If you have pet dogs, you’re probably spending a lot of time and effort taking care of them. To keep your dog healthy, it is essential to feed them proper food, enough water, and as well as regular exercise. If you’re a new dog owner, there are Best Dog Blogs that you can check out for you to know more about taking care of them.
Aside from feeding them properly and giving them exercise, dogs should also be groomed regularly. Part of the grooming habits for dogs are bathing them, clipping their nails, brushing their teeth, and maintaining their coat or hair by brushing. In addition to that, you also need to take care of your dog’s ears.
Dogs’ ears are often overlooked when it comes to their grooming regime. However, for many dogs, it is very important to care for their ears because it will enable you to check for problems or ear infections. Dog ears come in different shapes and styles. Some dogs have drop ear, prick ear, rose ear, semi-prick ear, and V-shaped ear. No matter what kind of ear your dog has, all of their ears need care. However, those that have drop ears or folds require additional attention because the shape of their ears can trap more moisture.
If you want to have more ideas about dog ears, you’re in the right place. Today, we are giving you ways on how to care for your dog’s ears.
What You Should Look Out for In Your Dog’s Ears
If you are wondering what can go wrong with your dog’s ears, well, there are many that you need to look out for. Some of these are allergies, ear mites, trauma, excess moisture, and infections, which can all upset the natural pH balance of their ears. With this, it is very important that you check your dog’s ears weekly for issues. See if there’s a strong odor, discharge, swelling, or redness. If one of these exists, then your dog may have a problem.
Aside from check the ears, you also need to be aware of the behavior of your dog. For example, if it keeps on scratching or rubbing its ears, this can indicate a problem. If you see any of these symptoms, it’s better to get your dog checked by a veterinarian right away.
How Often Should a Dog’s Ears Be Cleaned?
The frequency of cleaning your dog’s ears depends on what kind of dog you have. For example, breeds with droopy ears like Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels need more regular cleaning because they are more prone to ear infections. Their ears allow less airflow, and moisture and debris can be trapped easily in their ear canals, which can result in a yeast infection.
Aside from that, dogs that love to swim also need to have regular ear cleaning because the extra moisture can expose them to ear infections. You should also be on the lookout for ear mites on your dog because they can also cause ear infections and can be transmitted to other pets.
Generally, it is essential to clean your dog’s ears regularly to avoid infections and other issues. However, it should not be done too often, as it can damage the ear canal or cause irritation. If you are not sure how often you need to clean your dog’s ears, it’s better to ask the opinion of your vet as they can recommend a cleaning schedule that suits your dog’s needs.
How to Clean a Dog’s Ears
When cleaning your dog’s ears, the most important thing you need to keep in mind is that your pet should be comfortable with the whole process. That’s why it’s ideal if you start cleaning their ears when they are puppies so that they will get used to ear cleaning when they grow older. However, this isn’t always possible, especially for those who rescue older dogs who never had their ears cleaned before.
Before you start cleaning the ears, you can gently touch their ears first and stroke them. This way, you will see how your dog will react. If they don’t like their ears being touched, do not force it. Never clean your dog’s ears if it is stressed or struggling. This could only upset your dog, or you could also be hurt. It is better to take them to the vet to have their ears cleaned for you.
But if your dog doesn’t mind its ears being touched, then you can continue cleaning them. Before you do, you first need to have these things:
-
Cotton wool pads or damp cotton
-
Specific ear cleaner for dogs
-
Clean towel
-
Someone to help you if it’s your first time to clean your dog’s ears
-
Lots of treats during and after the ear cleaning
Step by Step Guide of How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears
Here’s a guide that you can follow to clean your dog’s ears properly:
-
Make sure that your dog is comfortable. Once they are calm, lift their ear, and hold it between your thumb and forefinger to see inside their ear.
-
Check their ears for redness, bad smell, or discharge. It is normal to see a small amount of light-colored ear wax. But if their ears are very red or there’s a weird smell, that’s a sign of a problem that needs veterinary action.
-
If the ears of your pet are normal and do not have any problem, gently wipe around the entrance of its ears using damp cotton wool to remove dirt and excess wax.
-
Using a dog-friendly ear cleaner, insert its tip into the ear canal. However, make sure that you will not insert it too far. After that, squeeze the bottle to release the ear cleaner.
-
Massage the base of your dog’s ear to let the cleaner pass into the ear canal.
-
Wipe any excess cleaner using damp cotton wool.
You can repeat these steps for the other ear of your dog. If your vet has prescribed your pet ear drops, you can apply them shortly after you’ve finished cleaning their ears. This way, you can ensure that the medicine will be able to enter the ear effectively.
These are some of the best ways on how to care for your dog’s ears. It is indeed essential to keep your dog’s ears in shape. It’s not that difficult. You just need to check them regularly and keep them clean. We hope the information we shared here will help you in caring for your dog’s ears.