How often should you clean a dog's ears?

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.

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How do you know if your dog's ear needs to be cleaned?

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.

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What is the brown stuff in my dog's ears?

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.

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Should I clean the brown stuff out of my dogs ears?

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.

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How do I know if my dogs ears are dirty?

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.

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How Often Should I Clean My Dog’s Ears?

26 related questions found

What happens if you don't clean your dog's ears?

Dogs can be prone to a number of ear problems from ear mites to ear infection. Some dogs succumb to chronic yeast infection or other infections of the ear.

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How do you get brown gunk out of a dog's ear?

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.

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Can I use wipes to clean my dog's ears?

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.

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What do vets use to clean dogs ears?

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.

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Why does my dogs ear itch with brown ear wax?

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).

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Is it normal for dogs to have gunk in their ears?

Dogs get earwax just like humans do – it's how the ears self-clean against pollen, dirt and debris. Normal dog ear wax ranges from pale yellow to light brown. Keep in mind, the wax may look darker if there's dirt in the ear. The consistency of the wax should be semi-soft.

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What are the black chunks in my dog's ears?

Ear mites are tiny mites, barely visible to the human eye, that live on the surface of ear canal skin in dogs and cats. An infestation produces tiny black specks, similar to coffee grounds. How will ear mites affect my dog? Ear mite infestation is usually detected by the dog scratching at an irritation in the ear.

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Can you clean a dogs ears too often?

While it is important to clean your dog's ears when needed, over-cleaning may cause irritation in the ear canal and this can lead to infection. Some dogs that have healthy, clean ears may never need to have their ears cleaned.

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Why don t dogs like their ears cleaned?

Most dogs' ears are much larger than ours, and their ear canals are much longer. They are certainly a lot more sensitive. Owners usually only need to clean them when there is a problem; however, they may already be painful at this point, so the dog learns that handling around the ears is painful.

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Can I use baby wipes on dogs ears?

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.

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What not to clean dogs ears with?

Cleaning your dog's ears does not require any special equipment. A good quality ear cleaning solution, some cotton balls or gauze, and some treats to reward your dog are all that is needed. Do not use cotton tip applicators (Q-tips®), due to the risk of perforating the ear drum or causing trauma to the ear canal.

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Can I use a wet paper towel to clean my dog's ears?

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.

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Why does my dog have a lot of earwax in one ear?

There are a number of causes of ear wax accumulation in dogs, but by far the most common cause is allergies. Ear mites and ear infections can lead to wax buildup as well.

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Can I clean my dogs ears with my finger?

Using a gauze or cotton ball around your finger put your finger inside and wipe out the wax and debris. Do this until the gauze comes out clean. It is extremely important not to push your finger too far into the ear. Only put your finger in as far as you can easily see.

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What should dog ear wax look like?

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.

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What does ear mites look like?

Ear mites are tiny animals and are a fairly common parasite in both cats and dogs. They look like tiny white dots, but can barely be seen with the naked eye. Ear mites live on the skin of the ear canal and feed off ear wax and skin oils. An adult normally lives for around two months, but they can multiply quickly.

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How do I know if my dog has a yeast infection in his ear?

If your dog has a yeast ear infection you may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
  1. Red or brown waxy discharge in the ear.
  2. Itching, scratching & pawing at the ear.
  3. A cheesy or musty smell coming from the ear.
  4. Red or irritated ear.

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What do ear mites smell like?

This smell is usually similar to old trash. Ear mites should be treated immediately as they are able to spread from dog-to-dog. You might notice signs similar to ear infections such as ear scratching, head shaking, redness and head tilting.

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What is the difference between dirty ears and ear mites in dogs?

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.

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