Dogs, like humans, require grooming in order to remain happy and healthy. While some canine health procedures, including as nail clipping and teeth cleaning, are best left to the specialists, cleaning dog ears can be done at home.
Check with your veterinarian to learn how often you should clean your dog’s ears before you begin. The frequency is determined by your pet’s age, breed, coat, and amount of activity. Cleaning dog ears at least once a month is recommended by vets. If your dog enjoys bathing, you should do it more frequently.
Steps for Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears
Here are some tips and suggestions for cleaning your dog’s ears.
Gather your tools: This could get messy if your dog dislikes being held or groomed. Have towels and appropriate clothing on available, as well as cotton balls or gauze pads and an ear wash solution. If your dog’s ear flap is excessively hairy on the inside, tweezers may be required.
To clean your dog’s ears, never use cotton swabs. They can injure your dog’s ear canal and make wax or dirt removal even more difficult.
Start with grooming: Ears that are too hairy should be shaved before the cleaning. Hair around the ear canal and ear flap should be cleaned and matted hair should be removed. If you have a hairy ear canal, you can pluck a few hairs at a time to increase ventilation.
Restrain your dog: Put your dog on a table and wrap your arm over them if your dog is tiny enough. Otherwise, lie down with your dog and go down on your knees, leaning over them to keep them from getting up. To effectively restrict, you may need to apply a gentle forearm near the jaw and grab the upper elbow of the lower front leg.
Apply ear wash solution: Fill the inner ear with an ear wash solution using the ear flap as a funnel. Make sure the bottle’s tip does not go directly into your ear. Apply enough ear wash to get the liquid to flow out.
Massage the ears: For approximately 20 to 30 seconds, hold the ear flap and massage the ear base. The ear wash works by dislodging wax and other particles from your dog’s inner ear. Remove any debris from the inside of the flap and the upper canal of the ear with a cotton ball or gauze pad after you’ve massaged your dog’s ears.
Wipe away debris: After massaging your dog’s ears, remove any debris from the inside of the flap and the upper canal of the ear using a cotton ball or gauze pad.
Let your dog shake: During this procedure, your dog will undoubtedly want to shake their head, and now is the time to allow them to do so. This aids in the removal of any remaining ear wash as well as any other debris from the inner canal. Grasp the ear flap and clean it with a cotton ball or gauze pad once again. Never go further than your finger can go into your dog’s ear.
Give your dog a treat: You’ve made it half way! Repeat the process on the other side, rewarding your pet with a treat. When you’re done, give another reward.
Things to Watch Out For
To assist recognize or avoid infections, you should examine your dog’s ears frequently. It’s not usual to have a lot of ear discharge or ears that hurt to touch. If this is the case, get medical advice from a veterinarian to rule out infections, ear mites, or other issues that may necessitate medicine.
An infection, a burr, or a seed stuck in the ear canal can affect any breed of dog. Infections inside the ear are more common in dogs with allergies or those that swim. You may assist your dog avoid more painful ailments by inspecting his ears on a regular basis.
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