Tips For the Proper Care and Cleaning of Your Dog's Ears

By Sean S. Fredrick

Your dog's ears are one of the most sensitive parts of their body, vigorous activity, horseplay, and simply running through the woods around your house can cause nicks, scratches, and bruises which can develop into a far more serious injury. Contaminants such as dirt, leaves, excess earwax, and mites must be removed for the proper health and avoidance of ear infection.

An ear infection has the potential to rapidly spread throughout the cranial cavity, causing problems with balance, hearing loss, and even deafness. All it takes is a little preemptive care and attention to avoid such a catastrophic condition. Regular cleaning is the key, and proper cleaning methods must be used as to avoid unintended injury.

A thorough cleaning and inspection is especially important after any violent incident involving another animal, because ears and noses are the most prone to injury. Rabies and other diseases are normally spread through open wounds and saliva, so be sure to visit your vet after such an occurrence.

Proper cleaning up your dog's ears is essential to their health since hearing is one of the most important of their senses. The ears are extremely delicate so gentle and thorough methods are required. This cleaning should be done every few days especially for those dogs that spend frequent time outdoors in rough wooded areas.

One of the first steps for long-haired breeds is to trim excessively long fur from around the ear canal. Not too much because fur also acts as protection of the ear canal. Clean under floppy ears removing contaminants such as dirt, grass, and leaves. Check for cuts and abrasions in this area as well since this is a critical area for long eared dogs.

Gently clean the inside of the ear canal with a cotton cloth and warm water. Mineral oil on a clean cotton cloth can assist in removing excess earwax and oily buildup. Never insert any objects such as a cotton swab directly into the ear canal because you may cause a serious injury if your dog happens to jerk or move their head suddenly. When bathing take care as to not let this soapy water enter the ear canal where as this may cause an infection.

Inspect your dog's ears frequently for cuts, open wounds, and other bruising. Minor irritations such as fleas and ticks can cause incessant scratching and further injury. Watch for problems with balance and hearing, these are signs of an unseen ear infection. Consult your veterinarian if these symptoms arise.

Follow the proper cleaning and care procedures and insure that common and preventable ear injuries and conditions are avoided. Loving care and observation of your dog's health will make for a long and healthy relationship!

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