Not every dog needs regular ear cleaning. Some dogs have naturally clean ears and no problems, so there’s little reason to clean them. Other dogs, however, like a drop-eared dog who loves water, are prone to gunky ears and otitis externa (inflammation of the ear canal). Of course, even prick-eared dogs can get bacterial, yeast, or ear mites that might require periodic cleaning.
Before you decide to go it on your own and clean your dog’s ear, consider whether the dog has an ear infection or not. If he’s shaking his head like crazy, you see discharge or a notice strange smell in the ear, and he’s scratching his ears, chances are he is battling an ear infection. This usually needs a diagnosis to determine the cause of the infection and the right medication to cure it.
When you take your dog to the veterinarian’s office, the staff will likely do the first ear cleaning, however, cleaning the ears will become part of your dog’s treatment plan and regular preventive care. Don’t worry. It’s not hard to do and most dogs don’t mind (too much).
What Do You Need to Clean a Dog’s Ears?
You don’t need much to clean your dog’s ears:
- A dog-safe ear-cleansing solution
- Cotton balls
- Optional: some gauze and/or cotton-tipped applicators
- Optional: premade dog ear wipes
The ear-cleansing solution is the most important item. Pet ear cleaners contain a drying agent so that your dog’s ears will dry quickly once you are done with cleaning. We like Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser. It’s effective and easy to use. For wipes, our choice is the Zymox Advanced Enzymatic Ear Wipes.
If you’re looking for natural ear-cleaning solutions, equal parts of water and white or apple-cider vinegar will help, but we don’t think it’s the best choice for long-term care. Unlike an ear-cleaning solution, this mixture does not dry as quickly. Persistent moisture in your dog’s ears can encourage more infections because bacteria thrive in a warm, moist environment.
Cotton balls and gauze are perfect for wiping out ears. Cotton-tipped applicators can be used to remove gunk from the nooks and crannies of the ear but only use these in areas where you can see. Reaching too deep could accidentally rupture your dog’s ear drum.
How to Clean a Dog Ears
- Apply ear-cleansing solution to a cotton ball.
- Place the soaked cotton ball in your dog’s ear and squish it around. Most dogs tolerate this better than squirting the cleanser directly into the ear.
- Gently wipe the ear with cotton or gauze, using a new piece each time until it comes back clean. Note: If your dog’s ear starts to bleed, stop cleaning. The tissue is too sensitive.
- Use a cotton-tipped applicator to carefully remove debris from nooks and crannies of the ear that you can see easily.
- Repeat with the other ear.
If your dog was diagnosed with an ear infection, follow your veterinarian’s instructions for how often to clean the ears. In many cases, cleaning will be a couple times a week while treating an infection, and then weekly or every other week for long-term care, but this protocol can vary.
