Dog ear cleaner: which one to buy?

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Ear infections, allergies, earwax plugs… Dogs’ ears are fragile and need regular care, which is why there are products specifically designed for this sensitive part of the body.

It is recommended to clean the dog’s ears about every two weeks, calmly and gently, to avoid stressing the animal for which it is not particularly fun, but necessary for its well-being!

What to use? Specific wipes or a dog ear cleaner. But be careful, some breeds are more sensitive than others, such as long-eared ones, since the air can circulate less inside the ear canals and dirt risks accumulating more easily.

Are you about to welcome your first Labrador? Fill his medicine cabinet with the right ear care products. If you’re having trouble choosing the best product, this comparison will help!

How to clean dog’s ears with a cleaner?

To properly clean Fido’s ears, you need to use a specific dog ear cleaner. Caution: If you use a solution that is not intended for ear cleaning, your pet could be injured by an excessively irritating pH.

In addition to the detergent you must have available a washcloth or gauze pad. Place a few drops of cleanser into the ear canal and gently massage the base of the ear to ensure it penetrates properly. This motion will also help loosen impurities. It is also possible to let the animal shake its head to ensure that the product penetrates deeply.

This done, gently insert a piece of gauze inside the ear to collect as much dirt and earwax as possible. Remove it and with a towel apply light pressure on the dog’s ear. The excess fluid will then come out, together with the dissolved earwax, and be absorbed by the wipe. Change the gauze compress and repeat the same process on the other ear.

How often should you clean your dog’s ears?

In optimal health conditions, it is recommended to clean the dog’s ears every two weeks. As with humans, the ear canal is constantly producing earwax and can become blocked if not cleaned regularly.

If Fido, on the other hand, has particularly sensitive ears and suffers from regular infections, it is necessary to clean them once or twice a week to remove the bacteria causing these annoying ailments.

When to perform a more thorough cleaning?

It is important to clean your dog’s ears more thoroughly in case of infection, always taking care to follow the instructions given by your vet. If Fido has problems of this type, his ears could be sore and it is therefore important to be very delicate so as not to hurt him.

How to clean the ears of the dog with otitis?

If the animal has otitis, it will be necessary to use specific remedies, always under veterinary advice, when cleaning the ear canals. Subsequently, the application of a specific pesticide may be necessary.

What to clean dog’s ears with?

Before talking about what to use, it is better to clarify what not to use: cotton swabs. This accessory, in fact, risks pushing the wax inside the ear instead of outside. Furthermore, their shape is not suitable for the dog’s ear canal which, being curved, does not allow the stick to reach the end.

The best choice are wipes or cotton (which does not produce any lint) that can remain inside the ear.

Tweezers can also be useful if, for example after a walk in the woods, a spikelet gets stuck in the dog’s ear. The same goes for ticks: with the special pliers it will be child’s play to eliminate this annoying parasite.

Finally, a brush with long, well-spaced teeth or small scissors can come in handy if Fido has excessive hair around his ears.

Which Breeds Need the Most Grooming?

• In a floppy eared dog (for example a Cocker Spaniel), the inside of the ears is less well ventilated and secretions can rapidly build up. For this type of dog, it is therefore advisable to clean the ear canal at least once a week.
• Hunting dogs, due to their long ears, need regular grooming.
• Brachycephalic breeds (such as Boxers and French Bulldogs) are particularly sensitive to their ears and suffer from regular infections.
• The Labrador is a dog that secretes a lot of earwax and needs to be cleaned at least once a week.
• Poodles and Bichons also need very regular maintenance of their ear canals. With their long fur, which blocks the opening of the ear canal, there is not much ventilation and infections occur more quickly.

What to pay attention to when cleaning Fido’s ears?

Do not use water or any other product not intended for cleaning your dog’s ears as it could cause irritation.

Pay particular attention to the color of the wax which must be brown. If it is yellow, it is certainly a sign of infection and you should consult your vet. Also make sure that there is no unpleasant odor coming from the ear canal.

If Fido keeps tilting his head or trying to scratch his ear a lot, make an appointment with a professional as soon as possible.