Cleaning your dog’s ear can cause severe damage if you don’t know what you’re doing. Here’s what you need to know about the process and how to do it safely.

Key takeaways:

• Debris and wax that aren’t removed from a dog’s ears can cause pain, itching, and infection.

• The breed of dog and other factors determine how often their ears need cleaning.

• DIY ear cleaning solutions can contain harmful ingredients.

• It’s often best to trust the process to experienced experts who know exactly what they’re doing.

Cleaning your dog’s ears is a key facet of proper pet parenting, but there are rules to making sure it’s done correctly. Otherwise, you can cause serious damage and even hearing loss! Certain breeds of dogs require ear cleaning more often than others, too – especially those with long, floppy ears that keep the entire ear canal covered and give excess bacteria a place to flourish.

Regular trips to the vet and professional care from a dog wellness expert are vital to your dog’s health, but it’s equally important to take care of basic hygiene at home. This guide covers why cleaning your dog’s ears is critical, what can happen if you don’t, what you can do safely at home, and what should be left to the professional care experts.

Why dog’s need their ears cleaned

The structure of some dog’s ear can make it challenging to get harmful materials out. Dirt, wax, and debris that make their way into a dog’s ear has a good chance of staying there if not extracted, and can build and eventually cause pain, itchiness, and infection.

You know your fur baby better than anyone, so it won’t be hard to tell when something’s wrong with their ears. Some of the most common signs of dirty ears are:

• Vigorous head shaking

• Rubbing ears on the floor

• A foul odor lingering in the ears

Several factors determine how often pet parents should clean their dog’s ears, including age, breed, coat, and how often they swim. Some dogs hardly ever need their ears cleaned, but others – especially if they swim a lot or have long ears – should have this done at least once a month.

Overcleaning your dog’s ears can be just as dangerous as not cleaning them at all, though, because it can irritate the inner ear and cause redness, swelling, and infection. If the ear canal is red and inflamed, an infection could be underway. It’s likely time to visit a vet.

How to clean your dog’s ears

Start with the right tools

Some dogs won’t sit still for ear cleaning, which can make for a messy process. It’s best to wear old clothes and gather your tools before getting started. A good-quality dog ear cleaner is recommended, and a vet or dog wellness expert can suggest the best type for your breed. Other tools might include:

• Gauze pads or cotton balls

• Towels

• Tweezers

Never use cotton swabs to clean your dog’s ears, because they push debris around and can cake it down rather than pulling it out. This can cause critical trauma to the inner ear.

Assume the position

Position yourself to best restrain and calm your dog. Small dogs will typically sit well on a table with your arm firmly around them. Larger dogs are a different story. Try having them lie on the floor with you kneeling next to them. You can then put gentle pressure near the jaw while grasping the bottom leg (near the elbow) to keep them in place. You may need someone to assist and make things easier.

Handle the brushing and trimming first

Dogs with furry ears need a little trimming before their ears get cleaned. Cut away mats and wash the hair near the ear canal to help make the process go as quickly as possible. Plucking a few hairs from the ear canal may be required if it is excessively furry.

Apply ear wash

Start by holding the ear flap like a funnel, then pour ear wash solution into the inner ear until it begins to flow out. Take great care not to touch the inner ear canal with the tip of the bottle, as doing so can introduce bacteria and cause trauma, irritation, and infection. Veterinarian-approved canine ear wash is the safest choice. Homemade ear solutions can contain harmful ingredients or fail to accomplish the task at all, which means you will have put your pooch through an uncomfortable situation for nothing.

Cleaning the ear

After the ear canal is full of solution, apply gentle pressure at the base of the ear. Massage in small circles for approximately 30 seconds until you hear squishy sounds deep in the canal, because this means the solution is swishing around and dislodging wax and dirt. Cover your face with the towel before letting your dog shake its head, then quickly use the cotton balls or gauze to dab excess solution from the inner ear canal. Remove any bits of debris from outside the ear canal with tweezers.

When to call in a professional

If you see obvious signs of trauma or infection – such as redness, yeasty odors, or pus – or an object lodged in your dog’s ears, get your fur baby to the vet right away to avoid painful hearing loss. You can stay on top of your dog’s ear health by working with a routine dog care professional who will perform vital skin, coat, ears, nails, and teeth care and wellness checks to keep your furry loved one safe and healthy for years to come.

If you’re thinking about committing to a dog wellness routine, Scenthound is here to help! Our convenient, affordable solution for dog care is revolutionizing how pet parents keep their fur family clean and healthy, and we can’t wait to help you.