Cleaning Your Dog's Ears - Not the Easiest Thing to do, but may be Necessary

Is your dog scratching his ears a lot? Shaking their head? Do the ears smell funny? Are they red and inflamed? These are all indications of an existing ear infection or other ear problem and may require a vet visit.

Ear infections are probably the number one reason dog owners go to the vet. Thorough and regular ear cleaning and maintenance can help your dog avoid ear problems and infections. And therefore save a trip to the vet. Many dogs do not like to have their ears touched so it often is not the easiest thing to accomplish.

Pictures of dog ear infections : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOLRr-bTumM

Handling Your Dog's Ears

From the time the dog is a puppy you should practice handling your dog's ears- gently. Be sure to give lots of treats while you massage initially the outside then the inside of the ear. Do this as often as possible so eventually your dog will accept other kinds of ear manipulation.

Dogs have different Ears

Dogs with heavy, floppy ear, like Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds, generally need to have their ears cleaned more frequently than dogs with standup versions which  allow for better air circulation. Dogs that have a lot of hair in the inside of their ears may also require additional including the plucking of hair.

Cleaning Your Dog's Ears

Frequent ear cleanings (weekly) will keep the ears free of wax and debris, and will also allow you to understand what your dog's ears look like when they are healthy. This enables you to more easily recognize any abnormalities in the ear should they arise.

To clean your dog's ears well, you will need an appropriate ear cleaner, a number of cotton balls, and maybe even someone to help- they can feed the dog treats and keep them calm. Using an appropriate ear cleaner, you can release wax and debris from the canal and help dry the ear.

Some dogs have a lot of hair on the inside of the ear. This hair can serve as a reservoir for dirt, debris, and accumulations of earwax. Plucking the hairs takes a bit of skill and can cause discomfort when done incorrectly, so is best left to professionals who have experience on plucking ear hair in dogs. There are special ear powders made for dogs which are helpful in gripping the hair. . Maybe ask your vet or groomer to show you how it is done. Remember the treats, always a good way to make it a positive experience for the pet.

Once the ears are free of hair, it is time to begin cleaning. Wash your hands well before and after ear cleaning, and have your supplies ready. Squirt a small amount of ear cleaning solution into the ear canal. Do not force the nozzle of the bottle into the ear canal as you can cause significant damage this way - only the tip of the bottle should be inserted into the canal. Once you have the solution in the ear, massage the base of the ear to encourage distribution throughout the canal. Be prepared for your dog to shake his head after you apply the solution. You should be able to hear a "smacking sound." By massaging, you are helping the cleanser to fill the ridges in the canal and loosen ear debris.Take a cotton ball and rub the inside of the ear to remove any discharge or any accumulated wax. You may use a Q-tip to get in the crevices at the base of the ear, but just like for humans, do not insert the Q-tip into the ear canal itself. When the base of the ear is clean, you may use soaked cotton balls or a soaked wet cloth to clean the ear flap out toward the tip.

 YOU'RE DONE - NOW MORE TREATS!