ears

Question
My Golden (Blaze) is 9 years old.  He has had a chronic ear infection that we cannot seem to cure.  He has seen vet after vet and we have spent an extrodinary amount of money.

I have heard that one of the first things to do is remove the excess hair from his ears.  Is this something I can do at home.  

I love this dog dearly and am terribly upset that I can't help him or solve this problem.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Pam Childs

Answer
If you want to remove hair from his ear, I suggest a groomer do it.  Goldens are prone to ear infections.  The best thing I have found is clean the ear out every day with ear cleaner from PetSmart, and then, if it's not infected in anyway, use a cotton ball with alcohol on it and swab the ear out, then use a clothes pin to hold the ears up so the air can get to them.  If the clothes pins don't work, then use some other method that will to keep the ears open and available to the air.  This is very important to the cure of these infections.  If he swims alot in lakes, streams etc, then make sure when he's done his ears are wiped out and opened up. But I'd make sure his ears are no longer infected before allowing him back into the water.  Good Luck