Cleaning your dog’s ears
Ear cleaning is an important step in the treatment of an ear infection. To clean ears properly:
- Gently pull the ear flap straight up to expose the opening to the ear canal.
- Apply enough of the cleaning product to pool in the ear canal.
- Massage the base of the ear gently but vigorously.
- Allow your pet to shake his or her head to dislodge loose debris.
- With gauze on your finger, insert your finger as deep in the canal as you can to wipe out debris. Repeat the flushing process until there is no more debris on thegauze.
- Do NOT insert Q-tips into the ear canal; doing so will pack the debris farther in. You CAN use Q-tips to clean the outer crevices and ear flap.
- Apply any recommended medications as directed after the ears are cleaned.
Medicating your dog’s ears
The ear canal is long and L-shaped and the ear drum is around the corner at the end of the “L”. Because of this anatomy it is important to get the medication deep into the
canal so the infection can be eliminated. It is usually recommended to clean your pet’s ears before administering the medication. Follow the steps below for proper medicating:
- Gently pull the ear flap straight up to expose the opening to the ear canal.
- Insert the tip of the medicine tube or bottle vertically into the ear canal so the whole tip is in the canal.
- Squeeze the medicine into the ear with a light, quick, firm squeeze on the tube or bottle.
- Remove the tip of the medication from the canal and massage the base of the ear gently. You should hear a “squishing” sound as you massage the medication deep into the ear canal.
NOTE: Some dogs are uncomfortable with having their ears cleaned. It is important to remember to make a positive association with any kind of treatment or procedure you do for your pet. Treat rewards before and after ear cleaning will give your dog something to look forward to with the ear cleaning process. Distraction methods like having them lick some peanut butter or Cheez Whiz off of a lick mat or other food toy may be a helpful distraction.