Cleaning and caring for dogs’ ears
In a new educational film from our clinic, veterinarian Inga Jančiūnaitė talks about how to care for and clean your puppy’s ears at home. The video lesson is at the end of this article, but for now a little theory.
The ears need to be cared for properly, as they are one of the most sensitive organs in a dog. Once an ear infection has occurred, it can recur regularly in the future, causing discomfort to both the animal and the owner caring for it.
When and how should I brush my dog’s ear hairs?
Unnecessary ear hair should not be unnecessarily touched, unless your pet is a Yorkshire Terrier, a Shih Tzu or any other breed of dog that has a genetic history of hair growth in the ear cavity. In this case, they should be plucked from time to time. If the owner takes his/her pet to a groomer, the groomer will usually also take care of the hairs in the dog’s ear cavity. However, there are some cases where carelessness leads to incomplete work, so owners should learn how to carry out this procedure themselves.
The procedure is quite simple: sprinkle a special powder over the ear canal to reduce irritation during brushing and use your fingers to remove unwanted hairs. If your puppy has had its ear hair plucked since it was a puppy, it will not be afraid of this procedure. The most unpleasant part for the animal is usually the sound of the plucking. The powder used for plucking also prevents the hair from slipping through the fingers and makes it easier for the person doing the plucking.
How and with what means to clean a dog’s ears?
As a preventive measure, ears should only be cleaned when they become dirty. To protect the ears from inflammation, we recommend cleaning them with prophylactic ear cleaners. Various types of products are available in veterinary pharmacies. For example, Bio Groom Ear Powder should be sprayed into the ear canal, the ear massaged well and the dog allowed to shake out the excess ear contents. This powder is good because it helps to bring the accumulated dirt to the surface during the massage, drying the ear lining and preventing the build-up of bacteria. There is no need to go deep into the organ, just a cotton swab to clean the surface – what is left after the dog has shaken itself out. Massage is usually pleasant for the puppy: you should grasp the shell of the ear, close to the head, and start with gentle massaging movements. We recommend cleaning the ears in the evening, before going to bed, when the pet will no longer go outside and there is no risk of wind blowing over the ears.
There are some cleaners that need to be removed from the ear cavity along with the dirt, i.e. it is not enough to remove it from the surface of the ear as in the case of Bio Groom Ear Powder. Therefore, always read the product’s directions for use carefully or consult your veterinary pharmacist or veterinarian. The cleaner will be selected according to your pet’s character, i.e. the extent to which he/she allows himself/herself to be handled in various procedures.