HOW TO Clean Your Dog’s Ears

Posted by Sonya Simpkins on March 23, 2011 // 0 Comments

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If you’ve got a dog with floppy or furry ears, then you probably worry about ear infections. You can relax, because regular cleaning of your dog’s ears is not only easy, and can prevent you from racking up an expensive vet bill, it can be done in the comfort of your own home.

According to vetinfo.com, “Accumulation of moisture in the ear is the most common cause of ear infections. For dogs that love the water, careful checking after a swim for any water in the ears will prevent an ear infection.”

The Anatomy of a Dog’s Ears

Dog’s ears are in the shape of an L, making a 90-degree turn before reaching the sensitive eardrum. They have three major parts: the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear.

The outer ear is just what it sounds like – it’s the flap, also called the prinna, and is either upright or floppy. The ear flap carries sound into the ear canal. The outer ear is separated from the middle ear by the eardrum, which is a very thin membrane. Just like a human’s, the dog’s eardrum is fragile and can be easily damaged.

The inner ear contains nerves that are essential for balance and hearing.

How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears

If you’ve got a floppy-eared dog, start playing with and touching his ears early on, because most dogs do not like to have their ears touched. By starting the touching process early, you’ll have an easier time when it comes to cleaning your dog’s ears.

Vetinfo.com gives the following tips:

Inspect your dog’s ears regularly. Raise the flap of the ear and look for any debris, excessive wax, dirt, insects or moisture. Healthy ears are a fleshy pink inside and emit no odor.

Maintain airflow to the ear by trimming any excessive fur that is blocking or restricting airflow. Excessive moisture in the ear provides a potential breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

Never use Q-tips or cotton swabs when cleaning a dog’s ear. Instead use cotton balls and dog ear wash.

Though rubbing alcohol can cause skin irritation, it will help remove excessive ear wax. Use cotton balls to apply.

Applying garlic or apple cider vinegar will prevent yeast from growing, resulting in an infection. However, there may be an allergic reaction to either of these remedies.

Cold compresses will alleviate any pain in the event an ear infection develops, while hydrocortisone cream can temporarily relieve the pain and itch of fungal infections until your dog is able to visit the veterinarian.

Before you start poking around your dog’s ear, dogearyeastinfection.com says to make sure you’ve got your ear-cleaning supplies on hand and that you have thoroughly washed your hands. Then do the following:

Begin by cleaning the outer area of the ear by using a cotton ball soaked in the ear wash solution.

Carefully clean the earflaps and around the bumpy area, which is the entrance to the ear canal. A good rule of thumb to follow is if you can see it, clean it; if not, don’t.

Carefully fill your dog’s ear with warm ear wash (one with low alcohol content will work best) and gently massage the outer portion of the ear for a few moments. Then allow him to shake his head a few times to clear out the excess solution in the canal and to clear out any excess dirt as well.

Dry your dog and reward him for being such a good boy during the process!

Helpful Tips to Make the Ear-Cleaning Process a Smooth One

Dogearyeastinfection.com recommends these tips for a better ear-cleaning experience for both you and your dog.

An hour before you want to clean your dog’s ears, warm up the bottle by putting it in your pocket.

Check your dog’s ears at least once a week when giving him love or when he’s in a calm state to catch anything going on before it can become a problem.

If you think your dog’s ears are unusually dirty, don’t hesitate to take him to a vet for a check-up. It’s much easier to treat infection in the early stages, not to mention avoiding pain for your pooch.

How to Make Your Own Ear-Cleaning Solution at Home

For those on a budget, or for those that prefer a more natural approach, vetinfo.com provides the following all-natural ear-cleaning solution recipe:

Pour 1/3 cup purified water into a water bottle

Add 1/3 cup white vinegar

Add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

Put on the lid and shake.

Vetinfo.com says to make sure you are not just dumping this solution into your dog’s ear: “The dog ear cleaner solution should be used with an ear applicator and not just poured into the dog’s ears. A dog solution applicator can be found at any pet store or through your veterinarian.”

Also, give your dog plenty of space and opportunity to shake out the excess solution, and then use a soft clean cloth or cotton balls to dry the ear.

PHOTOS: Paula69, Sunshineconnelly

Find A Vet HOW TO articles are intended for informational purposes only. You should always consult with your veterinarian about any health issues affecting your dog.

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Category : HOW TO