How to Clean Your Dog's Ears

Regularly checking your dog's ears every week is essential to maintaining their health. You might think you don't need to do this, but it’s particularly important for floppy-eared breeds or dogs with allergies. If you check their ears regularly, you'll notice cleaning them is necessary. Cleaning your dog’s ears at home is easy as long as there are no infections or injuries. Give your loyal companion the care they deserve by regularly checking and cleaning their ears, whether they have floppy ears or not.

Perform a general ear check for your dog. Have your dog sit or stand beside you so you can easily observe the inside of their ears. If you only see dirt or wax, you can start cleaning.

• Look for signs like fluid in the ear canal (clear, gray, or brown), thickened, swollen, or crusted wax, or any injuries. If you notice any of these symptoms, don't clean your dog’s ears; contact a vet immediately for advice.
• Since you cannot see deep into the ear canal due to the shape of the dog's ear, avoid cleaning too deeply without veterinary guidance. Never use a cotton swab to clean the ear canal, as it can puncture the eardrum if inserted too far.

Check for any parasites or foreign objects in their ears. Dogs often pick up unwanted debris in their ears, especially when they run through grassy or wooded areas, where things like seeds, twigs, and grass can get lodged in their ears. If you find any of these objects, gently remove them and clean your dog’s ears. If this doesn’t work, take your dog to a professional vet clinic.

• Fleas, mites, and ticks tend to live in the hidden areas around and inside a dog’s ears. Mites can cause itching and lead to thick, brownish discharge. You'll need a vet to diagnose and treat ear mites. Fleas and ticks can be eliminated (and prevented) with various chemicals available from your vet's office.

Check if your dog’s ears are infected. Yeast infections can cause a bad odor, itching, and brown discharge in your dog’s ears. Yeast infections require specific medication to disinfect; simply cleaning the ears without treatment can worsen the condition. If you observe any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Look for signs of infection on the outside of the ear. Bacterial ear infections can range from mild, treatable conditions to more severe infections that can cause great discomfort for your dog. It's essential to consult a vet early to diagnose and treat ear infections because they can lead to serious complications.

Be cautious about any tumors in your dog’s ears, but keep in mind these cases are quite rare. Occasionally, you might find unusual lumps inside or around your dog’s ears, often due to a hard impact. Most bumps or lumps caused by trauma aren’t a major concern, but they can become serious if it's a cyst, a reaction to an injury, or a bite.

• Observe closely at home. After a week, if the lump doesn’t disappear or grows larger and causes discomfort, consult a vet for advice.

Purchase ear cleaning tools for your dog or make your own using common household items. Ear cleaning tools can also be used for the outer edges, below the ear flap. The steps to clean your dog’s ears at home are similar to the professional process.

• Mix a few tablespoons of vinegar with an equal amount of alcohol in a clean bowl. Ensure the solution is at room temperature before using, as no one likes cold liquid in their ears, including your dog. This mixture is safe to wipe on the visible parts of their ears. DO NOT use this mixture if you suspect an ear infection, and never pour the solution directly into their ear canal.
• There are many good, versatile ear cleaning tools available for dogs. Consult your vet about which ones are suitable for local purchase. You can also ask local pet stores for recommendations.

Dip a cotton ball into the cleaning solution. Wring out the cotton ball so it retains moisture without dripping. For small dogs, you can use half a cotton ball.

• Alternatively, you can wrap a gauze pad around your finger and dip it into the cleaning solution. The gauze should not be overly wet. If you accidentally soak the gauze too much, gently wring it out before continuing to clean your dog’s ears. This is an alternative to cotton swabs, though it may make your dog feel slightly uncomfortable. Use your thumb and index finger to hold the gauze.

Gently wipe the inside of your dog’s ear flap. Remove any dirt or debris you can see. If the ear is very dirty, you may need several cotton balls to clean it. Your dog will stay calm as long as you wipe gently and only clean the outer parts of the ear canal.

• Be gentle, as you can easily scratch their skin. The vinegar and alcohol solution can cause discomfort if the skin is scratched.
• Make sure to clean the creases in the ear canal thoroughly, as dirt and wax can accumulate in these areas.
• Clean both ears thoroughly.

Only clean your dog's ears completely if advised by a vet. If you receive this recommendation, it’s usually because your dog’s ears are filled with dirt and wax, requiring special cleaning tools to remove the thick buildup from the ear canal.

• To do this, place the nozzle of the cleaning solution bottle at the base of the ear canal, just below the ear flap. Gently squeeze the bottle to allow the liquid to flow into your dog’s ear. Gently massage and rub the ear (thumb on one side, index finger on the other) for about 60 seconds.
• Use gauze or cotton to clean the gunk from the ear. You may need a lot of cotton if your dog’s ears are very dirty.

Let your dog shake their head to remove excess fluid after cleaning. Typically, your dog will shake their head after you’ve cleaned their ears. Allow them to do so, but turn your face away to avoid getting liquid or debris in your eyes. This will help remove any excess cleaning solution left behind.

• After your dog shakes their head, wipe their ears again with gauze or a cotton ball. As your dog shakes, debris will fly out of the ear canal, helping to remove any remaining dirt.

Clean your dog’s ears regularly. Checking and cleaning your dog’s ears weekly (if necessary) is an excellent plan to help prevent health issues. Earwax and dirt can accumulate quickly, leading to infections, especially in dogs with floppy ears.

• Reward your dog with a treat after cleaning its ears. This will help it relax and associate staying still with receiving rewards during future cleanings.
• The best time to clean your dog’s ears is after bath time. Ear cleaning solutions can help remove any leftover water from the ears. This is recommended because water can lead to ear infections.
• Your vet can show you the proper way to clean your pet’s ears. If your dog has had ear problems in the past, it’s especially important to follow their advice carefully.
• Be extremely slow and gentle during the process. Your dog may twitch or shudder while being cleaned, and rough handling could potentially cause permanent ear damage.

• Never insert a cotton swab deep into your dog’s ear canal! This can cause permanent hearing damage to your pet.
• Never use water to clean your dog’s ears, as water can enter the ear canal and cause an infection.

• Ear cleaning tools for dogs
• Cotton pads and gauze