Instructions
Analyze your labrador retriever's ears. Look for yellowish-brown discharge, a bad odor or redness and irritation. Observe your dog's behavior for signs of an ear infection. For example, if the labrador retriever is shaking its head or scratching at its ears, chances are your pet has an ear infection.
Take your labrador to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian can examine your pet's ears and determine the type of treatment needed. For example, the veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic for bacterial and fungal infections.
Treat your labrador retriever for an ear infection. Your veterinarian may give you antibiotic drops that will need to be applied twice a day into your pet's ears for up to two weeks. If the cause was allergies, your veterinarian will prescribe corticosteroids. These can be given orally, as a topical treatment, or as an injection.
Continue to examine your labrador's ears for an infection. Once the treatment is finished, make sure there is no redness, discharge or scratching going on. Clean your pet's ears with a cleanser and a soft tissue twice a week. Do not stick anything such as a Q-tip into the labrador retriever's ears. If you notice the signs of an ear infection returning, take your pet back to the veterinarian.
How to Treat Labrador Ear Infections
Labrador retrievers are prone to ear infections, due to their large floppy ears. The ears fold over, keeping the ear canal moist where mites and yeast infections can flourish. Labradors usually love water and will jump into pools, increasing the chances of ear infections. Once you notice the signs of your pet having an ear infection, treat it as soon as possible. This will help your pet feel better and will prevent damage to the ear canal.