Most dog owners are usually unaware of cleaning their dog’s ears. Dog owners often overlook cleaning the ears of their pet dog.
Amid hectic lifestyle and living standards, it is a bit difficult for dog owners to care for their dog and keep the pet happy, playful, and accommodates to modern lifestyle and health care services.
Cleaning dog’s ears is an essential part of the dog’s grooming, and it is vital, as it allows you to check for problems or ear infections regularly. In the absence of regular cleaning, wax and oils build up inside the ear, which increases the risk of ear infection and hearing loss. Keeping this in mind, as a dog owner, you should focus on getting your dog’s ears cleaned by a professional and knowing the basics of how to clean dog ears.
Cleaning your dog’s ears is easy, and can be done at home, provided you and your dog are comfortable. If you have not cleaned the ears before, you may wonder where to start from, which is why we have put together the following lifestyle tips and advice to help you clean your dog’s ears.
Proper cleaning of the dog’s ears properly begins with the right kind of cleaning tools/supplies. Here is what you would need.
- Ear cleanser: Look for a commercial cleaning solution recommended by the veterinarian. Avoid cleanser containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. They can irritate your dog’s sensitive ears and can damage the internal organs. If you are unsure of anything, ask the doctor or dog groomer.
- Cotton pads or balls: Use cotton pads, balls, or swabs to clean the ridges of the outer ear. Make sure you do not insert either of these in the ear canal. By doing so, you may cause permanent damage to the internal ears.
- Tweezer: Keep a tweezer handy if your dog has a lot of hair in his ears.
- Towel: Keep a towel or a napkin handy for holding possible messes, especially if your dog shakes his head when something gets into his ears.
- Praise and treats: You will need these once the ear cleaning process is complete.
Here are the tips for cleaning your dog’s ears.
- Please make sure you and your dog are comfortable and then lift left or right ear, hold it between your thumb and forefinger to get a good look inside the ear.
- Examine the ear and check for redness, discharge, or odor. It is usual to have a small amount of light-colored wax. However, if the wax is more, the ears red, or there appears pus or an odorous smell, it indicates a problem that requires veterinary attention.
- Gently wipe around the entrance of the ear with a ball of damp cotton wool. It will help you remove dirt or excessive wax.
- Insert the tip of your preferred dog ear cleaner into the ear canal, while making sure not to insert it too far, and then squeeze the bottle to release the ear cleaner.
- Massage the base of the ear to let the ear cleaner pass into the ear canal.
- Wipe away excess ear cleaner with a ball or a gauze of damp cotton.
- Repeat the above process for the other ear.
- If the vet has given ear drops, it is good to apply them shortly after cleaning the ears. It ensures the medicine will enter the ear effectively and get absorbed without getting stuck on excessive wax.
Lastly, end the ear cleaning operation with praise and treats. Remember, when the act is associated with a positive experience, your beloved dog will readily participate the next time.