If they look and smell good, leave them alone. As long as your pooch's ears are healthy, they don't need to be cleaned. In fact, cleaning a healthy ear can damage its self-cleaning abilities. Clean the ears if they have a mild odor, and you see an occasional head shake.
Squeeze a veterinarian-approved ear-cleaning solution to fill your dog's ear canal and massage gently at the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. You will hear a squishing sound as the product dislodges debris and buildup. Don't let the tip of the applicator touch your dog's ear, as this can introduce bacteria.
Some dogs that have healthy, clean ears may never need to have their ears cleaned. However, it is recommended to clean your dog's ears if you notice discharge or an odor when examining the ear. Your veterinarian can help you decide how often your dog's ears should be cleaned.
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.
Signs and symptoms of ear mites in dogs
Signs of ear mites in dogs include scratching around the ears, head and neck, skin irritation, head shaking, the presence of an ear discharge that is dark and waxy (resembling coffee grounds) and an unpleasant odour from the ears.
What medication kills ear mites in dogs? There are many products known to kill ear mites in dogs, including Milbemite, Acarex, Tresaderm, Frontline, Ivermectin, Selamectin, Advantage Multi, Simparica, and Bravecto.
Your vet will clean your dog's ears thoroughly to remove as many ear mites as possible. They will then likely apply an antiparasitic medication to your pup's ears. Trupanion says if the infestation is advanced, the vet might also prescribe antibiotics.
Healthy dog earwax tends to range from pale yellow to light brown, whereas darker colours tend to be associated with infections and should be observed by a veterinarian.
Wipe the ear canal gently by using your finger and gauze (or whatever you are using instead). Insert your finger and gauze into the ear canal and gently wipe the ear canal in a circular motion. Then, pull your finger and the gauze out of the ear to remove the debris.
So the short answer is no, you should not use baby wipes or other human wipes on your dog. Luckily, there are many dog safe alternatives for baby wipes you can use. Plus, dog wipes are available with specific blends for specific use cases, like dog ear wipes.
The buildup of wax and debris can contribute to an infection or other problems when left unattended.
While it is a good idea to keep on top of monitoring your dog's ears weekly, healthy ears typically do not need to be cleaned any more than once a month. If your groomer cleans your dog's ears, that should also be taken in to account.
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.
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.
The frequency of flushing is generally based on recommendations from your veterinarian, but dogs with underlying ear disease will need flushing 1-2 times per week. However, avoid over-flushing, which can lead to too much moisture in the ear canals and cause additional problems or prolonged infections.
Your pet most likely has an ear infection and ear cleaning may be too painful and damaging to perform. Most dogs will come to like ear cleaning, so long as their ears are comfortable. This is the one place that dogs can't scratch themselves, so most will absolutely love it.
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.
Green earwax or earwax with a foul smell is also an indication of an infection. If there is blood in your earwax, this could be a sign of an injury to the ear or a ruptured eardrum. Gray or black earwax usually means there is a buildup of dust in the ear or impacted earwax.
Keeping your dog's ears clean on a regular basis (at least once per month) using a vet-approved cleaner will help to deprive ear mites of the food they need to survive. No food, no mites, no overproduction of earwax.
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.
The most common type of ear mite is Otodectes cynotis, which live in the ear canal and feed by piercing the thin skin. This causes severe itching and, if left untreated, can cause bacterial infections, swelling of the ear canal and eventually partial or total deafness.
When ear mites occur in humans, the most likely cause of infection is transmission from a family pet. Ear mites need a host to survive, so it's not uncommon for mites to hop from animal to animal and person to person. Infections are more likely, though, when there's close contact with a pet who has an infection.