How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears

Being a pet owner is not all fun and games. Owners have certain responsibilities to their pets. Health care is probably the most important besides basic needs. Prevention is the best strategy when it comes to your dog’s health. A good example is regular cleaning of the dog’s ears. It’s not fun for anyone involved, but it’s a necessary task that should be done regularly.
Dogs are especially sensitive when it comes to their ears. To desensitize the dog, make it a habit to regularly handle the dog’s ears during non stressful times. A casual touch of the ears when you are petting his head is all that it takes. Eventually, the dog will learn that you will not harm him and will relax. This will make ear cleaning time much easier. The key is to do it early and often. The younger your dog when you begin, the fewer problems you’ll have as time goes by.

Cleaning time is when you should check the dog for infections and parasites. Dogs that have large floppy ears are especially prone to these problems. If you notice scabs or any type of discharge, the dog needs to be checked by a vet. Odor is another sign of a problem. A healthy ear should be pink and free of odor.

You will need to get a cleaning solution specially made for cleaning dogs’ ears. Any pet store will have such a solution. Apply plenty of the cleaner to a piece of cotton and gently swab the inside of the ears. Take a minute or so and massage the cleaner into the ear. Let the dog shake out the excess. Under no circumstance should you ever use a Q-tip to clean your dog’s ears! This is the quickest way to cause ear problems.

A homemade solution is also easy to make and works well. One recipe calls for adding equal parts of vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Some people like to add a little boric acid. Regardless of the ingredients, make sure you mix it well. Put the solution into a clean bottle.

How frequently you clean your dog’s ears depends on a few things. If you have a dog that has floppy ears and is prone to ear problems, you should do this at least once a week. Other dogs are fine if you clean their ears twice a month. If you like to take your dog swimming, you should clean the ears after each outing to avoid infections caused by dirty water.

A dog’s ears are very sensitive and are one of the most frequent causes of trips to the vet. A simple regimen of regular cleaning can avoid this hassle and expense and keep you dog happy and healthy.