Should you Clean your Dog's ears?

   I usually rub my furry girl's ears when I greet her and she loves it. But occasionally I see her pawing at them.  So what's up?  Should I clean them?  Is there something wrong?  Here's an indication of when to clean or treat your dog's ear problem.

Cleaning a Dog's ears.

   While weekly checking of the ears is important, routine cleaning may not be.  Dog's ears have self- cleaning ability and you don't want to hinder that.  Some dogs who swim alot have more issues with keeping their ears clean.  Inspect the ears for signs of health like pinkness.  A healthy ear should be pink with no scabbing or brown spots like mites. If the wax looks other than golden it could be a sign of excessive buildup or infection. Your vet may have you clean your dog's ears frequently if they have allergies.  Many vets reccomend not cleaning your dog's ears if they look healthy to avoid damaging there ear canals.

    To clean your dog's ears, first do it in the bathroom or outside.  It's a good practice to do it prior to a bath. Use a gentle cleaner from a pet supply store or one reccomended by your veterinarian. Some information states you can use which hazel hydrogen or peroxide but most veterinarians say that is too drying for most dog's ears. To use, tilt your dog's head downward and squirt the cleaning solution into the ear canal.  Then massage it while you hold the ear closed. Then let your dog shake and watch out.  You can wipe any excess cleaner off with a gauze or cotton ball. Do not use cotton swabs because you can force dirt further inside the canal. Ok that's it! Easy but perhaps a little messy.

 Signs you need to have their ears checkd by a veterinarian. 

• If your dog suddenly dislikes you touching or rubbing it's ears it's an indication he or she may have an infection.  
• There should not be an offensive odor to the ears.  Most infections are caused by bacteria and can cause an odor.
• Discharge, especially if bloody.
• Crusts or scabs.
• Balance issues
• Walking in circles.

These are signs of a more serious nature and possibly an ear infection. Scratching and rubbing of the ears are also a common sign of infection. Your vet can ususally diagnose this by examining the ear canal and eardrum with an otoscope. Infections can ususally be treated using topical or oral medications.

Which Dogs Are Prone to Ear Infections?

Dogs ear canals are more vertical than humans and can retain debris more easily. Some dogs with allergies or those with non-erect outer ears can be predisposed to developing ear infections. Dogs that have excessive hair growth in the ear canal may also be more susceptible to ear infections.

The most important thing is to monitor your pet's ear health and treat problems as soon as possible. Hearing loss is a not uncommon side efect of ear infections.  Keep the ear canal clean and dry as bacteria and yeast love a moist environment.

Here's to healthy ears and hearing!