Table of Content
This handy guide will tell you how to clean a dog’s ears. Apple cider vinegar is the best solution for fungal infections that works with dogs, especially if your pooch loves the water. All you have to do is apply diluted apple cider vinegar directly on your dog's coat and massage his/her whole body. Your veterinarian will thoroughly clean your dog's ears using a medicated ear cleanser.
If you've search online, you may find home remedies for dog ear infections like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or rubbing alcohol. These are all bad ideas, because they can irritate the inside of the ear and invite more infection. Sure, the acid in vinegar might kill yeast, but vinegar is mostly water.
Dog Ear-Cleaning Solutions
As you’re massaging the ear and the surrounding area, make a note of your dog’s reaction. If he reacts with a yelp or other indication of pain, stop immediately and call your veterinarian. Expect ear cleaning to be a messy process, so have an old towel or rag on hand to clean up afterwards. Once you get the green light from your vet, you can bust out the olive oil and a cotton ball and get to work. The tea tree oil which is also a natural tick reppellent, has antifungal properties that are effective at eradicating yeast and fungal infections. No matter which oil you choose, it must be diluted with a carrier oil such as olive oil.
Your dog’s behavior during an ear cleaning can offer clues to their wellbeing. Always consult your veterinarian if your dog shows signs of an ear infection, which may include shaking their head, holding it to one side, odor, or signs of pain. Vinegar Ear Cleaning Schedule Treat both ears twice daily for two weeks. For maintenance, dog ear infections are treated once or twice weekly.
How do you clean a dog's ears that won't let you?
Always start cleaning from the outside and work yourself in. You should know when to stop so as not to harm the dog. Where the ears seem too dirty and no amount of cleaning seems to clear it up, schedule some ear grooming by a professional. If they look and smell good, leave them alone. Cleaning a healthy ear can damage its self-cleaning abilities. In other words, too much ear cleaning can lead to an infection.
In some instances, dog owners report being able to soothe an infection at home by using a quality ear cleaner. While treating your dog's ear infection at home may be tempting, I always recommend visiting your vet first. Do not use any objects such as Q-tips, bobby pins, or cotton swabs to clean your dog’s ears. Fortunately, cleaning your dog’s ears is easy to do at home with the right supplies.
Featured Products
A good rule of thumb is to never stick anything further into your dog’s ears than your finger will fit. The other two types of canine ear infections involve the middle ear or, most seriously, the inner ear. An infection of the inner ear, if left untreated, can cause a host of scary, and sometimes permanent, damage to nerves and hearing. The least severe, and usually the most common type of ear infection, affects the outer ear. These infections are commonly identified by noting swelling around the ear and an excessive amount of earwax.
This is particularly true for breeds with long ears that hang, as they are at the highest risk of developing ear infections. Here’s what to know about when and how to clean dog ears — without exacerbating any health issues or creating new ones — according to a veterinarian. How often you should clean your dog's ears will depend on a bunch of factors, including breed, activities, and health conditions like allergies. Long-eared dogs (like Ree's basset hound Walter) are more susceptible to ear infections than other breeds, so they typically require more frequent cleanings. The same is true of avid swimmers—and active ranch dogs that have trouble staying out of the mud!
Once you’ve done so, just apply a few drops into your dog’s ear and then massage it around. From there, you’ll want to take a clean cotton ball and wipe away the excess oil and any wax it dissolves. Regular ear cleaning is vital for avoiding ear infections – some breeds more so than others. Basset hounds and other floppy eared dogs, for instance, have long ears that seal off the inside of the canals, and are especially prone to infections.
Get tons of great dog training tutorials, canine gear guides, and the latest doggy discounts. But while this “recipe” is quite simple, be sure to consult your veterinarian before using it on your pooch. Use only the 3% hydrogen peroxide found in the drug store for this recipe, not the higher concentrations used for industrial applications. Look for the signs of a bacterial infection in the outer part of the ear.
The easiest way to tell is by checking them regularly for changes. Clean, healthy dog ears are pink, odorless, debris-free, and not inflamed, according to the American Kennel Club. If you get a whiff of a mild odor, spot some discharge, or notice that your pup is shaking his or her head more than usual, a cleaning is likely in order. Some ear cleaners contain natural antibacterial and antifungal ingredients that may help prevent ear infections.
Because their ear canal has an L-shape, debris, wax, water, and plants can get trapped in their ears. If you see your dog shaking their head repeatedly, they may be struggling to dislodge something from their ear canal. Because dirty ears are a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, which can lead to all sorts of problems, from ear infections to serious health conditions.
