A spa day for your best friend doesn’t necessarily have to be a bath. It can include brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning and misting with a wonderful fragrance. Proper cleaning of your dog’s ears is particularly important as it helps to thwart infections. It’s also important to use the right technique and products when you clean dog’s ears. That, my beautiful goddesses is what this post is all about.
Misty, my little Yorkshire terrier and the love of my life has floppy ears. They’re not supposed to be that way, but that’s the way she is. Her floppy ears provide the warm moist environment that bacteria and yeast just love to grow, so periodically she gets ear infections. I can tell because she will start scratching her ears and shaking her head. Her vet gave me Gentizol to put in her ears when this happens and that clears up the infection right away. Gentizol is an antibiotic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory drug.
Gentizol has one drawback in that it contains a derivative of prednisone which is absorbed through the skin. Call me paranoid, but I don’t like using prednisone unless it’s absolutely necessary. I don’t think the small amount of Gentizol I use on Misty will do her harm. However, to try and prevent infections I am going to use a 50% dilution of hydrogen peroxide when I clean her ears. Hopefully, that way I won’t need to use the Gentizol.
I normally groom Misty every day. I clean her ears at least once every six weeks or so, but check them every day. I don’t clean her ears more often because I read on the Washington State University veterinary site that cleaning too often can be damaging to a dog’s ears.
Clean dog’s ears this way:
What is needed:
- Cotton balls
- Q tips
- 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide diluted 50% (¼ cup 3% hydrogen peroxide + ¼ cup water)
- Soft towel
The procedure:
- Dip cotton ball into cleaning solution and wring out the water. If it ear requires more cleaning, use fresh cotton ball.
- Gently wipe inside the dog’s ear to remove any dirt and excess wax
- Take a Q tip and clean in the ear folds. DO NOT PUSH INTO EAR CANAL.
- Dry ear with soft towel
Notes:
- Misty doesn’t have a lot of hair growing in her ears. If she did, I would tweeze or clip the hair away to increase air flow to the ear.
- If she shows signs of an infection I will administer the medication her vet prescribed.
- If the medication doesn’t work, I will take her in for an ear exam. She might have something lodged in her ear.
- If I notice a black discharge, I will take her to the vet on the suspicion she might have ear mites.
Misty is so excited to see me even when I’ve been gone only an hour or so. She snuggles with me as I watch television. She never complains. She loves me just the same regardless of how scruffy I look. She’s the ultimate friend and deserves the best care I can give her. I just bet there are many of our goddesses out there who feel the same about their puppy pals. This post on cleaning dog’s ears is just one step in many that I think are important to giving our dogs the happiest, healthiest lives possible.
Now go have fun and relax.
Related articles:
Dog Dry Skin Causes and Treatments
Homemade Dog Shampoo – A must have recipe for both dogs and cats