How to Clean Basset Hound Ears

Basset Hound Ears are part of what makes Bassets so unique and lovable. But if not cleaned regularly they can become packed with ear wax which can be a source of odour, irritation and can develop into ear infections, causing serious damage to your dogs ears. Here is how to clean your Basset Hound's ears so you can keep your Basset healthy and happy!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An assistant is extremely helpful in holding your dog while you do the cleaning. You can do it yourself but it will depend on how cooperative your dog is. Most Bassets do not enjoy ear cleaning but wi
• A good quality ear cleaning solution.
• Cotton balls to wipe the inside of the ear.
• Cotton tipped sticks (ie: Q-Tips).
• Tweezers are handy for plucking out excessive hair around the start of the ear canal. This is not usually the case in Bassets, but yours may be an exception!
• Dog treats! A few treats offered during the cleaning will distract pretty much any Basset!

1. 
   You want to do WHAT to my ears?!

   Restrain your pet- If you are doing this on your own, first get your dog to lay down. Position yourself on the opposite side of the ear you are going to clean. Hold the ear cleanser in your right hand and use your left arm to keep your dogs head restrained.
   
   If you have help then your assistant can restrain your dog. If you think that your dog would bite during this procedure than a muzzle may be needed. However I have never met a Basset that would bite their owner under any circumstances!
   
   This is probably a good time to start with those treats!

2. Applying the ear cleanser- Once your dog is relatively still, lift the ear flap and gently put a few squirts of cleanser into the ear making sure to get some down into the ear canal.
   
   DO NOT squirt forcefully down the ear canal as you could damage the eardrum!
   
   At this point your dog may try and shake it's head. That's okay, it will help loosen the ear debris. But be warned, it could be messy!

3. Massage- Put the ear flap back down and start massaging the cleanser into the ear especially at the base. Our Bassets seemed to like this part and would start making grunting sounds!

4. Cotton balls- Lift the ear flap again and use the cotton balls to gently wipe out the debris that has been loosened by the cleanser. You can put some cleanser on the cotton ball to make it easier. Use as many as you need to get things looking pink again, but be gentle!

5. Use Q-tips -When you think you've done all you can with the cotton balls you can now use the Q-tips.
   
   -*CAUTION!*- DO NOT stick a Q-tip down into the ear canal as you can push wax into the canal or worse yet, damage the eardrum!
   
   Use the Q-tip to clean the areas that you can see and reach easily inside the ear.

6. THAT'S IT! YOUR DONE!
   
   Your Basset will probably shake their head for a little while afterwards which will help loosen any wax that was left behind. You may want to let them outside for that!
   
   If your dog's ears seem pink and healthy in the days following the cleaning then it is just a matter of keeping up with a regular ear cleaning routine.
   
   On the other hand if your Basset Hound is still having problems with shaking the head, scratching, inflammation, etc. Take your pet to the Veterinarian so they can determine if there is an infection or ear mites that require medication.

Tips & Warnings

• Ear cleanser is something that's great to have on hand for the hygienic care of your dog, as ear infections can be prevented and treated by keeping their ears clean. Most common ear cleansers can soothe inflamed or itchy ears, as well as eliminate any odour. Ear mites can also be prevented and treated with proper ear cleaning, though this will require an ear cleanser specific to the problem. Look for products with natural ingredients that will be safe, gentle, and effective, such as aloe vera.
• If your Basset's ears are extremely red and raw and have an extremely bad odour you may need to take them to your Vet and determine if they are suffering from an ear infection or ear mites.
• DO NOT squirt forcefully down the ear canal as you could damage the eardrum!
• CAUTION! - DO NOT stick a Q-tip down into the ear canal as you can push wax into the canal or worse yet, damage the eardrum!
• DO NOT use "homemade recipes" to clean your Basset's ears! Talk to your Vet if you are uncertain about what to use.

Resources

• Basset Hound Ear Cleaning
• Basset Hounds and the love of dogs

[jenkinr]

on 3/30/2009 I wonder if this works on a Pekingese. I'll have to give it a try. 5*

[labellefleur100]

on 2/12/2009 Thanks for the tips! My dog has big, down ears too so it helps to know how to properly clean them! 5* RCMMED

[RickBasset]

on 2/7/2009 Yes it can apply to most dogs however Bassets are unique due to their huge mud-flaps! :~D
As always the most important thing is to execise caution when dealing with sensitive areas like ears!

[jenniesworld]

on 2/7/2009 I guess this will work for other dogs? Well written.

[brandy1123]

on 8/8/2008 great idea