Curious about ear cleaning?

Welcome back fellow pet lovers! Today’s topic is one of my favorites because I think proper ear cleaning is crucial for both routine care and ear infection treatment.

Now, let’s just get one important thing out of the way – if you suspect your dog (or cat!) has an ear infection; if he or she is shaking/scratching/rubbing/pawing at their ears or their ears are red, inflamed, have an excessive amount of discharge, then please seek veterinary attention and care.

This article is specifically about *routine* ear cleanings, which should be done *routinely* with non-medicated cleaners to remove wax and debris. There are so many other benefits to ear cleaning with the proper cleaner (this does not include home-made concoctions and definitely never water!). Some of these benefits include drying and acidifying the ear canal environment as well as deodorizing your pet's ears. For routine care, I recommend once monthly and more often if your pet swims or gets bathed often.

Below are some basic steps for ear cleaning:

Step 1: Choose the right ear cleaner (for the right species, a reputable brand, etc)

Step 2: Gather your supplies. I recommend gauze pads and cotton balls. I do not use or recommend Qtips.

Step 3: Pour a copious amount of ear cleaning solution on a gauze pad or cotton ball. Wipe the external part of the ear. Repeat this process until no more material is showing up on your gauze or cotton balls. Then pour a small amount into the ear canal and gently massage the base of the ear. Use the gauze or cotton balls to remove any wax, debris from the ears.

*Be super gentle when cleaning cat ears.

Step 4: Let ‘em shake!

Questions? Comments? Leave me a note below :)