How to Treat a Dog's Ears
Dogs are susceptible to a variety of ear problems because of the way their ear canals are shaped. Because bacteria, viruses, yeasts and parasites grow in warm, damp, dirty environments, the best way to treat a dog's ears is to establish a weekly cleaning ritual starting when your dog is a puppy. According to vetinfo.com, "If there are any signs of an ear infection, such as swelling, itching, pain, redness, odor, oozing, ear discharge or head shaking," take your dog to the veterinarian and follow your vet's advice as to how to treat your dog's ears.
Things You'll Need
- Ear cleaning solution
- Squirt bottle
- Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
- White vinegar
- Warm water
- Cotton balls
- Ear drying powder
- Dog treats
- Small hair-cutting scissors
- Ointment (anti-fungal/antibiotic/anti-inflammatory)
- Oral antibiotics
Instructions
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Ear Inspections and Cleaning
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Inspect your dog's ears once a week. Most dogs do not like people touching their ears so ease them into this process. Look into the ear to check for swelling or redness, smell for any strong or strange odors and check for moisture or insects.
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Gently pull the ear upward to straighten the ear canal. Lightly squirt ear-cleaning solution into the ear and massage the base of the ear between your thumb and forefinger for 20 to 25 seconds.
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3
Allow your dog to shake out the extra liquid if it needs to.
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Use a cotton ball to remove the debris and wax loosened by the ear cleaner. Let the ears dry on their own or use an ear drying powder.
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Let the ears dry on their own or use an ear drying powder according to package directions.
Treating Common Ear Problems
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Trim the small hair follicles inside the ears of dogs with droopy ears. This will prevent infections by keeping the air circulating and the ears dry.
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Use an ear wash after every swim for water-loving dogs. This keeps bacteria from forming and may prevent irritation, infections and the discomfort of swimmer's ear.
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Administer prescribed medications such as: topical antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory ointments or oral antibiotics and antihistamines if your veterinarian has diagnosed bacterial and fungal ear infections.
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Comfort and praise your dog while you are applying medication and give a reward afterward. Because you will have to treat your dog's ears with medication once or twice a day for at least two weeks, it's important that your dog learns to relax and not struggle during treatments.
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Tips & Warnings
Treat your dog's ears with a prescribed ear cleansing solution or prepare your own ear cleaner with either half warm water and half white vinegar, or half three percent hydrogen peroxide and half warm water. Use these solutions once a week to help suppress infections.
Consider a hypoallergenic diet. You may even have to make changes in your dog's home or outdoor environment if your dog's ear problems are caused by allergies.
Some ear problems are very serious. Your veterinarian will tell you if medication is necessary after your vet has obtained a thorough health history and examined not just the ears, but the whole dog. The exam might include looking for and recommending treatment to eliminate ticks, cysts or ear mites, and inspecting for lesions, signs of flea sensitivity, paw chewing, excessive licking or swollen lymph nodes to determine if the ear problems are allergic or hormonal.
Ear infections in dogs are often so painful that your vet may have to perform exams or procedures using anesthesia. Because a dog's ears are differently shaped and more sensitive than ours, it is very important to understand proper and safe methods for cleaning and treating your dog's ears.
Do not use the vinegar rinse if your dog has open wounds or ulcerations as it will sting.
