how do you clean your dogs ears?

[Kendall Aliza]

Unfortunately, I am stuck with a dog whose ears need to be cleaned often and, of course, he couldnt hate it more. After I clean Shadrak's ears he mopes for a good 20-30 minutes in his kennel. :( It makes me feel awful!!! So what do you guys do to make your dog put up with it and make it a little more enjoyable?

[Hee Yung Lee]

Bogart will let me do it, but he does put up a bit of a fuss at first. I saturate a cotton ball with the ear cleaning solution and then rub that around in his ear. I find that works better and he seems to prefer that instead of dripping the solution directly into the ear.

[Andre Mendizabal]

I have a beagle, I have to clean her ears very often or she'll get infections (I usually do it once a week but have to do it more often) and she just hates it... I take her to the groomers every other week to give her a professional ear cleaning, its really cheap, like $5. And at home, I bought a liquid solution that was recommended here but I don't remember its name (you can go to the grooming area and search "ear cleaning", I posted a similar thread not so long ago). Anyway, after playtime when she's tired, I start petting her and rubbing her ears, when she's comfy I will put some of the solution inside her ears (she has to be held by my husband) and a little bit in a cotton ball... then I just rub from outside to the inside, sticking my finger with the cotton ball as far as I can (not an easy thing to do).
Then, just let her shake her head that the liquid solution will ease the dirt and it will "fly off".
Its not easy, it needs patience to do it... but if you do it often he'll get used to it. What kind of dog do you have?
Good luck.

[heathea]

wait until dog is quiet, cuddle up to dog, massage ears, put some cleaning solution in ears while massaging.....do other ear....Then RUN or you will get splattered during the shaking out portion. Then later, I use a Qtip to clean out around the outer ear the crap that was shaken out.

Lately, however, I have found that since I have changed foods to a different and probably better food, Life has needed less ear cleanings.

Sam once told me back on DD that a dog doesn't have ear problems unless there is an underlying cause. I didn't really pay much attention, but now that I have switched to a food that my dogs like more and is better for them...less problems. Just something to think about.
-Heather

[Jarrod Stafford]

This is a short video from Drs. Foster&Smith on how to properly clean a dogs ears (just click Broadband or Dial-up for video to play) How to Clean Your Dog's Ears (http://www.peteducation.com/category_summary.cfm ?cls=2&cat=2011)

[Andre Mendizabal]

Thanks Jarrod... that's a very useful video... there's nothing like actually looking at how its done!!!! I'm happy to see I'm doing a good job!!! :bunny:

[Valerie K]

Ear cleaning is something we do handle well. We use Nolva-Cleanse that we get from our Vet. I have found it easier to saturate the cotton ball with the solution and then squeeze it down into the ear once I start rubbing the ear gently. Coming at them with the bottle was not a big hit, but they don't mind the soaking wet cotton ball. It makes them smell good too.

We clean ears every ten days or so. They both have some spring time type allergies so we need extra vigilance around this time of year to keep them from getting infected.

[Rowena Fry]

Hi Kendall,
I have a mini poodle, so her ears must be cleaned often. Mostly I do it twice a week, but she has an er infection at the moment (from ear hair removal at the groomers! :( ) so I'm cleaning and medicating her ear three times a day.

What I usually do for a normal clean though, is squirt some Epi-Otic solution in her ear canals, and gently massage the ears from the outside. This is really easy, can just put both your palms over her ears and gently rub them. Then, gently blow on the back of your dogs ears which will make them shake their heads immediately. Then, using a q-tip you can remove the excess from the 'bumpy bits' of the inside of the ear, and using a cotton ball, just wipe the inside of the ear flap. Et voila, ears clean!

My pup used to hate it too, but if you stick with it and make it a weekly ritual, your dog will get used to it. In the beginning I used to do the ear cleaning just before my pup went to bed, when she was really tired.

Good luck!

[TimberWolf]

I have moved this thread to the grooming forum. Any questions pertaining to dog bathing, clipping, brushing, hygiene, etc... should be in the grooming forum. :)

[Sheryl]

I clean Harley's ears about once every 7 to 10 days. Someone once told me that dogs with very sensitive ears might not like the tiny bits of fluff left from cotton balls and kleenex, so I use a 4x4 inch gauze pad. I use the Epi-Otic, my vet recommended it. He's not keen on the squirting into his ear, so I'll try getting the gauze wet first.
Thanks!