We all know that it’s important to regularly brush our dogs to prevent mats from forming, and to keep their nails trimmed short so they don’t get arthritis in their toes. One aspect that is too-often missed in dog grooming and health is keeping your dog’s ears clean!
Every dog has individual ears, so how often they need to be cleaned will vary with each dog.
Common Problems with Dog Ears
Just as with our ears, dogs can have a variety of problems in their ears. A small amount of wax is normal and healthy, but dogs can have an excess buildup of wax, just as in people. Dogs with drop ears are also prone to developing a buildup of yeast, resulting in an infection.
Ears with yeast or wax buildup tend to smell horrible, and also be really itchy for the dogs. Besides the itch and smell, they can become infected if not properly cleaned. Ear infections can lead to permanent damage to a dog’s ears, including hearing loss and physical distortion.
How to Clean a Dog’s Ears
First, you’ll need a proper and safe ear cleaner. Do not just use human products on your dogs, and don’t put straight rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or any other chemicals into your dog’s ear canals. You can severely damage their ears and make the problem worse.
One option is our In Pups We Trust Squeaky Clean Ears. As with all our products, this one is all-natural and made in the USA. The product is also gentle on the skin and won’t cause chemical burns like other products might. Plus, it uses aloe, eucalyptus, camphor, and wintergreen leaf oil, so it smells great!
You’ll want to start by putting some of the cleaner into your dog’s ear canal. It helps if the product isn’t super cold because the cold liquid can be uncomfortable. Many products, including Squeaky Clean Ears, will break down the wax and debris. This means you don’t have to stick cotton swabs down into your dog’s ears and risk damaging them.
After you’ve put the product into your dog’s ears, you can let them shake their head and remove it from their ear canals. You can also use cotton balls to clean any excess that is present on the outer edge of the dog’s ears.
How often you need to complete this process will vary depending on your dog. Dogs with drop ears tend to have more easily infected ears, due to the lack of oxygen flow, but ear infections can also be common in dogs with prick ears due to the opening being easily accessible for debris.
If you notice any signs of infection, including colored discharge, make sure to schedule a trip to your dog’s veterinarian in case antibiotics or other medical treatment is necessary. However, if you regularly clean your dog’s ears and make sure they are healthy, you can avoid an unnecessary trip to the vet!