How to clean a dog’s ears: a comprehensive guide

The importance of ear cleaning

Cleaning your dog’s ears is important for multiple reasons. One reason is that it helps keep you informed of your dog’s overall health. When your dog has a lot of discharge or exudate from their ears, it can clue you into the fact that something more serious is going on. Another reason is that it can help stop the formation of ear infections. Making sure that any water that gets trapped in the canal from bathing or swimming can help reduce occurrences of infections. Lastly, it is the most important step in treating ear infections. Topical medications cannot work as effectively if debris isn’t allowing them to penetrate the area and kill the bacteria/yeast.

When to clean your dog’s ears

For a normal, healthy dog, we recommend cleaning the ears twice monthly or after any baths or swimming. This will help ensure we are removing excess wax and water, which can lead to ear infections. If your dog has a lot of exudate (brown/yellow/white debris) in the ears or around the ear pinna, this is an indication that you need to clean them. If your dog’s ears are red and painful, or if normal cleaning doesn’t seem to get rid of the exudate, it is best to seek the help of a veterinarian. If your dog has an infection, most veterinarians recommend cleaning the ears twice weekly to every other day to help remove the debris and allow the medication to penetrate the area and clear the infection.

Ear Cleaning Supplies

• Good supplies to have on hand to help aid in cleaning your dog’s ears are a cleanser (can be a solution or wipes), cotton balls, paper towels, and a washcloth.
     
• Supplies that you shouldn’t use are Q-tips (cotton swabs), plain water, or soap. These pose risks such as creating an environment for ear infections to form or penetrating the eardrum.

How to clean your dog’s ears

Step 1

Get an ear-cleaning solution and read the labeled instructions carefully. There are many different options and types of ear-cleaning solutions such as cerumenolytics, mild cleaners, and drying and antiseptic cleaners. Your veterinarian can help you choose the one that would be the most effective for each situation.

Step 2

Lift the ear flap so that it points straight up (if you have a floppy-eared dog).

Step 3

Apply a liberal amount of solution to the ear canal.

Step 4

Massage the base of the ear. You should be able to hear a slight swooshing sound.

Step 5

Let your dog shake their head. This helps loosen debris/ear wax for better removal.

Step 6

Using a cotton ball, paper towel, or washcloth, gently wipe the inside of the ear to remove debris/wax.

Step 7

Repeat until no more debris is removed. Stop if any blood is present.

Step 8

Clean ears regularly. For general cleanings for maintenance, it is recommended to clean twice a month or after baths/swimming. You may need to clean more often if your dog has an ear infection that is being treated. Your veterinarian can help you determine the correct frequency for this.

Summary

Cleaning your dog’s ears is an important task that should be done at least twice monthly. Cleaning your dog’s ears may alert you to early health problems. It is also the most important step when treating ear infections. It is best to use cotton balls or paper towels rather than Q-tips to clean your dog’s ears, as they can cause harm. If you have questions as to what type of cleaner would be best for your pet, please ask your veterinarian. If your dog’s ears are ever red, or painful, or continue to have a lot of exudate despite regular cleanings, please seek care from your veterinarian.