How Often Do I Need to Clean My Dog's Ears? 3 Quick Tips

Grooming is an important part of taking care of your canine friend, no matter what size or how long their coat is. A dog’s ears are particularly tricky, but it’s essential that their ears are maintained.

A dog’s ears are very sensitive, they have much better hearing than humans, so it’s important to take care of their ears, keeping them clean and healthy. Read these tips to better understand how to take care of your beloved pet!

Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears Can Prevent Infections

How frequently you need to clean your dog’s ears will depend on their breed. Always consult your vets before to make sure that you are cleaning your dog’s ears properly and not too often. They can provide advice on when to clean their ears, and what cleaner to use.

Dogs' ears must be cleaned with a dog-specific ear cleaner, this is to avoid unnecessary irritation. Other products are not safe to be used on the delicate skin inside the ear canal. If you suspect that your dog may have an ear infection, get in touch with your vet clinic to see what is going on before treating it at home.

Be Gentle When Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears

When cleaning your furry friend’s ears it is important to be gentle with them, you don’t want to hurt your dog. Remember that having their ears cleaned is a strange sensation for them. If brushing them, use a soft-bristled brush and a gentle hand.

Many ear cleaners will come with a long nozzle that will dispense ear cleaner into the ear, then gently massage the base of the ear and let your dog shake their ears to get rid of the excess liquid and loosen any waxy build-up. Make sure that you have lots of treats on hand to reassure them and reinforce good behaviour!

Start Cleaning Their Ears From a Young Age

As with anything else, it can be good to get your dog used to having their ears cleaned when they are young. Otherwise, it may be difficult for you and distressing for your dog to start cleaning their ears later on in life.

If you have an older dog or adopted a dog and you’re not sure about whether their ears have been cleaned before, it’s worth taking them to the vet so that they can be cleaned by professionals who can handle them if they become distressed or aggressive. Again, it’s best to seek professional advice, in case they need extra medication or attention, or if their ears don’t need cleaning at all.

Market Cross Veterinary Clinic is Here To Help

If you become aware of any changes in your dog’s behaviour, shaking or scratching their ears, or a sudden change in appearance or smell of the ear, contact us.

The health of your animal is not something to take lightly, that’s why our expert team is always here to help. Don’t act if you’re not sure, and always seek professional advice before taking matters into your own hands.