Your dog’s ears might be one of the cutest parts of him, whether they’re short and straight up or long and floppy. Of course, they are also important because they help him hear commands and praise, as well as know when something bad is coming. Because of how your dog’s ears are shaped, dirt and other things can easily get stuck in the horizontal canal. If you don’t clean his ears for him, the buildup can make him itchy or even cause ear infections.
How to Know If Your Dog’s Ears Need To Be Cleaned
Even though you need to clean your dog’s ears, you shouldn’t do it too often. When you clean your dog too much, it can get uncomfortable and even cause irritation. If you want to know if your dog needs his ears cleaned, you can look for certain signs. If his ears start to smell bad or look red in any way, it is time to clean them. He may also be scratching them more, or you may be able to see dirt on them.
How Often Should Your Dog’s Ears Be Cleaned?
There is no set amount of time between when you should clean your dog’s ears. Dogs who have problems with their ears more often will need to have them cleaned more often than dogs who have never had problems with their ears. How long you should wait between cleanings may also depend on other things. If your dog likes to swim, you may need to clean his ears more often to make sure water doesn’t get stuck in them. Dogs who spend a lot of time outside usually need to be cleaned more often as well.
How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears and What You Need
Before you can start cleaning your dog’s ears, you need to make sure you have the right tools. You won’t need anything too strange, which is good news. Most likely, you already have the things you need. You’ll need gauze or cotton balls, a cleaning solution, and some of your dog’s favorite treats. Try not to use cotton swabs. They are too small for your dog’s ears and could push dirt deeper into them or even pop the eardrum.
The Best Way to Clean Your Dog’s Ears
There are a lot of different ways to clean your dog’s ears, but don’t let that stress you out. With a little help, it’s easy to choose the right one. If a dog has oily ears or spends a lot of time in the water, an astringent-based cleaner or drying powder can help keep the ears dry. They aren’t good for every dog, though, and can even irritate some. If your dog’s ears don’t spend much time in the water, you should avoid these. There are still many things to do. Try PetAlive Ear Dr. Herbal Ear Drops for Dogs and Cats if you want to give your pet something made from natural ingredients. If your dog often gets infections, you might want to try something like Oticbliss Anti-Bacterial & Anti-Fungal Medicated Ear Flush for Dogs and Cats.
How to Clean the Ears of Your Dog
Once you have everything you need, it’s time to get to work. Try to catch your puppy when he’s in a good mood and feeling calm. This will (hopefully) make the process go more smoothly. You can keep him calm by giving him treats. If he doesn’t like having his ears cleaned, you could try giving him treats that calm him down to make the job easier.
Put some of the cleaning solution in the first ear by squeezing it in. For about 30 seconds, rub the base of the ear. You should hear a slight squishing sound. This means that the solution is getting to where it needs to be and breaking up any wax, dirt, or debris in your dog’s ear canal. Don’t touch the tip of the applicator to your dog’s ear, though, because that could let more bacteria into the ear canal. If you need to, rub the outside of the ear canal with a cotton ball to get rid of any dirt.
When you’re done massaging your dog’s ear, let him shake his head. If he shakes his head a lot, you might want to use a towel to protect yourself from the water that comes out of his ears. When he’s finished shaking, do the same thing with the other ear. Between regular cleanings, you can also help keep your dog’s ears clean by wiping the outside of them with something like TrueBlue Super Easy Dog Ear Wipes.
When to Take Your Pet to The Vet
You won’t always be able to care for your dog’s ears on your own. From time to time, you’ll need to take him to the vet. Think about how your dog reacts when you touch his ears, even if you’re not trying to clean them. It’s important to talk to your vet if he seems uncomfortable or like he’s in pain. Even after you clean your dog’s ears, if he keeps scratching them a lot, it could be a sign that he has an infection and needs to see a vet. He or she will be able to figure out what’s wrong and treat it in a good way.
The first time you clean your dog’s ears, you might feel a little weird, but it’s a pretty easy process that you’ll get used to quickly. You and your pet will be done cleaning up in no time and can go back to playing fetch.
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