How to Clean a Terrier's Ears

Hygiene is an important part of your dog's health and happiness. Proper ear cleaning is an essential part of dog hygiene and you can do much of this at home. As terriers are generally small dogs (with smaller ears), it is important that you take special care when cleaning them. Know the proper techniques to ensure that you clean the ears thoroughly yet safely.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ear cleaning solution
• Cotton balls
• Towel
• Cotton tipped applicator
• Treats

1. Wrap the dog in a thick towel and hold her gently yet firmly. For larger terriers, or nervous dogs, another person should assist by holding the dog.

2. Apply ear cleaning solution into the ear. Massage the ear for 20 to 30 seconds to soften and release debris.

3. Wipe out the debris with a cotton ball and repeat until no more debris is coming out of the ear. Then, wipe the dog's ear flap and the surrounding area with a towel.

4. Carefully use a cotton applicator, moistened with water, to clean the inside of the ear flap and the outer part of the ear canal. Only clean the part of the ear canal that you can see. Cleaning with the applicator further down into the canal may not only pack and harden any more debris, but it may hurt the dog.

5. Repeat this step with the other ear. Then allow time for the ears to dry. If a veterinarian has prescribed ear medication, you can now apply this.

6. Let your dog shake his head. This is a natural reaction and it helps to remove any fluid.

7. Praise your dog and offer him a treat for good behavior.

Tips & Warnings

• Excessive hair growth in the ear is common among terriers. Every two weeks, inspect the inside of the ear and remove by pulling in the direction of the hair growth. Remove only small amounts of hair at a time. Do not do this if you see signs of inflammation.
• Be careful when using the cotton applicator. Dogs can suddenly move during ear cleaning, and the applicator can injure the dog. Consult a veterinarian if your dog's ears need more thorough cleaning. Do not attempt to clean any part of the ear that you cannot see because a dog's inner ear can be easily injured.

References

• How To Clean Your Dog's Ears
• Dog Tricks 101
• Why and How to Clean Dog Ears

Resources

• Pet Education

Who Can Help Sponsored

[comeonkharma]

on 6/7/2009 I always do my dog's ears in the shower after I bathe her. The warmth and moister soften the wax. This improves the effectiveness of the ear cleaning product and less qtip hassle is needed. Also, cleanup is a breeze!