Your dog’s hygiene is an essential aspect of taking good care of their health. In keeping so, one can ensure a tidier, healthier fur, especially in areas where some dogs have a hard time cleaning themselves. One of these areas of a dog’s body that they have a hard time cleaning on their own is their ears.
It is understood that dogs have sensitivities, especially in their ears, and you don’t want to irritate your dog during bath time. However, you might wonder how to clean your dog’s ears without hurting them or causing a bubbly splash on you.
So, do you need to clean your dog’s ears? Yes, of course. All dog care experts agree on the regular cleaning of their ear area to avoid parasites and germs to grow and flourish in this area and would inflict severe irritations or skin diseases.
Why Should You Clean Your Dog’s Ears?
The number one reason is the development of dog ear problems. When dogs don’t get their ears cleaned, they become breeding sites for bacteria, yeast, parasites, and even tumors. Symptoms of dog ear problems become apparent when not prevented, and it will cost you your dog’s health when they’re neglected.
Ways on How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears
It is best to know how to clean your dog’s ears properly. There are several ways on how to clean dog ears. You can do it naturally, using organic cleaning substances, or by synthetic ear cleaners. Here are some ways you can follow:
The damp cloth wiping method
This method is best used for dogs who haven’t developed any severe irritations yet in the ear area.
You can start by checking for redness, pungent smell, or discharges in the ear area before wiping. If, in any case, your dog has large amounts of colored ear wax, swollen areas, or malodorous ears, seek veterinary help immediately. If it doesn’t look so bad, you can clean your dog’s ears by yourself.
Keep your dog comfortable throughout the process. At least two persons can do this task to ensure a more behaved examination on your dog’s ears and control it if it flinches and becomes uncomfortable. Once everything is clear, begin by damping your cotton wool and prepare the ear cleaner bottle.
Gently wipe the entrance area of your dog’s ears. Then, carefully apply the ear cleaner into the ear canal. Massage the ear base to help the cleaner flow into the ear canal. Wipe off the excess cleaner solution with the cotton wool.
Apply the same process to the other ear. Apply the ear drops on both ears if your dog has a pre-existing ear condition. Dry the ears with a clean towel.
Using vinegar to clean dog ears
Vinegar is a bit acidic to use but has excellent properties in disinfecting the ear area from disease-causing bacteria. However, a dog’s ear has a delicate structure, so cleaning it using vinegar requires extra care. It is best to ask animal healthcare professionals first how to clean dog ears with vinegar before using it for ear cleaning.
Other natural ways to clean dog ears
There are many ways on how to clean dog ears naturally. These methods aren’t expensive and can be made at home before bathing your dog. Substances and mixtures like mullein-garlic oil, warm compress, and apple cider mixture can help clean the ears effectively and protect it from infection.
All these methods must be done after bathing your dog. It is ideal to test the cleaning substances mentioned before regularly using it for dog ear cleaning. For dogs with ear wounds, an animal professional who knows how to clean dog ears with hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial solutions can do the cleaning for you.
Adding vitamin C to your pet dog’s supplements can also help protect them from ear infections. Plucking ear hair can also help, but this must be done carefully, or risk wounding your dog and leave an opening for bacterial infection. Massaging your dog’s ears with herbal antibiotic oils like Pau d’Arco can also help protect them from bacterial and fungal infections.
When Should You Clean your Dog’s Ears?
Every dog breed has its own recommended times on ear cleaning. For dog breeds with long, droopy ears, like Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, and Dachshunds, they will need assistance in cleaning the ear area. Their large ear flaps are hard to scratch and tend to become a suitable breeding ground for ear mites and bacteria that causes ear discharges.
Dogs with medium and small-sized ears may still need cleaning, but not as frequently as the former. They can scratch the biting mites out from the posterior of their ears. However, ear discharges could still develop on them, which justifies the need for regular ear cleaning.
It is also time to clean their ears when you smell something odd whenever they come closer to you. It could mean that they weren’t cleaned well for a long time or developed ear discharges inside or outside this part. Dogs who are whining when scratching their ears can signify infection and requires care and treatment right away.
Despite their differences in breed and ear health, all dogs need regular ear cleaning. Veterinarians recommend regular dog baths that include careful cleaning of their ears. However, don’t clean it too often, or you’ll expose the ear canal to damage or irritations brought by stuck moisture.
Conclusion
Whatever method you use to clean them, make sure that your dog doesn’t get stressed when cleaning their ears. It is also a good practice to check how dogs respond to touching their ears before applying ear cleaners, and how often to clean dog ears with it. You can also check out the best dog cleaners in the market that will suit your dog’s ear cleaning needs.