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.
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 this is your first time, don't be surprised if a lot of material comes out! Allow your dog to shake out any excess dog ear wash. Being careful not to insert anything deeper into the ear canal than ½ inch, remove any excess wax or particles with a soft cloth, tissue or specially made dog earcleaning pad.
How will my veterinarian treat my dog's ears when they are painful? To conduct a complete ear examination or to clean and start treatment on the ears when they are infected or inflamed, your veterinarian will likely recommend sedation or a general anesthetic and a thorough cleaning procedure in the veterinary office.
To clean a dog's ear, I recommend a cotton ball saturated with a vet-recommended ear cleaner. Wipe out the inside of the ear, never going too deep. Gently squeeze the ball and gently massage the base of the ears. Most dogs love this if their ears are not overly inflamed or painful.
Outer ear infection (otitis externa).
A waxy, yellow, or reddish-brown ear discharge can also be a sign your dog has an ear infection, which can be a result of allergies, mites, polyps, overproduction of ear wax, excessive bathing or swimming (which can leave too much moisture in the ears), or other problems.
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.
The cost of ear infection treatment varies depending on your location and veterinary practice — but otitis externa treatments, which usually include the exam, ear cleaning and medicine, typically cost between $100 and $175.
Try to clean your dog's ears when your dog is calm, as this will help make the process easier. Don't be afraid to use treats to make it a positive experience for your pet. Squeeze a veterinary ear-cleaning solution to fill your dog's ear canal and massage gently at the base of the ear for about 30 seconds.
So, if you've just tried a new brand of ear cleaner and your dog suddenly won't stop shaking their head, it's possible they're having an allergic reaction.
Dirty dog ears can be caused by excessive ear wax, infections, allergies, and mites. Regular ear cleanings and checkups are essential to keeping your dog's ears healthy.
The ears often become red and inflamed and develop an offensive odor. A black or yellowish discharge commonly occurs. In chronic cases, the ears may appear crusty or thickened, and the ear canals often become narrowed (stenotic) due to chronic inflammation.
Ear cleaning is often done by your groomer but you can also safely clean them yourself using the correct process.
Healthy ears don't have an odor. Make a habit of sniffing your dog's ears, starting when he's a puppy, so you'll know how they smell normally. If his ears smell yeasty or downright stinky, it's likely that a bacterial or yeast infection is brewing.
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).
If your dog has a yeast ear infection you may notice one or more of the following symptoms: Red or brown waxy discharge in the ear. Itching, scratching & pawing at the ear. A cheesy or musty smell coming from the ear.
A good groomer will bathe your dog and this includes the head; they usually will put cotton balls in the ears to keep water from getting in the ear canal. Occasionally water can get in the ear canal anyway. After the bath, long, floppy ears can be very wet and can take a while to dry.
Dogs with very hairy ears should get a haircut before the cleaning. Remove matted hair and clean the hair around the ear canal and ear flap. If the ear canal is also hairy, you can pluck a few hairs at a time to provide more airflow.
When you are done, it can be helpful to offer a relaxing ear rub (gently massaging the base of the ears). Be sure to sterile the hemostat so that it will be clean for the next use. Most Poodles need to have their ears plucked every 2 to 4 weeks.
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.