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Welcome to Ear Care 101! This article may not prep you for veterinary school, but it will help you be a better, more knowledgeable pet owner. By the end, you will know more about how your dog’s ears work and why it is so important that we take care of them.
Two Ear Canals
Like I said, this article won’t prep you for vet school, so we won’t be learning the scientific names for anything or go into depth about canine hearing. But, did you know that your dog has TWO ear canals?
Unlike humans who only have one, horizontal ear canal, dogs have an additional vertical ear canal. This, combined with the shape of their ears determines how well they can hear. Dogs with pointed ears like those pictured are typically bred to be guard dogs, watch dogs, or alert dogs. The shape of the pointed ear enhances sound, and enables your dog to hear things that you can’t.
Dogs with floppy ears on the other hand, tend to be hunting dogs or gun dogs. The flaps of the ear, depending on the length, can help waft scent to a nose, or dampen the sound of a nearby gun. But, two ear canals means twice the trouble.
As humans, our ears do a fairly decent jobs of keeping themselves clean. The wax slowly works its way out, and has a pretty straightforward path when it does. For dogs, this isn’t the case. Because of the way the dog’s ear is, you know with two ear canals, wax and debris have a much harder time finding an easy exit. This leads to a buildup of moisture and debris which in turn constricts proper air flow to the ear, creating a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and yeast.
The Why
Have you ever seen a dog with an ear infection? Instead of healthy pink skin, their ears look swollen and red, and it certainly doesn’t help that they can’t stop scratching at them. You might also notice an extremely unpleasant smell coming from their ears . . . that’s the bacteria and yeast at work. Your dog may become aggressive when you touch their ear, even if they aren’t typically an aggressive dog. And, if not treated promptly, there are severe and lasting side effects including but not limited to: facial paralysis, dry eye, and either temporary or permanent deafness.
Not only can these side effects be severe, they can be expensive to treat. According to Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, the “total cost to treat ear infections is between $100 and $250 with a vet visit”. And , should your dog need surgery to fix their chronic ear infection problem, you could be looking at anywhere from $500 -$3500 according to WagWalking.com . I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t have an extra $3000 just sitting around! Not only that, but these kinds of ear infections can be extremely painful for any dog, and I definitely don’t want my dog to go through something like that if he doesn’t have to. Ear cleaning is an essential and non-negotiable part of ensuring your dog lives their best, healthiest life. But how to do it?
The How
What you’ll Need
Otic Ear cleaner or Medicated Ear Cleaner
Cotton balls (jumbo size for large dogs, small for small dogs)
How to Do it
Canal Flood Method
Assemble your supplies and your dog. Try to clean your dog’s ears when they are calm, and give high-value treats as necessary
Fill your dog’s ear canal with your chosen, veterinary approved cleaner, and massage gently at the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. You will hear a squishing sound as the product dislodges debris and buildup. Don’t let the tip of the applicator touch your dog’s ear, as this can introduce bacteria. If you are particularly worried about this, simply clean the applicator tip with isopropyl alcohol before each use.
Stop massaging the ear and let your dog shake his head. Once your dog has finished shaking, take the cotton ball gently wipe out the ear canal, going no deeper than the depth of one knuckle. If your dog appears to be in pain during the cleaning process, stop and consult your veterinarian. If the cotton ball comes out extremely dirty, keep repeating the process until you can get one to come out cleanly.
Place one last clean and dry cotton ball into the entrance of your dogs’ ear canal. You should be able to see it at all times. Repeat the massaging and squishing motion to help get rid of excess product and moisture in the ear canal. Remove the cotton ball.
Finally, apply one or two drops of the ear mite treatment solution to the inside of their ear flap, and one at the entrance of their ear canal. This is simply a precautionary measure, and will kill any ear mites that may be in your dog’s ear.
See the video below for more detail!
Moist Cotton Ball Method
Assemble your supplies and your dog. Try to clean your dog’s ears when they are calm, and give high-value treats as necessary
Take a cotton ball and get it damp with your chosen ear cleaner. It should be wet enough to clean, but should not be dripping. Place this cotton ball into the entrance of your dogs ear canal, and massage it gently for 30-40 seconds.
Remove the cotton ball from the ear canal, and wipe out the ear canal and remainder of the ear.
Repeat as necessary until the cotton ball comes out clean and there is no more debris in your dog’s ear.
Finally, apply one or two drops of the ear mite treatment solution to the inside of their ear flap, and one at the entrance of their ear canal. This is simply a precautionary measure, and will kill any ear mites that may be in your dog’s ear.
When to do it
Cleaning your dog’s ears should NOT be an everyday thing. Over cleaning can be just as bad as not cleaning at all, and still lead to your dog getting an ear infection. So, the question is, when do you clean your dog’s ears? Start by checking your dogs ears once a week. If they are dirty or smell bad, you will need to clean their ears. If they are not dirty and smell neutral or normal, don’t clean their ears. It’s pretty simple! If you are finding that you have to clean your dog’s ears every day because they are dirty, or the bad smell in them just won’t go away, take them to your veterinarian as soon as you can. In all likelihood they probably have an ear infection that needs some medication.
Which method should I use?
If your dog’s ears are only mildly dirty or only slightly smelly, then I would recommend the Moist Cotton Ball Method. Dogs seem to tolerate this method better than the Canal Flood Method so it is good for touch ups or light cleaning. However, if your dog’s ears are very dirty, or if they are prone to ear infections, they will need a deep clean using the Canal Flood Method.
Do you have a favorite ear cleaner? How often do you clean your dog’s ears? Comment below!