How do I keep my dog's ears clean?
Healthy Ears
Dogs naturally have clean, fresh-smelling ears without too much earwax. In a healthy ear, there is a delicate balance between skin bacteria, yeasts, earwax, moisture, and temperature. If your dog has no ear problems, do not use an ear cleaner too often. The cleaner can disrupt the balance of the ear flora, which can actually cause ear problems.
Some dogs suffer from excessive earwax production, which can cause an ear infection. If the veterinarian has ruled out or treated other causes and the eardrum is undamaged, it is recommended to regularly clean the dog's ears with the right product.
Check the packaging for the amount of ointment or drops for the best result. Make sure the ear flap is held upright, place the tip of the bottle vertically into the ear canal, and then put the required amount of cleaner into the ear. Gently massage the ear canal afterward, as this helps the liquid come into contact with the ear as effectively as possible. After treating both ears, the dog will likely shake its head. Step back to avoid getting splashed. As a precaution, choose a space where it’s okay to get a little messy, as the liquid may still come out of the ears.
Care for Your Dog’s Ears
When grooming your dog weekly, don’t forget the ears. Look for mats, bald spots, redness, cuts, lumps, ticks, or other objects that may have gotten into the fur around the ears. Also clean the inside of the ears using a skin cleansing wipe.
What Is the Function of Hair in the Ear?
It is often recommended to pull out the hair inside a dog’s ears to keep the ear clean. But these hairs are there for a reason; they keep dirt and flies out. If these get into the ear, they can damage the eardrum. Additionally, plucking is discouraged because ear infections can develop from the small wounds on the sensitive skin. So never remove hair from the ears without veterinary advice!
Do Not Use Cotton Swabs!
Never use cotton swabs to clean the ear canal. This pushes the earwax deeper into the canal. This compressed mass of earwax prevents the ears’ self-cleaning ability and creates a breeding ground for infections. Dogs can become deaf from this, and the eardrum can be severely damaged.
