Ear cleaning

Whether your pet has perky or floppy ears, they will need to get cleaned once in a while to ensure they’re clean and healthy. By establishing a routine of checking and cleaning their ears, you can prevent long-term complications and detect possible issues early.

Cleaning routine

Establishing a cleaning routine while your pet is young is a proactive way to prevent issues in the long run.

Inspecting your pet’s ear regularly is crucial to show them that ear manipulation is not painful (it can even be positive) and to get them used to it. By giving them delicious treats every time you examine or clean their ears, you emphasize a smooth and playful experience, while showing them that it is nice to be cared for. A good routine will also allow you to detect anything unusual that you may find in the ear.

Don’t wait for your animal to develop a condition before getting them used to ear cleaning. With an ear infection your pet may not be as cooperative because they may have pain and discomfort, which will make the experience unpleasant for both them and you. By starting at a young age and making sure their ears remain clean and healthy, your pet learns that ear cleaning is not usually painful. This means that if there ever is an infection there will not be any relationship between the cleaning and the pain.

If your pet is not cooperating when you clean their ears, read the article about desensitization to ear cleaning.

You can also watch our demonstration video : 

Importance of ear cleaning

Beside preventing debris build up and allowing ear inspection, cleaning also helps when preparing the ear to receive medication prescribed by your veterinarian. For instance, when there is an ear infection some products work locally and will not be as effective when there is build up in the ear. A good cleaning will lead to better healing.

Cleaning technique

Depending on the level of cleaning required, and on how dirty the ears are, there are two techniques.

To clean ears with a light to moderate level of secretion

If your pet’s ear only presents a little bit of dirt use a clean cotton pad and add a few drops of ear cleansing solution made especially for your pet. There are various ear cleansing solutions available at your veterinarian’s office. Softly wipe the cotton pad on the ear pinna and the ear canal entrance to remove any visible debris. You can also use a second cotton pad to remove dirt from the ear fold in your pet’s ears.

To clean ears with a high level of secretion

 When there is a high level of dirt, it is better to fill the ear canal with ear cleansing solution and let the liquid penetrate to the bottom of the ear canal where you could not reach with a cotton pad. Simply hold your pet’s ear open and let the ear cleansing solution flow to fill the ear canal. Hold your pet’s head steady so they don’t shake it, and massage the base of the ear for a few seconds, then let them shake their head. Dirt will come out easily and you only have to wipe up the excess liquid and debris with the cotton pads.

Note: You may want to do such a cleaning session outside or in the bathroom because when they shake their head, they may throw some debris on the walls.

To proceed with this type of cleaning we suggest asking help from another person, to put the pet at ease and give treats while you apply the solution and massage the ear, as we want to make this as pleasant as possible for your companion.

What are the signs of an ear problem?

The most common signs of an ear problem are a strong smell coming from the ear, more secretion than usual, redness or swelling in the ear canal, overly shaking their head, and sensitivity to touch. If you see these signs in your pet, we recommend that you visit your veterinarian immediately.

Have more questions?

Please do not hesitate to contact the Passionimo veterinary clinic near you.