How Can I Clean My Dog’s Ears?

One of the ways to keep your pet’s ears healthy is through a good hygiene process.

If you have ever wondered “ how can I clean my dog’s ears? ”, Pay close attention now.

Taking care of your dog’s ears is very important as it is one of the primordial organs in dogs, on which not only hearing depends, but also response speed or balance.

Why clean your dog’s ears?

One of the main problems resulting from a lack of hygiene is that of the growth and proliferation of bacteria, as well as the onset of infections and fungi.

At the same time there may be an obstruction of the passage of air in the ear cavity, which will affect the hearing of the dog.

It is good to clean the ears at least once every two weeks to avoid earwax buildup and allow you to spot any irregularities affecting your pet’s ear canal.

As soon as the dog gets used to cleaning and it has become a habit, the whole process will be much easier and less annoying for the animal.

Before starting

Before proceeding with cleaning the dog’s ears, it is advisable to carry out a preliminary check of the condition of his ears, so that you can identify any anomaly that is occurring. Pay attention to the following situations:

• Otitis causes discomfort and itching within the ear canal, so the dog will try to scratch to relieve the discomfort.
• If the ear canal is suppurative, irritated, inflamed, red or bleeding, this may be a sign of an infection or other disease. The ideal color should be pale pink.

• Palpate the ears for irregularities, even in the tip itself. Inflammations and infections tend to spread and cause pain in the dog.
• Your dog cries, grunts and won’t let you touch his ears or head.
• The ears or the ear canal give off a bad smell.
• Excessive earwax production.

If your dog has any of these symptoms, it is best to take him to the vet to examine his condition.

First part: external cleaning

The ear is divided into two parts, the outer and the inner. Cleaning the outside, corresponding to the area covered with hair, is relatively simple.

• Use a cloth dampened in warm water with a little shampoo.
• Gently rub your ears.
• Massage the ears and head to relax the dog.

• Dampen the cloth in warm water but without shampoo.
• Eliminate all traces of the product from his ears. Leaving it could cause irritation or skin reactions.
• Once this is done, dry your ears with a towel.

Second part: internal cleaning

The inner part is the most delicate, and requires the utmost attention. It includes the uncovered, pink part of the canal and the inner parts of the ear.

• Take a piece of gauze and wrap it around your finger.
• Insert it gently into your ear, being careful not to touch the bottom.
• The gauze will clean the walls by collecting the remnants of ear wax placed on them.

• Repeat the process taking care not to irritate or damage the dog’s ear.
• Once finished, give the dog a reward for behaving well.

What you must not do

• Do not use wet gauze to clean the uncovered area or the area near the ear canal. Any drops of water that come into contact with the channel could cause infections, as the water would decompose, creating an ideal environment for the proliferation of bacteria.
• You can meet various products on the market that facilitate ear cleaning, suitable for dissolving accumulated ear wax; however, remember not to use any product without first asking your veterinarian for advice, especially if it is non-specific products.
• Some people also recommend using serums or vinegar, although we don’t recommend using them as they tend to concentrate in the canal and settle there.

• Do not introduce anything into your pet’s ear canal, not even cotton swabs, otherwise you could seriously damage their hearing and even cause them to become deaf.