Lake Dogs and Swimmer’s Ear: The 5-Minute Dry-and-Check Routine That Prevents Summer Infections

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If your dog dives into the lake like it’s his job, you already know the post-swim shake. The full-body spray, then the head tilt, then that hard ear flap you can hear from the parking lot. Most of the time it’s just water. Left wet twice a day all summer, though, and you get the classic summer vet visit: red ears, head shaking, and that yeasty smell.

We deal with it a lot in July in Utah — two water dogs, Strawberry, Pineview, Causey. The dogs that stay clear aren’t the ones who never get wet. They’re the ones who get a quick dry after every swim. Here’s why it happens and the routine that takes about 5 minutes on the tailgate.

Why Lake Water Stays Trapped

Dogs don’t have straight ear canals. They have an L-shape: vertical, then a sharp bend to the eardrum. Water, sand, and a little lake grit sit right in that bend if you don’t dry it. Floppy ears make it worse — Labs, Goldens, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, and Doodles tent over the opening and hold in humidity.

Add ear hair in the canal and you have a warm, dark, wet pocket. Bacteria and yeast love that. That’s why we see infections spike in July and August, not April.

It’s the same reason our lake day safety pack list vets recommend starts with a dry towel and ear cleaner before it gets to toys and treats.

Signs You’re Heading Toward Swimmer’s Ear

Catch it early and a rinse often fixes it. Wait a day and you’re usually at the vet.

• Head shaking that keeps going after the first 10 minutes home
• Scratching at one ear with a back paw, or rubbing the ear on the carpet
• Ears that look pink or feel hot inside compared to normal
• Damp, brownish discharge or a sweet / yeasty odor when you lift the flap
• Whining when you touch the base of the ear or tilt to that side on walks

One shake after a swim is normal. Repeated shaking an hour later is not.

The 5-Minute Post-Swim Ear Dry and Check

Do this right after swimming, before the drive home while the dog is still on the lake towel. It’s faster than dealing with an infection later.

1. Let the shake happen, then towel the head

Let your dog do the big full-body shake. Then use a high-absorbency microfiber towel like the Soggy Doggy Super Shammy to dry the ear flaps, under the ears, and the neck. Don’t shove the towel into the canal — just blot the outside and the part you can see. This alone removes half the moisture.

2. Lift, look, and sniff

Fold each ear back and look. You want pale pink skin, no swelling, no deep debris. A little sand or water at the opening is fine. Redness, swelling, or a strong smell means stop and call your vet instead of adding home solutions. If you have a dog who won’t tolerate handling, practice this part in short sessions — it ties right into our mid-summer grooming reset checklist for getting dogs used to ear and paw handling.

3. Dry with a drying agent, not just a cleaner

There’s a difference. A cleaner like Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser is for lifting wax and debris. A drying agent is for after swimming — it has a little salicylic acid or boric acid and evaporates fast. For swimmers, the drying step matters more.

We keep Zymox Ear Cleanser for weekly wax days and a simple drying solution for lake days. Put 4-5 drops in, massage the base of the ear for 5 seconds, then let the dog shake. Catch the spray with the towel — it’ll be messy.

4. Wipe what comes out

After the shake, use a pre-soaked wipe like Pet MD Ear Wipes to clean the folds and the back of the flap. Again, only what you can see. No Q-tips, no paper towels twisted to a point. If you pull out brown gunk for more than two swipes, that’s a flag to stop and check with your vet.

5. Air and go

Don’t put cotton balls deep in there for the drive. You want air. If your dog wears a dog life jacket that actually stays put with a neck strap, loosen it right after swimming so the straps aren’t sealing over wet ears. Windows down or AC on for the ride helps ears dry faster than a hot kennel in the back of the truck.

What NOT to Do

• Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. It burns and dries too aggressively.
• Don’t go deep with Q-tips. You pack debris into the horizontal canal.
• Don’t flush with plain water. You’re adding more water to an already wet ear.
• Don’t ignore one-sided shaking. Dogs shake both ears when wet. Shaking one ear repeatedly often means that ear is already irritated.

How Often to Clean in Swim Season

For daily lake dogs: dry after every swim, full clean with a gentle cleanser 1-2x per week max. Over-cleaning strips oils and causes irritation, which looks a lot like infection. For weekend swimmers: dry after every swim, cleaner once a week only if you see wax.

If your dog already has floppy ears, allergies, or a history of ear infections, ask your vet about a maintenance plan before July hits. Some dogs need a specific pH-balanced cleaner and a quick ear hair trim to keep airflow. It’s a 2-minute conversation that saves you a $150 July emergency visit.

Bottom line: you don’t need a big kit. Towel, look, dry drops, wipe, air. Five minutes on the tailgate keeps lake season from turning into ear-infection season.

FAQ

Should I clean my dog’s ears after every lake swim?

Dry after every swim, deep clean only 1-2 times a week. Over-cleaning irritates ears almost as fast as leaving them wet. Use a drying solution right after swimming and save the cleanser for waxy days.

What’s the difference between ear cleaner and ear drying solution?

Cleaners have surfactants to lift wax and debris. Drying solutions have mild astringents that help water evaporate. For after-swim care, a drying step is more important than a heavy cleanser.

When should I skip home care and call the vet?

If ears are very red, swollen, painful, have thick yellow/green discharge, or your dog has had shaking for more than 24 hours after swimming, skip the home rinse and call your vet. Those are signs of an infection that needs prescription treatment, not more flushing.

PupPursuit Team

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