or two after a swim, contact your vet rather than trying to treat it yourself. Ear problems can look similar on the surface but need different treatments depending on the underlying cause, which a vet is best placed to identify.

Avoid putting anything into the ear canal — cotton buds, home remedies or leftover products from a previous issue — without your vet's specific guidance, as the wrong approach can make some ear problems worse.

Simple aftercare at home

Beyond what we do at the pool, a quick check of your dog's ears once you're home is a sensible habit, particularly for floppy-eared breeds or dogs with a history of issues. Gently lift the ear flap and check for excess moisture, redness or odour.

If your vet has recommended a specific ear-drying product or routine for your dog, bring it along and use it after your session as you normally would — swimming doesn't change what your vet has already advised, it just adds one more wet occasion to plan around.

Preventing problems before they start

For dogs with a known tendency towards ear trouble, being proactive rather than reactive makes a real difference. Tell us about the history so we can factor it into how we run the session and how much time we spend on drying afterwards.

Regular swimmers with ear-prone breeds often settle into a routine where ear care becomes second nature — a quick check after every session, rather than a source of worry each time.