How To Clean Your Dog’s Ears
It is a good idea to regularly check your dog’s ears on a routine basis so you can spot any signs of potential infection such as
- Wax
- Debris
- Inflammation
- Abnormal smell
If you do notice any of the above signs, them contact your vet straight away. It is always better to treat a problem rather than wait for it to escalate into something bigger.
A vet may perscribe a specific treatment for your dog to relieve the irritation, itching and inflamination, that is why is it important to get your dog used to regular ear checks as part of a routine.
If there is no sign of any abnornal swelling or inflammation then go ahead and continue to clean your dog’s ears which is very simple to do.
You will need cotton wool balls or soft tissue and ear cleaner.
You can buy the dog ear cleaner
1. Have a cotton wool ball or soft tissue that is gentle on the outer ears ready.
Apply the dog ear cleaner to the soft cotton wool ball or tissue and hold the dog’s ear flap open and gently clean by wiping the area of the ear mainly the flap that you can see and just inside the ear entrance.
Don’t stick any objects down the ear canal by using items such as Q tips. This can push any wax or debris further into the ear canal which causes more problems. It can cause discomfort to your dog which may affect its hearing.
If your dog’s ears need a deeper clean then it may require pouring a cleansing liquid into the ear canal, otherwise it can be damaging if there is a problem with the dog’s ear drum. For example, if the ear drum is ruptured, so only do this if it is specifically advised by your vetinarian.
How To Apply A Deeper Cleansing For Your Dog’s Ears
2. Only if recommended by a vet, you would lift the dog’s ear flap and gently place the nozzle into the ear entrance then squeeze the cleansing bottle for a few seconds to let the liquid squirt into the ear canal.
This will loosen any hard wax, debris and relieve any inflamation for your dog. Your dog may want to shake its head as you apply the liquid so try to hold its head still other wise the liquid will spray everywhere with hardly any going into the ear canal!
Once you have squirted some ear cleanser into the ear canal, remove the bottle and flap the ear over and massage the ear for a few seconds. This will encourage the liquid to move down the ear canal and to loosen the moist
wax and debris. Now you can let your dog shake its head so it will feel more comfortable.
3. Gently wipe any excess liquid or debris from the exposed ear area without sticking anything into the ear canal. This will leave your dog’s ear clean and healthy.
Remember don’t stick anything into the dog’s ear canal at any time unless advised by a vet.
If you regularly check and clean your dog’s ears using this simple method and include it as part of your routine, you may find there is no need to do a deep ear clean leaving your dog happy and carefree. If you are unsure then your vet can advise you.
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Apr 11, 2011 | Comments are off | Canine Health, puppy grooming