Ear cleaning is an essential part of a dog’s basic grooming routine, and all dogs should have their ears cleaned from time to time. The frequency of ear cleaning will differ from dog to dog, with some requiring more frequent and thorough cleaning than others – especially those prone to ear infections.
“Why should you clean your dog’s ears?” you may ask. Whether they’re long and floppy or stick straight up, dog ears are clearly very different from those of their human parent counterparts. Ranging from five to 10cm in length, their ear canals are quite deep, and have a right-angled, L-shape bend, making it easy for dirt to get into their ears and almost impossible for them to remove it on their own.
The ear canal is also warm, dark and moist, the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, so debris in the ear often causes ear infections and your dog may injure itself trying to deal with the irritation.
The best way to tell if your dog needs a good ear scrubbing, is to smell its ears. Healthy dog ears don’t have much of an odour beyond their normal dog smell, while dirty ears can smell anywhere from vaguely yeasty to decidedly smelly. These bad odours are a sure sign that your dog’s ears are in need of a thorough cleaning.
Clean dog ears will be pink, with a light coating of wax (pale or yellowish). If they are red or coated with a layer of black or brown waxy discharge, it is time to grab the cleanser.
But, you should be careful, as there is such a thing as too much cleaning, which can result in various problems. It is advisable to only clean your dog’s ears on an as-needed basis.
The cleaning process can be tricky, especially if you have not been doing this since your dog was a puppy. To help your dogs get used to the idea of having their ears handled, practice holding and handling them before you plan to clean them. You can enlist the help of a partner to give treats and additional comfort while you focus on the cleaning. It’s important to condition your dog slowly and associate ear-cleaning with something positive – if your dog seems stressed or upset, wait a few minutes or even hours before trying again.
Just as with human ears, you never want to use cotton buds because they can hurt your dog’s ears. Instead, have a bag of cotton balls ready, or wrap your finger in gauze and use that. You might want to wear gloves for the cleaning, but it’s also okay to just wash your hands if no gloves are available. Perhaps the most important tool, though, is the ear rinse. You want one that’s completely safe for your dog, yet still able to get the job done. Look for a product which contains no antibiotics, steroids, alcohol, or toxic materials of any kind.
Cleaning your dog’s ear is pretty straight forward and with a little patience and training, it can be an enjoyable experience for your dog. Learning how to clean your dog’s ears properly at home will help your dog stay healthy and happy, saving you a lot of stressful (and expensive) trips to the vet.
Consult your veterinarian before cleaning your dog’s ears, if they are very red, itchy, inflamed and painful, as this might indicate an ear infection. At this point, cleaning will not do much good, and can even cause more damage. Ear cleaning is also a very messy process, so make sure you are not wearing your best and most expensive clothes.
Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure your dog’s ears are clean and healthy:
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