Things You Should Know About Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears

Some vets recommend that owners routinely flush their dog’s ears with warm water at slightest hint of odor. Other home dog ear care cleaning remedies include mineral oil, hydrogen peroxide, or a combination of equal parts of vinegar and rubbing alcohol. If your dog has open sores it's best not to use vinegar and alcohol because it will cause a burning sensation.

If your dog is prone to ear infections you may want to use a pet ear care product that is specifically formulated to clean and dry up excess moisture in ear canal. A dog ear wash containing Tea Tree Oil, which is also formulated to dry ear canal is an excellent choice. Tea Tree Oil’s natural antiseptic, antibacterial and fungicidal properties can help keep your dog’s ears problem free.

It’s also a good idea to use a pet ear-drying agent after bathing or swimming especially if your dog's ears retain moisture and don't dry promptly. There are many good pet ear care products available for routine ear cleaning that will dissolve wax, remove foreign debris and dry ear canal. There are also home dog care treatments available that will kill pesky ear mites and ear ticks.

A dog’s ear canal is L-shaped. It descends vertically and it makes a 90-degree horizontal turn before it reaches eardrum. Even though your dog’s eardrum is better protected than a human’s, you should still proceed with caution when cleaning ear canal. Many vets urge caution when inserting anything into ear canal, especially cotton-tipped swabs. They can actually push dirt and foreign matter deeper into ear if not handled properly. You can even lose cotton tip in ear canal.

Start cleaning external part of ear by swabbing inside earflaps and all around gnarled area at entrance of ear canal. If you choose to use a cotton-tipped swab you will need a long type since a dog’s ear canal is much deeper than ours. If your dog will tolerate it, gently and carefully swab inside of ear canal. A much safer method is to fill ear canal with a pet ear cleaning solution and gently massage outer ear. After a few minutes allow your dog to shake his head to help clear ear canal. If you’re using a commercial pet ear care product be sure to follow instructions carefully.

Make Ear Inspections An Important Part Of Your Home Dog Ear Care Routine

Checking your dog’s ears only takes a few minutes so make it a part of your dog grooming routine. And when your dog’s ears need a cleaning don’t put it off. Remember regular cleanings can prevent many common ear problems. If you think a problem may be developing that is beyond scope of your home dog ear care routine, take your dog to vet for a check up immediately. An infection, if left untreated, can be very painful for your dog and could even damage your dog’s hearing.

Article courtesy of: href="http://www.dog-supplies-advisor.com/" rel="nofollow">Dog-Supplies-Advisor.com a website dedicated to providing dog care advice on a broad range of dog-related topics. Includes informative articles, frequently asked questions, recommendations, and href="http://www.dog-supplies-advisor.com/free-dog-ezine.html" rel="nofollow">Free Ezine.

What Questions Should I Consider Before Selecting A Dog Crate?

Before you shop for a dog crate, take some time to consider how you’re going to use it. This will help you get most out of your investment. The type you choose will depend on your lifestyle, your dog’s behavioral patterns and what type of activities you plan to do with your pet. We’ve provided questions below to get you thinking about many different ways that pet crates can be used.

Is this crate for home use only? If you’re not planning on traveling with your dog a basic wire crate is a good choice for an everyday crate. If you're going to keep it in one place you probably don't need a collapsible model.

Are you buying a crate for a puppy? If you have a growing puppy select a crate that your puppy will grow into. Make sure it comes with a divider panel, which will allow you to adjust size of crate as your puppy grows.

Do you take your dog in your car? It’s highly recommended that you crate your dog while traveling by car. You may be able to purchase a crate that you can use at home as well as in your car. Or if you take your dog in car frequently purchasing a separate crate for your car may be best. Either way you may want to consider a folding crate, which is much easier to move around once it is folded up. Even if your dog is not crate trained use still may want to consider crating your pet while in a vehicle.

If there’s any chance that your dog can accidentally get out of your car in a strange and dangerous place that’s a good enough reason to invest in a crate. Crating your pet while you’re driving will also prevent any mishaps that could result from your dog being left loose in your vehicle.

Are you planning on taking your dog on an airplane? You will need a hard plastic airline-approved pet carrier. For small dogs you might be able to use an airline-approved soft pet carrier bag. Wire dog crates are not approved for airline travel. If you travel frequently by plane you may want to look for a hard plastic dog carrier that you can also use as an everyday dog crate.

Do you need a crate that is portable and collapsible? If you plan on moving your dog crate around a collapsible model is a good option. A collapsible model should come with convenient carrying handles. There are also some collapsible hard plastic carriers that can also serve as everyday dog crates.

Do you take your dog hiking or camping? You will certainly want to consider a collapsible soft crate or tent. They are designed to be portable, lightweight and very easy to set up and take down. A warning about soft crates, tents and pet carriers: – If your dog is aggressive, chews, digs or experiences anxiety when crated these are not for you.

As you can see, choosing right dog carrier depends on your dog’s size and temperament, intended location and use, and function and features that you expect carrier to fulfill. Choose dog carrier, kennel, or dog crate that best suits your needs and how you see crate functioning. You’ll want to pick one that offers most convenience for uses that you have in mind.

Article courtesy of: href="http://www.dog-supplies-advisor.com/" rel="nofollow">Dog-Supplies-Advisor.com a website dedicated to providing dog care advice on a broad range of dog-related topics. Includes informative articles, frequently asked questions, recommendations, and href="http://www.dog-supplies-advisor.com/free-dog-ezine.html" rel="nofollow">Free Ezine.