How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears
Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears
Your dog’s ear is more L-shaped than yours, and debris loves to collect at the corner of the L. Fill your dog’s ear canal with a good ear cleaner to remove this debris. Ear cleaners should be slightly acidic but should NOT sting. Massage the base of the ear for 20-30 seconds to soften and release the debris. Wipe out the loose debris and excess fluid with a cotton ball. Repeat this procedure until you see no more debris. Depending on your dog’s ear condition, you may have to start doing this twice daily.
Cotton applicator swabs can be used to clean the inside of the earflap and the visible part of the ear canal. They should NOT be used farther down in the ear canal since that tends to pack debris in the ear canal rather than remove it.
Some ear problems are so painful that the dog must be anesthetized to clean the ears well. You may find your dog does not like having his ears cleaned because it is uncomfortable. Talking to him during the process, stopping momentarily to treat him if he is doing well (we do not want to reward fussiness!), and doing something fun afterward may all help.
After the ear is clean, let the dog shake his head and allow the ears to dry. Then, you can apply any ear medication that was prescribed.
Preventing ear disease
The key to healthy ears is to keep them clean. Check your dog’s ears weekly. A slight amount of waxy buildup may be present in normal ears. If your dog swims a lot, has pendulous ears, or has a history of ear disease, routine cleaning (often once to three times per week) is recommended. Use the same procedure as described above. Excess hair around the ear can be clipped to allow more airflow. Treat any underlying condition that predisposes your dog to ear problems.
Remember, if your dog is showing severe discomfort, the ears have a bad smell, or the ear canals look abnormal, do not delay contacting your veterinarian. Some ear cleansers and medications could do more harm than good if your dog has a ruptured or weakened eardrum.