Ears are said to be one of the parts of a dog’s body that easily gets dirty. So, wipe them frequently to prevent odor, coat discoloration, and disease. In this issue, we will introduce basic care and precautions for the inside and outside of a dog’s ear – the inside of the ears.
When Should You Take Care of the Ears?
If no particular dirt is seen, give the inside of the ears a quick wipe once a month. Then, if your pet is regularly shampooed once a month at a trimming salon and you have not been told anything in particular about the ears, there is basically no need to take care of them at home.
If you shampoo your dog’s ears at home, wipe the inside of the ears after shampooing and drying them to remove moisture and dirt from the inside of the ears at the same time. And if there is dirt in the ears, it is advisable to clean them once every two weeks.
Dog breeds with drooping ears are prone to ear problems due to steam in the ears. Even if there is no particular dirt in the ears, we recommend that you take care of the ears at home if they smell bad or feel greasy inside the ears.
Cleaning Items to Use
The following items are mainly used to clean the ears.
- Cotton swab: These cotton swabs are useful for wiping out the inside of the ear and other small areas.
- Cotton: Suitable for wiping off large areas, such as behind the earlobe.
- Ear cleaner: Soak a cotton swab or cotton ball to clean the ear. It is useful when there is dirt in the ears, odor is bothersome, or when you want to prevent ear problems.
- Ear Powder: If there is a lot of hair in your ears, it can cause steaming, so we use powder to remove it. The powder also serves to keep the inside of the ears dry.
How to take care of dog ears
Pull out the hairs inside the ears
It is dangerous to use scissors to cut the hair inside the ears, so the only way to remove the hair is with your fingers. However, the hair in the ears is covered with oil, and it is difficult to pull it out because it slips off with your finger. Therefore, we use ear powder to pull out the hairs inside the ears. Sprinkle a little ear powder inside the ear.
Blend the powder into the hairs inside the ear. Then, once the powder is blended into the hairs, pinch the base of the hairs and pull them out. If it is too oily and difficult to pull out, try applying additional powder. It is tempting to pull out all the hairs, but if you do it too many times, it will take too long and your dog will not like it, so you can stop pulling when you can see the inside of the ear.
Wipe the inside of the ear
Now, wipe the inside of the ear using ear cleaner and a cotton swab. Soak the inside of the ear with ear cleaner and a cotton swab so that the tip of the cotton swab is moistened to the point where it becomes very wet. Gently wipe the inside of the ear without rubbing the inside of the ear. If there are stains that cannot be removed, leave the ear cleaner on for a little time to soak in, and then try wiping again.
Wipe the back of the earlobe
Once the inside of the ear is clean, it is time to wipe the back of the earlobe! Soak a clean cotton swab with ear cleaner and stroke the back of the earlobe. For medium and large dogs with large earlobes, it is easier to wipe with a cotton swab.
Recommended Ear Care Products
Here are some products that we actually use at the store and that we think are easy to use even for beginners!
For simple ear care
If you don’t see any particular dirt, but want to take simple care of your dog’s ears after regular cleaning or shampooing, we recommend a hypoallergenic ear cleaner. It contains natural ingredients and is hypoallergenic, so you can use it daily! The thick liquid is easy to apply to cotton swabs or cotton pads because it does not over-dispense! It is refreshing and comfortable to use.
And since the cotton swab is soaked in ear cleaner from the start, you can use it immediately after taking it out of the bag. This is recommended when you want to quickly wipe out the inside of your ears.
Using the ear cleaner will refresh the finish and prevent ear problems, but if your ears are not particularly dirty, you do not need to use the ear cleaner. Simply wiping with a cotton swab or cotton ball moistened with water is sufficient to clean the inside of the ear!
If there is dirt or smell
If your dog’s ears are dirty, greasy, or have a bad smell, we recommend this medicated ear cleaner. This ear cleaner is made by a manufacturer of medicated dog shampoo, and is also used in veterinary hospitals. It removes sticky dirt well and leaves a clean finish.
If you use it when the inside of the ear is so dirty that it is blocked, bleeding, or rough, the condition may worsen, so please consult your veterinarian once before using it.
If you want to remove hair inside the ears
When there is a lot of hair in the ears, it is impossible to take care of the ears. In such cases, use ear powder to remove the hairs inside the ears.
Compared to nail clipping, ear cleaning is relatively easy grooming. It is also a good way to have skinship with your dog, so we encourage you to take care of your dog’s ears at home!
Black stains or large amounts of ear wax may be caused by mites or fungi, or the skin inside the ears may be inflamed. In such cases, we recommend that you have your pet examined by a veterinarian, as ear cleaners will not be able to treat the problem. Once an ear problem occurs, it takes time to heal. To prevent ear problems and detect them early, please check your dog’s ears once a month for any abnormalities.