Like most Springers, ours has always been prone to ear trouble - apparently, the ear "type" doesn't allow air to circulate in and around as much as nature would like, hence occasional infections.
The current problem is being sorted by using Epi-Otic flush twice a day, and Surolan drops once a day, courtesy of a recent visit to the vet.
A quick wipe with a cottonwool pad afterwards is showing a cream-coloured "paste" - which I'm assuming is wax - but obviously you can't (and shouldn't, of course) go very far into the ear canal itself.
I'm 9 days into this now, and yet I can literally hear liquid squelching about when the dog moves - it must be driving him mad. Even though he shakes his head after every flush, and often during the day, it seems as though he's unable to shake out all the residue....
Any thoughts/ideas?
The other thing I've noticed is a change of smell - the warm, but nasty, musty smell usually noticed with ear infections, has changed in the last 24 hours, and now smells.....well.....how can I put this!......like you've stepped in something......
Need I say more?! Not pleasant!
Perhaps this indicates that the wax we're seeing is the "older" (and worse smelling) stuff, meaning that the solutions are gradually working?
Your advice welcome....ta.

Many dogs are prone to a chronic yeasty ear infection, which sounds like what your Springer suffers from. The yeasty smell is far less unpleasant than some ear smells. It is warm, humid, musty, almost like a really strong "wet dog" smell. The discharge from chronic yeast infection is usually medium to dark brown.

What sounds like has happened is that the chronic yeast infection, which in itself usually stops bacterial infections taking hold, has changed to a more acute bacterial infection. These tend to be more wet, and they stink, like rotting cabbage, and are typically more painful. Though the surolan may help to control the pain, the antibiotic in it may not be working against this bug, and a different drug may be required, for which of course you will have to see your vet.

It is also possible that a foreign body could be in the canal, typically a grass seed, that has led to the infection. Again your vet may be able to see it if the dog is still and not too sore and there's not too much discharge. Sometimes sedation is required for a really good look.

Hope this helps.

After watching our vet for years - and being the owners of cocker spaniels for 20 years - the finger needs to go in as far as it can.
No cotton buds - just the finger shrouded in cotton wool.

Confirms what I suspected, meshuga - thanks.
Why I'm a bit concerned is that usually the vet gets his ear inspection gadget (with the light - don't know what they call 'em!) to have a look, but the young girl who checked the dog over between Xmas and NY didn't even bother doing that.....just rubbed, heard the noise and charged us!
She also suggested - in a very off-hand way, I thought - that the only proper solution was to have the ear canal/flap sown up and sealed by operation.....er...no thanks!

Just bothers me why he seems unable to shake a lot more out......

I had a similar recommendation for one of my cockers re: the rather drastic surgery.

We started to shave out the dogs ears (and eventually the whole dog instead of groomers),ths allowed a bit more air to get in,you could also try to the old(rather useless in some cases) trick of "pegging" both ears back. The ear canal probably just needs to dry out.

We never opted for the surgery.

I had a similar recommendation for one of my cockers re: the rather drastic surgery.

We started to shave out the dogs ears (and eventually the whole dog instead of groomers),ths allowed a bit more air to get in,you could also try to the old(rather useless in some cases) trick of "pegging" both ears back. The ear canal probably just needs to dry out.

We never opted for the surgery.

Thanks, Willman......A few years ago laddo had to have surgery on his leg, and during the op the vet rang me to ask if I wanted his ears cleaning and shaving clean whilst under! Added a bit to the bill (!) but he was clear of any trouble for about a year, so obviously a good move.
That was the vet's on London Road, but since we moved we've used Spire over at Chesterfield....and that's where the drastic solution was suggested.
Tempted to go back to London Road, to be truthful.....

The wet "clacking" noise may persist because often in bacterial infections the rate of production of discharge just keeps up with the rate at which it is drained away.

Surgery is a valid option for chronic ear trouble, and though sounding drastic it can have some excellent long term results. Its indicated where the ear needs regular intensive cleaning, which can't be pleasant for the dog, or where the topical cleaning just does no good, however much time, money and drugs you throw at it. Although the procedure sounds fairly brutal they do heal up nicely, cause less distress for the dog in the long run, and cost less in the long run too. It is especially worth considering with younger animals that have a potentially long life of chronic painful ear disease. Sometimes not all the ear canal needs removing, sometimes just the side wall, or entire vertical canal can be removed, which still allows hearing. These procedures just let the ear breath. A total canal ablation is a last resort, but usually an end to ear problems on that side. If disease is severe enough to require a total ablation, don't worry about the loss of hearing due to surgery as the dog won't be able to hear with that ear anyway!

