How Do You Clean Your Dogs Ears

Our dog’s ears are very special. They hear everything and twitch with excitement. And because they are so special, it’s important to keep them clean. While you don’t have to clean them every time you bathe your dog, you do need to clean them fairly often. Some dogs are more prone to ear infections, so depending on their genetics, you may need to clean them more often. Always talk to your vet about recommendation of how often to clean your dog’s ears.

Examine Ears at Home

Every week or two you need to take time to examine your dog’s ear. Check for signs of infections, parasites, dirt and irritation. If you can catch issues before they become big problems you’ll save your dog lots of pain and discomfort. Look for signs of redness, waxy buildup, and discharge. Do not clean your dog’s earholes if you think your dog has an ear infection. Signs of infection include:

• Off-color discharge
• Swelling/Inflammation
• Earst that are hot to the touch
• Redness
• Foul odor
• Off-color discharge
• Signs of pain when ears are touched

How to Clean Their Ears

It can be a little messy, so make sure to set up somewhere that is easy to clean up, then gather your supplies.

What You Need:

• A good pair of hemostats
• Cotton balls
• Cleaning solution – Purchase online or make your own at home

Cleaning Techniques:

1. Make your dog comfortable and sooth them with pets and positive soft talk
2. Put a small amount of ear cleaner in their ears
3. Massage the base of the ear holes.
4. Let your dog shake their head to loosen the debris
5. Clamp a cotton ball in the hemostat and gently wipe out the inside of the ear
6. Repeat as needed with a fresh cotton ball each time until no wax or debris appears
7. Reward them with praise and a special treat

We know that keeping your dog’s ears clean is extremely important for their health. However, it is possible to over clean their ear-holes. Some of the waxy build up is beneficial in warding off infections. When you clean their ear-holes too often it can upset the natural balance causing more harm than good. Some dogs only need cleaning about once a month, but other more active dogs may need it more frequently. It’s always best to talk with your vet about ear cleaning and get their personal recommendation for your dog’s breed and activity levels.

Do you have a routine/technique for cleaning your pet’s earholes? We’d love to hear about it and what you thought about the experience. Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page!