So Much to Know About Cleaning a Dog’s Ears

1 Overview

Choosing an ear cleaner

First, don’t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol in the ear canal.

Just pick a well-known brand; cleaners aren’t pricey and big brands are gentler – don’t save money here.

Ear-cleaning supplies

A bottle of cleaner, some cotton balls or gauze, and don’t forget patience.

The method is well known, but while researching we found another wrinkle: ear cleaning splits into two types!

Let’s start with the steps. For large dogs, two people help – one holds, one cleans.

1. Lift the ear with one hand and clean and massage with the other for about 30 seconds.

2. After massaging, hold the dog still – don’t let it shake yet – and wipe around the outer ear with cotton or gauze.

3. Let it shake.

So what are the two types?

Cleaning the outer ear, cleaning the middle ear.

Outer-ear cleaning is simple: put some cleaner on cotton, lift the ear with one hand and wipe the outer area with the other, then finish with dry cotton.

The common local method of shoving the bottle tip into the canal is actually middle-ear cleaning, since squeezing sends fluid deep in. After it, always clean the bottle tip to avoid re-infection.

What’s the difference?

If you read yesterday’s article you know the gap. The outer ear needs daily care – its importance is clear; if it falls, the middle ear soon follows.

So outer-ear cleaning suits daily care, middle-ear cleaning suits treatment; the middle ear also needs care, but less often.

Either way, never use cotton swabs inside the canal. The cleaner softens the gunk and shaking flings it out; a swab only damages the fragile ear wall, leaving wounds for bacteria and more disease.

What’s the right cleaning frequency?

With no ear disease, clean the outer ear 1-3 times a week and the middle ear once; outer-ear frequency depends on breed.

With ear disease, follow the vet. But note some vets say clean and medicate daily – that’s a myth; as said, the ear wall is fragile and even gentle cleaner hurts it if used every day.

Most international bodies say the shortest interval is every other day, so the wall rests on off days. Can you skip cleaning and just medicate on rest days? Same old answer: follow the vet.

If a vet insists on daily cleaning and meds, raise this and ask for a frequency that fits the actual condition.