Usually, untrained dogs will resist having their ears touched. Cleaning the ear canal can seem scary and disturbing, but you have to do it. Not only will it keep your dog's ears healthy and comfortable, but it will also help them avoid some diseases like ear infections.
How often should you clean your dog's ears.
I don't think there is a standard answer to this one, just like the time between baths is different for everyone. Some dogs' ears are more prone to wax buildup and need to be cleaned more often, and some dogs only need to be cleaned occasionally. Fortunately, though, there are always general guidelines to help you determine if your dog's ears need to be cleaned.
Some dogs have floppy ears, like Beagle. Their ears are always drooping down, reducing air flow, and then the moist environment in the ear canal can start to become a breeding ground for bacteria to grow. Dogs with pointed ears need to be cleaned relatively less often because the air flow is much smoother.
Likewise, if your dog swims a lot, or has some history of ear infections, it will need to have its ear canals cleaned frequently. Weekly or semi-monthly cleanings are necessary.
How do you know your dog's ears are dirty and need cleaning.
Usually, when there is dirt in the ears, the dog will feel itchy and will scratch his ears with his feet just like a cat would. At the same time, there may be some unpleasant smell coming out of the ear canal. In this case, you should break open your dog's ears to see the discharge inside.
By folding your dog's ears back, you can see the inside of the ears and see if the ear canal is red and swollen or if there is a large amount of discharge building up. When there is only a small amount of light yellow or light brown discharge in the ear canal, this is normal; however, when there is a large amount of black or brown discharge, it is time to pay attention to the health of his ear canal.
What happens if I don't clean my dog's ears regularly?
Your dog's ears will gradually accumulate grease and dust, which can lead to ear mites, inflammation, and even temporary deafness. However, these problems can be slowly resolved by cleaning the ears.
How should I clean dog's ears?
First of all, you need to prepare some tools that may be used in the cleaning process: cotton swabs or balls, towels, ear canal cleaner or saline, wet wipes, and some dog treats.
Cleaning the ears can be a chore. Because dogs don't like to have their ears touched, just like we do when we pull out our ears, they can be nervous about being served by others. First, you need to build enough trust with your dog on this matter, which can be assisted by feeding and touching the ears over and over again. Once the dog is willing to let you touch his ears, you can then slowly go about cleaning him. By the time the cleaning is complete, you will have a healthy dog.
