Wondering how often your dog's ears need to be cleaned? In general, once per month is a good rule of thumb. Breeds with long, floppy ears or dogs who swim frequently may need to have their ears cleaned every other week, or even weekly. After bathing or swimming, be sure to properly dry your pup's ears.
Dogs that swim regularly or have pendulous ear flaps are more prone to build up of debris and infections so should be cleaned more often. Much like human ears, seeing wax at the opening to the ear is a good indication they need cleaning. Another common findings is the ears may 'quelch' when rubbed or start to smell.
Dark brown or black—This type of earwax is commonly associated with yeast and/or bacterial ear infections. It's a good idea to consult with a veterinarian if earwax is this color. Brown—Light brown earwax is normal and expected. If the wax is accompanied by odor or inflammation, it can be a sign of infection.
Lightly massage the outside base of the ear to help break up the wax inside the ear canal. Clean out excess moisture and wax gently with cotton balls or a cloth. Do notuse cotton swabs or stick your fingers into the dog's ear canal; this can damage the canal or ear drum.
If you notice any brown gunk or any other kind of discharge coming out of your dog's ears, clean the outer ear using a cotton ball. However, before you begin cleaning your ear's canals, you should know that brown/blackish earwax can be a symptom of an ear infection or another medical problem.
To clean the ears, tilt your dog's head downward with one hand and squirt a gentle cleanser recommended by your veterinarian into the ear, filling the canal. Holding the ear closed, give it a nice massage, really squishing the cleanser around in there. That softens any gunk inside.
Clean cotton balls, or cotton wipes are recommended for ear cleanings. Cotton swabs should never be used because they can push wax down into the ear canal, making it harder to dislodge the build-up. In certain situations, cotton swabs could also potentially cause damage to the eardrum.
No, it is not recommended that you use baby wipes on dogs, or any other pets. That's because the pH level on human skin is different to dogs so baby wipes are unsafe because they may cause irritation or itching.
Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleanser for Dogs & Cats
It is frequently recommended by veterinarians and works with most breeds of pups. Designed with a keratolytic formula, the liquid solution works wonders to remove proprietary wax and debris, preventing buildup that can lead to discomfort or infection.
Never use a cotton-tipped applicator (Q-tip®) to remove the solution from the ear canal. Doing so can damage the ear canal and/or ear drum or push debris further into the ear canal. Praise your dog and provide treats.
Healthy earwax should be a pale, yellowish color. If your dog appears to have dark brown or black earwax or if the earwax looks dirty gray instead of golden, this isn't normal. A noticeable increase in wax build-up can be a sign of a problem as well. A healthy dog's ears should have no smell.
Ear mites cause intense scratching. If you look in your dog's ears and see dark brown debris that resembles coffee grounds, then your dog most likely has ear mites. This parasite can be shared with cats, dogs and other animals (like the family ferret).
A healthy, clean dog ear is light pink and odorless. However, a dirty dog ear might smell musty or have brown or black earwax. If your dog starts shaking their head or scratching at their ears, you can prevent a nasty infection by cleaning them as soon as possible.
Conclusions: Deafness may occur in dogs and cats following anesthesia for dental and ear cleaning procedures, but the prevalence is low. The hearing loss appears to be permanent. Clinical relevance: Deafness can be a consequence following anesthesia for dental or ear cleaning procedures.
A small amount of wax is part of the ear's self-cleaning system. If the ears look red or have a dark brown or black discharge, or if your dog frequently shakes their head, paws at their ears, or rubs them against the carpet or furniture, they need a visit to the veterinarian to see what's causing the problem.
Mix 1 part white vinegar (5% acetic acid), and 1 part saline (0.9% NaCl). Fill the ear canal with the solution, and massage the base of the ear for 30 seconds. Your pet will probably shake his/her head when you release the ear – watch out for flying cleaner and ear debris!
Common materials used to clean the ears are cotton balls and gauze. You should avoid harsh materials such as rags or paper towels, as they can add to the irritation.
Dogs with Malassezia infections are very itchy and they tend to smell a bit 'yeasty'. If they have Malassezia ear infections they will constantly shake their head and scratch at their ears. A thick black waxy material may be seen crusting around the ears and the opening of the ear canal.
Dog Ear Mites vs Ear Wax: How Can You Tell The Difference? Ear wax is normal in healthy dogs, but regular ear wax is light brown and doesn't have an odor. The wax in dogs with ear mites is usually darker brown or black, resembles coffee grounds, and can give off a foul odor.
Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common causes of itching in dogs, just behind flea allergy dermatitis. These allergies may also result in ear and body scratching, ear and skin infections and foot licking.
If your dog keeps shaking her head, scratching at her ears, or if your dog's ears look red and irritated it's time to visit the vet. Head shaking can lead to aural hematomas which often require surgery to repair.
You may think it's necessary to know what ear mites look like in dogs in order to tackle them, however ear mites are so small that it's unlikely you will be able to see them. It takes a vet with an otoscope or microscope to properly spot an infestation.
Bacterial and Yeast Infections in the Ear
The most frequently diagnosed health problem that causes excessive head shaking dogs is an ear infection. Ear infections tend to be itchy and produce a lot of discharge and inflammation, all of which make dogs want to shake their heads.