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Dogs, as we know, have ultra-sensitive hearing ranges, from about 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz, which is about 2 to 3 times when compared to humans. And you’d be surprised to know that dogs tend to use as many as 15 different muscles to aid in hearing, be it to flatten their ears or prick them while staying alert.
So, when it comes to your fluffy cute puppies or adult doggos, taking care of their ears and regularly cleaning them should be on your priority list. So, without any further ado, let’s get into the why’s and how’s of cleaning your dog’s ears at home naturally.
When Do Your Dog’s Ears Need Cleaning?
Dog ears can be very sensitive, so you should always keep an eye for sudden changes, especially when it comes to ear infections. Before that, you might want to know what a healthy and clean dog ear is supposed to look like:
- Ears should have a faint pink shade to them, with no signs of inflammation
- The skin of the ear must be soft and supple when touched
- The smell of the ear should neither be yeasty nor be stinky
- A little bit of wax accumulation is normal, without any pungent smell whatsoever
Whenever you come across anything that doesn’t fulfill the above criteria, it’s high time to give the ears a thorough inspection and opt for cleaning.
Stay Alert: Dog’s Ear Infections and Their Common Causes
Ear infections are quite common among dogs along with other such pets like cats, rabbits, and so on. Their playfulness doesn’t only give us joy, but it sure does bring a ton of responsibilities as well. According to the American Kennel Club, if your dog finds glee in going out in the sun and hopping on grass and mud, there’s around a 20% chance of your dog encountering some form of ear disease. In such cases, otitis external, or inflammation of the ear canal, is found to be the most common.
Due to the shape of their ear kennel, dirt, debris, and even ear mites, yeast, and fungus can make their happy abode there. Other underlying causes of such infections may include:
- Excessive cleaning
- Health disorders such as thyroid issues or autoimmune diseases
- Tumors or polyps
- Foreign substances stuck inside the ear cage
Whenever this happens, be certain to look out for the following symptoms: –
- Shaking of the head and scratching of the ears
- Unusual discharge or pus
- Bad odor
- The ear canal looks reddish or swollen
- Growling due to pain
- Scabs on the ear ridges
Some more things to consider:
- If your dog’s ears have a moist feel to them, something is surely wrong
- Any sort of inflammation, ulcers or greasy feeling should be a point of concern
So, if and when you come across these possibilities, it’s time for your fur baby to get intensive ear care.
DIY Methods: Are They Useful Or Harmful?
Who wouldn’t love an easy-to-go DIY dog ear cleaning method that is cheap and time-saving? But when it comes to your beloved pets, who would want to risk it?
Often, we come across tons of DIY methods to clean your dog’s ears at home. But how effective are they? Even if they are, are they safe?
At-home techniques to clean your fur baby’s ears, such as the use of vinegar, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, and a lot of others, might seem worthwhile, but they have their drawbacks:
Glycerin and Vinegar will keep your dog’s ears moist and hydrated for longer periods during any ear infection. But, eventually, this will contribute to the growth of bacteria and fungus.
It is more likely to happen if your dog has dropped ears, such as a Beagle, Basset Hound, Bloodhound, Daschund, or Golden Retriever, where airflow to the ears is very limited.
Hydrogen Peroxide is a special type of antiseptic meant for small cuts and wounds. However, professionals believe using hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, and even vinegar may cause further worsening conditions.
As your puppies or adult dogs tend to scratch their ears during any ear problems, they are left with minor cuts. In addition, applying them to your pets’ ears may cause soreness and force them to lacerate their ears further.
You’ll find tons of homemade DIY ear cleaning solutions on the internet. But some either have harmful side effects, or some don’t work that well. That’s why vet-recommended safe dog ear cleaners are the best.
What Things Do You Need to Clean Dog Ears at Home?
Thankfully, you don’t need a lot to get done with the process. While many may be just lying around your house, others are available online or in stores. So let’s get straight into the necessities, shall we?
Cleaning Supplies: For this, it’ll only require you to gather a few things, namely cotton balls (don’t women have plenty of them, lost and found?), a fresh towel, and grooming tools. But it’s always an alert not to use those.
Pro-Tip: Please avoid using Q-Tips as they may cause the ear sediments to go deeper into the ears and harm the eardrums.
Cleaning Solutions: Only cleaning solutions that are FDA-approved and veterinarian-approved should be opted for. Homemade dog ear cleaning hacks might seem effective for the time being, but the irritants or harmful ingredients will definitely be disastrous for your puppy’s health, as we explained previously.
Ear cleaning solutions with antibacterial and antifungal properties are also readily available to prevent infections. Depending on whether your dog’s ears need some regular cleaning or to remove wax build-up, there are many types of solutions on the market. Make sure to consult your veterinarian beforehand to find the best-suited one for your fur baby.
How to Clean a Dog’s Ear at Home Naturally- Step By Step
To know how it’s done, simply follow our step-by-step procedure, and it’ll be over in a jiffy!
Step 1: Apply the Ear Cleaning Solution
First things first, know your dog’s preference. If he/she is one of the quiet and relaxed kinds, simply grab their ear’s outer flap and squeeze in some of the solution as prescribed by your vet. Given they are pretty wild, make sure to use a cotton ball to gently apply the solution so as to avoid freaking them out.
Once it’s done, it needs to sit and rest for a while. In case of intense wax build-up, wait a few minutes and let the wax lumps break down.
Step 2: Gently Massage the Ear
This is the most vital step to ensuring the dog’s ears are thoroughly cleaned. By gently massaging the ears, you are allowing the solution to reach the nooks and crannies of the ear canal.
Doing so will also loosen up the wax or debris accumulated on the ear ridges.
Step 3: Shake and clean it up
For this step, you’ll have to let your dog hover around for a bit and let it shake its body. It will help get rid of the piled-up junk. After this, give it a quick yet thorough cleaning with a cotton ball. Ensure to enter the ear ridges, but avoid going in too far as it might damage the ear drums.
Pro-tip: Let your dog shake itself inside a bathroom or a balcony. In this way, it becomes easier to clean up the mess quickly.
Once you’re finished, don’t forget to give your pet a little treat for being a good boy!
With this, we have reached the end of our discussion on how to naturally clean a dog’s ear at home. However, since ears are very sensitive organs please stay away from experimenting on your dog’s ears with homemade DIYs and always remember to take advice from your vet. Oh, and never forget to check the ingredients and expiration dates on the cleaning solutions. After all, a little consciousness can contribute to an immense difference.
