As all dogs should have their ears cleaned regularly, it should be part of your regular grooming routine. The best place to clean your dog’s ears is in the tub or outside, and you should do it at least once a month.
Here’s a step-to-step guide on how to go about cleaning your dog’s ears:
Step 1: Before you start getting your hands dirty, make sure you have a good idea of how dirty your dog’s ears are, or if he or she has excess hair. If your dog has a lot of hair coming out of his or her ear canal, that hair may need to be plucked.
Step 2: Begin by holding your dog’s ear flap up and squirting a few drops of cleanser on the inside of the flap near the ear opening. If you are using a homemade solution, it is helpful to invest in a squeeze bottle with a tip that is about an inch long.
Step 3: Gently place the tip of the bottle into your dog’s ear and give it a gentle squeeze. Don’t exert a lot of force when squeezing the cleanser into the ear.
Step 4: Before your dog starts to shake its head, massage the base of your dog’s ear so you can loosen the ear debris.
Step 5: Once your dog has a good shake, use a cotton pad or gauze to wipe out the ear canal. Then, use cotton-tipped applicators to clean stubborn debris out of the ridges.
Remember: When your dog shakes its head, the ear debris and cleaner will have to go somewhere, so wrap a towel around your fur baby to keep him or her clean and dry. You may also want a towel to keep you dry!
Step 6: Repeat the process on the other side. Finish by wiping away any visible debris and dry your dog’s head off.
Step 7: Reward your dog with a treat.
The truth is – cleaning your dog’s ears is not a complicated process. Your dog just needs to get used to it, and it will get easier by time.