We’re here with some tips to keep your dog’s ears clean today because we’ve seen a lot more ear infections lately. How often are you examining and monitoring your dog’s ear health? If it’s not weekly, it may not be enough. Today we’ll tell you why it’s important to massage, sniff, and examine your dog’s ears, especially if you notice them scratching or having issues with them.
First and foremost, make it a habit of rubbing your dog’s ears often to check for discomfort. If your dog yelps or shows pain, it’s a clear indication that something is not right. If this happens, we recommend that you smell the inside of your pet’s ears. The truth is that fresh ears don’t emit odors. It’s also true that a symptom of an infected ear is a yeasty or smelly odor. Next step, look into your dog’s ears in the light. If the ear is red or has any brown or black discharge, it’s time to contact a veterinarian immediately for an appointment.
Now let’s talk about how to clean your dog’s ears properly. First and foremost, speak with your veterinary about the right ear cleanser to use on your dog. Once you have that selected, you’ll want to tilt your dog’s head down and squirt the cleaner into their ear, completely filling the canal. Hold that same ear closed and massage the ear gently but still working the cleanser around. To clean it out, simply let go of your dog’s ear, step back, and let them shake it all out. Once done use soft gauze or a cotton ball to dry and wipe away any cleaner. While cleaning out the ear canal, be sure not to go deeper into the ear than your first knuckle.
Keeping your dog’s ears clean can help you prevent infections and discomfort in the future. If you have any questions about keeping your dog’s ears clean or would like to speak to a member of our staff, we’re here to help. Please contact us today, and we’ll be there to walk you through everything. If you need an appointment or want to learn more about what we can do about ear infections, click here.