Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears: A Simple Guide

Doggy hygiene is important, and ear cleaning is part of the process. So, read below to learn more about how to clean your furry friend’s ears.

Checking Your Dog’s Ears

You should regularly check your furry friend’s ears. This way, you can learn what your pal’s ears look like when they are healthy and catch problems when they arise. Pay attention to any change in color, odor, or inflammation. Additionally, your pal may be in pain if they paw at their ear or abnormally shake their head.

Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears

First, apply an ear-cleaning solution to your pal’s ear canal. You should be able to see the liquid inside the canal. But, try not to touch the applicator to the ear. This will prevent the transmission of bacteria.

Next, hold the base of your pup’s ear and massage it gently for about 30 seconds. This step will loosen wax and debris in the canal.

Then, use a cotton ball or piece of gauze to wipe the ear canal gently. You may need to do this a few times with fresh cotton balls to completely clean away the debris. However, do not use a Q-tip or anything that will push the dirt deeper into the canal. This risks damage to the ear drum.

Finally, put a new cotton ball into the ear and massage it again to finish drying your furry friend’s ear. The cleaning fluid tickles your pup’s ear so they may shake their head a little after. This is normal and helps the cleaning process to remove any excess debris and solution.

How Often To Clean Your Dog’s Ears

The frequency of ear cleaning all depends on your dog. Some pups’ ears stay clean and healthy naturally. Others need dirt removed weekly or bi-weekly to prevent problems and infections. Additionally, dogs that spend more time in the water, and breeds with long ears need to be cleaned more frequently. However, cleaning too frequently can irritate the ear.

If you ever believe your companion’s ears to be infected or need help cleaning them, consult your vet!