It is very important to know how to clean your dog’s ears properly because it will help you prevent ear infections caused by dirt, ear mites, earwax, and other issues that might occur in a dog’s ear. Find out how to clean your dog’s ears properly in order to keep your doggy healthy.
Why Do You Need to Wash Your Pet’s Ears
Dog’s ear canal accumulates moisture and all sorts of debris quickly. If not cleaned properly and regularly, it causes the development of different kinds of ear problems and infections, one of the most common reasons for a visit to a vet clinic.
How Frequently Should You Clean Your Dog’s Ears?
On the whole, most dogs need their ears cleaned once every 1 to 2 weeks. However, there are certain dog breeds with droopy ears (e.g., Basset Hound, Beagle, and Cocker Spaniel) and dogs with plenty of hair in their ears (Poodle and others) that need their ears cleaned more often.
Required Materials
- Vet-approved ear cleaning fluid (water is fine, but alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are harmful)
- Easy swabbing with a soft towel (cotton balls/gauze but no swabs)
- Treats
Steps on How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears
- Gently lift the ear flap and expose the canal’s opening.
- Drop some ear cleaning solution into the ear, making sure that the bottle tip does not touch the ear’s inside.
- Gently massage the bases of the ears for 20 to 30 seconds; some squishing sounds can be heard during this process because the solution has loosened the earwax.
- Allow your dog to shake his head. This is how the debris will be naturally removed.
- Finally, clean the visible parts of the ears using a cotton ball or pad.
- Offer your dog some treats.
Healthy Ear vs. Sick Ear
- Healthy ear looks like light-pink inside with a minimum amount of odor and brown wax
- If you notice a strong odor, dark discharge, redness, irritation, swelling, or your dog flinches when the ear is touched – you probably need to visit a vet clinic
Things Not to Do
- Do not use cotton swabs to clean the inside of the ear canal
- Do not clean your dog’s ears too often, irritating healthy skin
- Do not use ear cleaners designed for humans
Conclusion
Learning how to clean your dog’s ears correctly will help you avoid problems with his ears in the future. The process of cleaning dog ears can become pleasant and easy with regular treatment. Read our basic instructions for puppy training here.
If you notice symptoms of an ear infection or discharge from the ears, stop immediately and seek veterinary assistance.
