At some point in your pet’s life, they will likely need their ears cleaned. If your pet has allergies, they may need their ears cleaned at least once a week to stave off allergy-related ear infections. Dr. Michael Berman from Animal Hospital at Grayhawk has put together this guide to make cleaning your furry pal’s ears a breeze.
Step 1: Gather your pet’s ear cleaning equipment
Some pets require medicated ear cleaner, but if your four-legged friend’s ears are only a little dirty and need a simple wiping out to freshen them up, an over-the-counter ear cleaner designed for pets will work well too. Have on hand cotton balls or gauze to help remove debris.
Step 2: Have your pet sit or a family member hold them
Some pets can get a bit nervous when they see a bottle of ear cleaner, so enlist a family member’s help if needed to hold them.
Step 3: Acclimate your pet to the ear cleaner solution
Rather than dumping the ear cleaner from the bottle into your pet’s ear, gently introduce them to ear cleaning by squirting a little on a cotton ball and wiping out their ear with the damp cotton ball. However, pets who are predisposed to ear infections will likely need a deeper flush, which requires a squirt or two of ear cleaner deep in the canal.
Step 4: Massage the ear cleaner into your pet’s ear to break up debris
After applying the ear cleaner into the ear canal, massage the ear base for about 20 to 30 seconds. This helps break up the hard-to-reach debris deep in the ear.
Step 5: Wipe out the cleaner and the debris
First, let your pet shake out their ears – there’s a good chance a lot of debris will come out at this point! Then, using your cotton balls or gauze, remove all traces of debris from your pet’s ears. The cotton balls and gauze wrapped around your finger work well to reach the base of the ear canal and can also be used to clean out the folds in the ear flap.
Step 6: Reward your pet
Reward your pet for a job well done throughout the ear cleaning process and when you’re finished! Next time, they’ll look forward to their ear cleaning.
If your pet’s ears seem particularly sensitive, red, inflamed, or full of a waxy build-up or discharge, contact our team for help.