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.

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