How to Clean a Dog's Ears

Dog owners must clean a dog's ears on a regular basis to prevent canine ear infections. But proper ear cleaning techniques are vital to prevent injury to a dog's ear. Read on to learn tips on how to clean a dog's ears properly!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scissors
• Dog Ear Cleaning Solution
• Q-Tips
• Cotton Balls -OR- Cotton Pads
• A Dog Treat

1. PLUCK OR TRIM THE HAIR INSIDE THE DOG'S EARS. Some dog breeds have a great deal of hair inside their ears. For these dogs, begin by plucking or trimming the hair inside the dog's ears to improve air flow and visibility while cleaning the dog's ears. It is generally not painful to pluck a dog's ear hair, but pluck small bunches of hair at a time to avoid discomfort.

2. APPLY EAR CLEANING SOLUTION TO THE COTTON AND Q-TIPS. To make the actual ear cleaning process quicker, begin by moistening several cotton balls/cotton pads and several Q-tips.

3. WIPE AWAY EAR WAX AND BUILD-UP FROM THE DOG'S EAR. Using the damp cotton pad or cotton ball, gently wipe away the dog's ear build-up and ear wax. This will remove large portions of the ear gunk.

4. USE THE Q-TIP TO CLEAN THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES OF THE DOG'S EAR. To get in all those little nooks and crannies of the dog's ear, use the damp Q-tips to clean away any remaining visible ear wax and ear build-up. Only clean the parts of the ear that are visible - DO NOT STICK THE Q-TIP INTO THE DOG'S EAR CANAL!! This can seriously injure the dog's ear and his ability to hear.

5. GIVE THE DOG A TREAT! Reward the dog for his good behavior during the ear cleaning process by offering a treat (or two) at the end of each ear cleaning. Offering a couple of treats while cleaning the dog's ears, combined with using an up-beat, happy and encouraging voice, will help make the experience a positive one.

6. REPEAT STEPS 1 THROUGH 5 ONCE A WEEK. Regular ear cleanings are vital to prevent ear infections in dogs. This also enables pet owners to spot an infection and act quickly if the dog does develop an ear infection.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the dog's ears once a week.
• Get a no-sting dog ear cleaning solution, available at the veterinarian's office or at the pet supply store.
• Look for signs of an ear infection in your dog. Symptoms of a dog ear infection include increased discharge (often yellow, green or brown in color), odor from the dog's ear, redness, swelling and a dry, scaly appearance to the ear.
• Look for canine behaviors that may indicate that the dog may has an ear infection. Common behaviors in a dog with an ear infection include excessive head shaking, frequent itching of the ear, and crying out when itching the ear. If you suspect that your dog has an ear infection, a visit to the vet will be necessary for an exam and prescription of antibiotic ear drops.

Resources

• Does My Dog Have an Ear Infection?