Ear care is just as important as coat care for the Bernese Mountain Dog. Berners who work on farms or track in brush and woods can pick up dust and debris that lodge in the ear canal.
In multiple-dog homes, Bernese Mountain Dogs play “kissy kissy” and lick each other’s ears, and the moisture sets up fungal and bacterial infections.
Also, if the moisture is not dried from a Bernese’s ear canals after a bath, those same infections can fester. The ears are also ripe for mite infestations.
Cleaning the Ears
Ear checks on a weekly basis can help prevent these illnesses, which can be quite painful to a dog. If a problem is detected early, treatment is easier and less expensive. A number of over-the-counter and prescriptions products are available to clean your Bernese’s ears. Clean the ears outside the house if possible because your dog will fling his head from side to side, and the cleaner will fly.
First, use a foaming liquid that loosens the dirt and earwax. Tilt the dog’s head to one side and hold his collar. Squirt a small amount of the cleaner into his ear canal. Never force the nozzle down into the canal, as this could damage the ear. Rub the base of the ear gently, and allow the foaming action to do the job of cleaning the canal. Do this with both ears.
Follow the foaming cleaner with a drying agent, which will help the liquid evaporate. Most of these types of agents have small amounts of rubbing alcohol in the ingredients. If your dog’s ears have any small scratches, keep in mind that this could sting. Hold your dog’s collar firmly as you squirt the drying agent into the canal of each ear. Again, gently rub the base of the ear so that the liquid descends into the ear canal.
Finally, take a cotton ball or soft cloth and clean any grime or dirt that you can see on the inside ear flap. Never insert a cotton swab into your dog’s ear. Because a dog’s ear canal is angled, a swab can easily break off and damage his eardrum. If you notice evidence of ear mites, which look like coffee grounds, or if your dog’s ears have a yeast-like smell, have your veterinarian evaluate him for infection or infestation.
Eye Care
Eye care is equally important for a Bernese Mountain Dog. His big, beautiful brown eyes deserve attention, and not just when he’s asking to climb into your lap.
During the weekly grooming session, pay close attention to his eyes. Bernese Mountain Dogs are known to suffer from the conditions entropion and ectropion. Entropion causes a dog’s eyelids to roll inward. Every time the dog opens and closes his eyes, the lashes rub against his corneas. This is a painful condition that causes increased tear production, and it can lead to chronic eye inflammation. If it’s not corrected, the dog can become blind.
If you notice increased tears or inflamed eye tissue, get a veterinary ophthalmologist to evaluate the dog. Surgery is necessary to correct entropion. Ectropion causes a dog’s eyelids to be too loose. Typically, the lower lid will sag and not just when the dog is tired after a long day of play and activity. The lid rolls outward and doesn’t protect his eye from dust or debris. Chronic inflammation can result from ectropion, but surgery—a type of canine “eyelift”—will correct the condition.
A Bernese Mountain Dog who has been working on a field or farm can pick up debris, from dust to small seed grains, that lodges in his eyes. Human-grade, preservative-free eye drops or artificial tears can be used to flush his eyes. If the dirt is lodged and cannot be removed with a flushing agent, take your dog to his veterinarian right away. Even specks of sand can scratch his cornea.
