The King Charles Spaniel is a lovable breed of small dog classified as a toy dog. They are calm, even-tempered dogs, making them ideal pets for children. They are affectionate, friendly and generally get along well with other animals. Often an adult King Charles is the same size as other adolescent dogs.

The King Charles spaniel’s most noticeable feature is its ear; they are pendulous and quite long. They hang down the sides of the head just below the jaw sometimes even reaching the floor. Its ears have long dense hair that is fringes and feathers, because of this, the Charlie is very susceptible to ear infections. Like cavalier spaniels, this dog breed is prone to a condition called "Primary Secretory Otitis Media (PSOM)" or more commonly known as glue ear. This is a very thick build up mucus in the middle ear of the dog that makes the tympanic membrane to swell. This can cause hearing problems and complete deafness if not treated in time. To prevent this giving your King Charles spaniel proper ear care is very important, here are a few ear care tips to help you:

DO regular ear check-ups – the Charlie’s ears is an ideal home for mites, ticks and fleas that they can get anywhere from the park to other animals. Check them a couple of times a week to catch them early on. Mites are often transmitted to other pets or animals in the home so make sure your other pets are checked and if necessary, treated as well. Always clean the ears of dirt and wax build up and check for any rashes that can be a sign of infection.

DO keep the ears dry – after bathing or playing in the water, dry the ears immediately both outside and inside. Moisture and water left inside the ear is a common cause of ear infections. If your Charlie is up for it, loosely tie the ears in a pony to prevent them from dipping in his water bowl.

DO clip your Charlie’s hair – hair inside the ears trap debris, dirt and wax build up that can cause infection. Trim or clip the ears growing near the ear canal at least twice a month to keep them from growing inwards as well.

DO use a cleaning solution – there are ear cleaning solutions specifically for your dog. They help dry the ear and also break down any dirt or build up that has formed. By placing a few drops inside the ear and massaging it, you can easily wipe out the dirt and any excess solution. Consider this a spa treatment you’re your King Charles Spaniel.

DO NOT be too harsh – when cleaning the ears of your dog, practice gentle strokes. Use cotton balls to clean them, avoid using swabs or any hard material that needs to be inserted inside the ear, any sudden jerk from your King Charles Spaniel can cause the wax to go further in or damage to the ear drum.