Although the problems can easily be avoided by simply regularly and thoroughly cleaning the ears of their beloved pups, ear troubles remain to be an issue to many owners.
The problem seems to lie in the fact that many owners don’t know how or are afraid to deal with something as delicate as the dog’s ears.
Another problem is that many dogs don’t like having their ears cleaned, which only makes the ordeal that more difficult for the already nervous owner. However, there are some ways to make the whole thing more pleasurable for both the pup and the human.
When both you and your beloved four-legged friend are accustomed to the whole thing, you can commence the actual cleaning process.
Ear Cleaning – Step By Step
After trimming ear hair (or taking your pup to a groomer to get the hair plucked), it’s time to get down to business. Wash your hands thoroughly before commencing and prepare the supplies and tools you’re going to need. Squirt a small amount of ear cleaning solution into the ear, but make sure that the tip of the bottle and the tip alone is inserted into the canal – not the nozzle of the bottle. You dog will probably shake its head after the solution is in.
When the solution is inserted, and your dog is no longer shaking its head, start massaging the base of the ear to encourage distribution throughout the whole ear canal. Take a cotton ball and rub the inside of the ear to remove wax, and use a Q-tip for the crevices at the base of the ear to truly get rid of all accumulated discharge. However, do not insert the Q-tip into the canal.
When you’ve cleaned the base, you can use soaked cotton balls or a soaked wet cloth to clean the ear flap towards the tip.