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Ear cleaning is an essential part of your dog's grooming routine that is often overlooked.
All dogs should have their ears cleaned occasionally, as regular cleaning can help to prevent ear infections. Some breeds are more prone to infections than others, so it's worth establishing a cleaning schedule with your vet tailored to your dog's needs before you start, as some dogs will require more regular ear cleaning than others.
Fortunately, cleaning your dog's ears at home is relatively easy, but you must ensure that you do it properly.
At Groomers, we've pulled together our top tips on how to clean your dog's ears so you can clean and care for them at home. From understanding the anatomy of its ears to investing in the correct equipment, you'll keep your dog's ears problem-free and prevent infection.
Table of contents:
How to clean your dog's ears at home
How to clean a dog's ears with an infection
The anatomy of a dog's ear
Before attempting to clean your dog's ears, it's important to understand the structure and anatomy of its ears so as not to cause it any unnecessary harm. This will also allow you to familiarise yourself with your dog's ears to better understand what you're looking at when cleaning them.
A dog's ear is a complicated structure made up of several parts:
Pinna
The outside flap is known as the pinna; in some dogs, it stands upright, whereas in others, it flops over. Dogs with floppy ears are generally more prone to infection, as it's more difficult for air to reach the ear canal, which can cause infection.
External canal
The external canal is just inside the visible opening of a dog's ear. It comprises the vertical and horizontal canal, which travels down the side of a dog's head and then turns inwards. The external canal is skin-coloured, creating creases and ridges on the skin's surface. It also contains glands that secrete wax and oils, or sebum, into the ear.
The external canal ends at the eardrum, or the tympanic membrane, which vibrates when it makes contact with sound waves to assist a dog's hearing.
Eardrum (tympanic membrane)
The eardrum also protects the middle and inner ear from damage. Everything beyond the eardrum is delicate; the middle and inner ears contain tiny, delicate structures that help your dog to hear and balance. If this area becomes damaged, it can cause significant harm to your dog, and in some cases, the damage cannot be reversed.
How to clean your dog's ears at home
Now you have a better understanding of your dog's ears, it's time to learn how to clean them at home. Cleaning your dog's ears at home can be simple as long as your dog is relaxed and you're confident in completing the task.
Remember, if you are unsure how to clean your dog's ears, always ask your vet for professional advice and assistance in handling the task.
Preparing to clean your dog's ears
Before you clean your dog's ears, ensuring it's comfortable with the process is important.
Gently touch your dog's ears
Start by gently touching its ears; if it pulls away or doesn't seem to like it, this is your cue to stop. If your dog becomes scared, you may never be able to check its ears, so take your time getting it used to the process. If your dog is uncomfortable having its ears touched, it may be better to allow a vet to clean them for you.
A space to clean
Choose a space that's easy to wipe down, such as the bathtub or outside. When your dog shakes its head post-clean, the debris and cleaner from its ears will be shaken out, so you need to choose a space you won't mind getting dirty and wet.
Remove the hair from the ear canal
Before cleaning, inspect your dog's ears to see how dirty they are and whether they have any excess hair coming from their ear canal - as this may need to be plucked.
Talk to your vet or professional groomer for advice on safely removing the hair from your dog's ear canal without causing harm. Usually, this hair can be plucked out with your fingers, tweezers, or hemostats, and Groomers Thornit Ear Powder can be used to make it easier to grip the hair. Thornit powder can also be used to calm outer ear inflammation, for canker, and to treat ear mites, so it's a worthy and useful addition to your dog's first aid kit.
The things you'll need to clean your dog's ears safely
- A vet-recommended ear cleaning solution such as Wahl Easy Ear Cleaner. Avoid any cleansers containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as they could irritate your dog's ears.
- Tweezer to remove hair from the ear canal
- Cotton balls, gauze squares or pads
- A towel
How to clean your dog's ears safely
1 Hold the flap of your dog’s ear upright and drop a few drops of ear cleaner into the ear near the opening. Follow this by gently placing the tip of the bottle into the ear’s opening and gently squeezing some drops into the ear. The tip of the bottle should never be inserted further than you can see.
2 Before your dog can shake, massage the base of its ear (this is the part nearest the jaw; you should be able to feel some cartilage). As you’re massaging, you should be able to hear a smacking sound. Massaging allows the cleaner to reach deeper into the ear into the canal to loosen debris.
3 After a few seconds, allow your dog to shake. You may want to turn away and hold up a towel to prevent yourself from being hit by the loose debris from your dog’s ears.
4 Once your dog has had a good shake, moisten some cotton wool with ear cleaner and clean the top of your dog’s ear canal. You can do this by placing your finger and cotton wool gently into the ear canal without forcing it. If the ear still feels dirty, repeat the process, remembering to stop if there is any redness or blood or your dog shows any signs of discomfort. Never insert a cotton bud into your dog’s ear, as this could cause irreparable damage to their eardrum.
5 Once you’ve cleaned one ear, repeat with the other ear, then wipe down your dog’s head to remove any wax and debris.
6 Reward your dog for its good behaviour!
You should get into the habit of cleaning your dog’s ears regularly. Once a month will usually suffice for most dogs, but consult your vet if you notice a more frequent wax build-up. Overcleaning your dog’s ears can irritate them, so take care not to clean them more frequently than that.
Dogs that like to swim often get extra moisture in their ears, which could lead to ear infections, so if your dog is a swimmer, check its ears regularly, as this is something worth bearing in mind. You should also regularly check your dog’s ears for mites, which can lead to infection.
How to clean a dog’s ears with an infection
If you think your dog has an ear infection, you shouldn’t clean its ears as this could aggravate the infection.
Signs that your dog could have an ear infection include sensitivity to its ears when touched, inflammation, redness, regular shaking of its head and excessive ear-scratching. Other symptoms may include discharge from the ears that is foul-smelling or unusual in colour.
You should also regularly check your dog’s ears for mites, which can lead to infection. If your dog has ear mites, you may notice coffee-ground-like clumps, thick red-brown or black crusts, cuts, and scratches in their ears.
If you think your dog may have an infection or ear mites, take it to the vet immediately for treatment.
Shop ear care at Groomers
So now you know how to clean and care for your dog’s ears to prevent infection, why not shop for your dog’s ear care products at Groomers? We have everything you need to keep your dog’s ears in check, from ear cleaners to tweezers. Then, why not browse our eye and nail care to top up your dog’s healthcare essentials?
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