Many dog owners do not talk about cleaning their dogs ears because they do not realize how important it is. We’re here to tell you that ear care is a critical part of your dog’s general health. Ears come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Our dogs have L-shaped canals which creates a perfect nesting ground for bacteria. The hair on the outside of their ears helps in keeping bacteria and other unwanted debris out of the canal, but it doesn’t work correctly. Ear care maintenance should be a routine part of taking care of your dog. Keep reading to find out different tips for cleaning your dog’s ears.
The most common way to clean your dog’s ears is by purchasing a cleaning solution specifically for ears that includes a drying agent. These are not expensive and can be picked up from your local veterinarian. They are also very easy to use. All you need to do is squirt the recommended amount into your dog’s ear canal and then massage the canal for about ten seconds. Then, you will wipe out your dog’s ears with either paper towels or cotton balls until no discharge remains. It is important to remember not to use q-tips as you can damage your dog’s ears.
We recommend that you clean your dog’s ears often. You should clean them more often if your dog swims a lot of gets groomed often. When swimming or getting groomed, more water gets into their canal which leads to more bacteria growth. We suggest for dogs that gets groomed often, place cotton balls in their ears to avoid water getting inside canals. If cleaning is not complete often, then your dog can run into even more problems.
The two most common ear problems are bacterial and yeast infections. Bacterial infections can cause extreme discomfort and lead to worse problems if not treated quickly. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics and can disappear within two weeks depending on the severity of the disease. Yeast infections cause very similar problems, but they are treated with antifungal medication instead. If either problem is forgotten about, your dog can end up with hematomas. A hematoma is a buildup of fluid in the pinna which will have to be surgically drained.
Ear care is more important than ever in this day and age. By providing your dog with a proper ear care, they are more likely to live a happy and carefree life. If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!