How to Clean a Dogs Ears

Cleaning a dogs ears should be done on a regular basis to prevent ear infections. Ears that droop downwards tend to cover the ear canal and this can cause bacteria to flourish.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ear Cleaner
• Cotton Balls

1. 
   My what Big Ears you have

   Start cleaning your dogs ears when it's a puppy. This way the dog gets introduced to the procedure at an early age. Regular cleaning ensures that the ears stay clean and free from bacterial infections.

2. 
   Ear Cleaning means a Happy Dog

   Gently pull back the ear flap and check for debris or possible infections. The best way to evaluate an infection is by smelling the ear and if it smells bad then there probably is an infection.

3. 
   Spic and Span Clean

   To clean the ear use a product that's especially made for this. Put a small amount of ear cleaner inside the dogs ear then gently massage the ear so the ear cleaner dispersis evenly. Then let the dog shake its head to get out any left behind ear cleaner. Then swab with cotton balls or an ear pad product made for dogs. Clean the ear until you don't see debris this will ensure that the ear is clean and odor free.

Tips & Warnings

• Ear scratching could be an indicator that the dog has an ear infection
• Head shaking is another thing to watch for because this can signal that an ear infection is in full swing
• Never use q-tips in a dogs ear because this can injure the ear drum
• Make sure that the dog is not aggressive to ear cleaning to prevent an unsuspected bite