As I said, best solution is to chat to your vet, if you aren't happy, go elsewhere. Hope you get the lad better, good luck.

I'll make one guess at Spire that the vet was a young lady who is failry newly qualified.
I've met her 3 times now - th first time service was appalling,thankfully i had to return the next day. The second time she could not have done a better job and surgery on my dogs leg. The most recent she just stuck steroids in my dog for allergic reaction - (not got a consistent approach to cutomer relations yet).

If you're going to Spires ask for Ian or Bruce as a last resort. Ian tells it as is it imho.

The wet "clacking" noise may persist because often in bacterial infections the rate of production of discharge just keeps up with the rate at which it is drained away.

Surgery is a valid option for chronic ear trouble, and though sounding drastic it can have some excellent long term results. Its indicated where the ear needs regular intensive cleaning, which can't be pleasant for the dog, or where the topical cleaning just does no good, however much time, money and drugs you throw at it. Although the procedure sounds fairly brutal they do heal up nicely, cause less distress for the dog in the long run, and cost less in the long run too. It is especially worth considering with younger animals that have a potentially long life of chronic painful ear disease. Sometimes not all the ear canal needs removing, sometimes just the side wall, or entire vertical canal can be removed, which still allows hearing. These procedures just let the ear breath. A total canal ablation is a last resort, but usually an end to ear problems on that side. If disease is severe enough to require a total ablation, don't worry about the loss of hearing due to surgery as the dog won't be able to hear with that ear anyway!

As I said, best solution is to chat to your vet, if you aren't happy, go elsewhere. Hope you get the lad better, good luck.

I bow to your better knowledge - thank you!

I'll make one guess at Spire that the vet was a young lady who is failry newly qualified.
I've met her 3 times now - th first time service was appalling,thankfully i had to return the next day. The second time she could not have done a better job and surgery on my dogs leg. The most recent she just stuck steroids in my dog for allergic reaction - (not got a consistent approach to cutomer relations yet).

If you're going to Spires ask for Ian or Bruce as a last resort. Ian tells it as is it imho.

Hmmm...don't you wish you picked your Lotto numbers the same way?! Yes, spot on with your guesswork, I think.....
The first time there, pre-Christmas, we saw a very pleasant South African lass - or perhaps Aussie or New Z - and 2 weeks later by coincidence, her better half. On both occasions both ears were thoroughly inspected, a jab in the shoulders, and a real good flush and wipe (which sorted the problem for two or three months) - but none of that on visit 3.
After standing outside absolutely frozen for over an hour and a half, I bet we weren't in the surgery for five minutes!
Didn't even look in with the naked eye, let alone use any 'scope. When I queried this, and confirmed that I'd not (purposely) put any liquid in that day, she snapped back by saying that all she'd have seen would be liquid anyway......
Could've been half a tennis ball in there for all she knew!
The other worrying aspect of the visit was that there was another young lass in the room, (presumably "just" a student but looked more like a schoolgirl) who simply leant against a wall the whole time - no chat, no movement, no interest!
Hopefully not picking up lassie's "bedside manner" for future use!

They do have a few students in - or just from schools,they all usually keep quiet. I remember this vet in question when she was standing in the corner watching.
Bruce is the Aussie guy.

They do have a few students in - or just from schools,they all usually keep quiet. I remember this vet in question when she was standing in the corner watching.
Bruce is the Aussie guy.

Ah...right.
Yes - he was a goodie - seemingly plenty of time, even the dog liked him!

If I had a £1.00 for every spaniel I see with infected ears.:(....

I have also seen a couple with the ear canal stitched and they seem to get along just fine. If you want to clean the ears yourself as a preventative measure, you are better to use a mild cleaner such as this one, therefore you are not removing any good bacteria (as you can overclean ears making them open to infection).

http://www.groomers-online.com/clean-ear-p-398.html

The trick is, as someone already mentioned is to use cotton wool balls or pads, not cotton bud sticks, as you will go in to far. Wrap the ball over your finger and go in as far as you can, making sure you lift the ear flap vertically in order to get into those creases. By using your finger you will not go in to far. Keeping the ear canal opening hair free, will also help to keep the ears in good condition

Thanks, Gemima.
No - I know better than to use cottonbuds and the like....thankfully he doesn't seem to mind the cottonwool pad or ball though.
By coincidence, I've literally just "swabbed" him before looking on here, and just the action of lifting his ear flap was enough to get you by the throat - the smell has definitely changed for the worse in the last 24 hours.... not just the strength, but a lot more pungent and unpleasant than the "normal" ear infection that you know and love so much!
Thank you for your advice.....looks like another trip to the Vet's on Monday....
(Great...another bill!)