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Dog Questions
Dear Dr. Berg,
What is the best way to clean a dog’s ears? My black lab, Jake, seems to get his ears
dirty a lot. Is it because he likes to
swim in our pool and gets water in his ears?
We got some powder at the pet store, but I a little afraid to use it.
Thank you.
C. W., Wilmington
Dear C. W.,
Ear cleaning is one of those fun “bonding moments” that you
can share with your dog or cat, and, in most people’s minds, rates right up
there with clipping nails. Many owners
hesitate to clean their pet’s ears because they are afraid of damage to the
eardrum in the process. You can reduce
the risk and discomfort by using proper ear cleaning technique.
I recommend to my clients that they clean the ears at home
by gently flushing the ear canals with a good ear flush solution. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a good ear
wash and have him demonstrate how to use it.
Flushing the ears with a good ear wash helps to promote
healthy ears. Ear wash will tend to soften
and suspend dirt and wax in the solution, allowing both to be effectively
removed from the ear canal. Many ear
washes will also leave behind an acetic environment within the ear canal; an
acetic pH tends to inhibit the growth of both bacteria and yeast.
Most ear washes come in a convenient squeeze bottle, and to
use them you quickly fill the entire canal with the wash solution until
solution begins to spill out. Next, fold
the earflap down and gently massage the ear canal, loosening debris in the solution. Some dogs really enjoy this part and may moan
with pleasure as you rub. Finally, let
go of the ear and STAND BACK! Your dog
will do the rest by shaking his head from side to side, effectively spraying
you and anyone else who may be watching with ear wash solution. Helpful Hint: You may want to wash ears
outside or in the garage.
Once your dog is finished shaking the solution out, wipe the
part of the ear canal that you can see with a piece of gauze, paper towel, or
washcloth. There is no need to dig deep
down into the canal with ear swabs; in fact, digging into the canal with ear
swabs may tend to pack material into the bottom of the canal rather than remove
it.
So run get your bottle of ear wash and have at it. You and your dog will probably get pretty wet
in the process, but healthy ears are definitely worth the trouble.
Back to the Dog Page
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