Should you clean wax out of a dog's ears?
Tianna Emard
2025-09-08 02:16:10
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The structure of the dog’s ear canal makes it difficult for material trapped deep within the horizontal canal to be expelled without the assistance of cleanings. This material can lead to itchiness and ear infections if not removed. Certain cleaners are also better at removing wax build-up. While it is important to clean your dog’s ears when needed, over-cleaning may cause irritation in the ear canal and this can lead to infection. It is recommended to clean your dog’s ears if you notice discharge or an odor when examining the ear. Your veterinarian can help you decide how often your dog’s ears should be cleaned. If your dog’s ears are red, inflamed, or painful, consult with your veterinarian prior to cleaning.
Ardith Eichmann
2025-08-30 22:26:24
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No – dog ears are very sensitive so only ever use a dog-safe ear cleaner. Cleaning your dog’s ears will help to remove some ear mites, but they will need medication to get rid of them completely. Clean your dog’s ears first, and then apply the medicated drops approximately 15 minutes later.
Kim Gulgowski
2025-08-28 11:16:56
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Ear cleaning helps decrease debris, bacteria and yeast inside the ear. When a dog has an ear infection, excessive, abnormal debris is often present, making it difficult for the topical medications to reach the infection. Bacteria and yeast can easily hide inside layers of debris inside the ear canal and, if left behind after the treatment course has been completed, lead to reinfection of the ear. If debris is packed deep into the ear canal, it can prevent the medication from reaching the deeper parts of the ear closer to the eardrum. Many types of ear cleaning solutions are available and some may be better for certain types of infections, removal of waxy buildup, or routine maintenance cleaning. In general, avoid anything with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide in the solution. The frequency of cleaning your dog’s ears will depend on whether it is for treatment of an infection, which could be up to daily to start, or maintenance, which could be every 1-2 weeks. Use cotton pads or cotton balls to gently wipe away debris, start from the inside of the ear, only as far as your finger can easily fit, which is about one knuckle in, and work your way to the outside ear flap. Avoid using cotton swabs to prevent pushing debris deeper into the ear canal.
Jordy Hamill
2025-08-17 21:59:18
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No. While it’s important to check a dog’s ears regularly, you shouldn’t remove healthy levels of earwax for no reason.
Cleaning a dog’s ears too much can cause itching and irritation, which in turn can result in infections.
Dogs that are more prone to ear infections and build ups of earwax may need to have their ears cleaned more regularly, but it’s important to contact a veterinarian before removing a dog’s earwax at home.
To keep a dog’s ears healthy, you can:
Regular bathing with quality dog shampoo
Check their ears at least once a week
Avoid over-cleaning their ears
Contact a veterinarian for ear-cleaning solutions.
Talon Smitham
2025-08-14 03:41:51
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Regular ear cleanings are essential for managing chronic, allergic-based inflammation and decreasing repeated infections. You will need a gentle ear cleaning solution and gauze squares or cotton balls. We do not recommend the use of cotton swabs, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean your dog’s ears. These products can cause inflammation to the ear canal and may worsen an ear infection. We can help provide you with recommendations on the best products to use. Step 1 Pour a generous amount of the recommended cleaning solution directly into the ear canal. Massage the base of the ear canal until you hear a squishing noise to ensure enough solution has been added. You should allow your dog to shake their head, but use caution not to get fluid in your eyes. This allows your dog to push the deep debris out or forward to where you are able to wipe it away.
Tierra Steuber
2025-08-01 05:48:21
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Dogs have an ear-cleaning mechanism that will naturally keep their ears clean. This means that ear cleaning at home should only be performed under these circumstances: Your dog has visibly dirty ears. Your dog went swimming or had a bath using a veterinarian-approved cleaner with a drying agent. Your veterinarian directed you to do so while treating an ear infection. The ear wax should be a yellow color. The problem can usually be solved by cleaning your dog’s ears with a veterinarian-approved routine ear cleaner. Your dog’s ears should be cleaned with a solution specifically developed for this purpose. Do not use home recipes for ear cleaning that contain hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or alcohol, as they may irritate the ears or worsen an existing problem. Cotton-tipped swabs should not be used to clean your dog’s ears.
Charlene Dooley
2025-08-01 05:37:55
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If your dog's ears are healthy, they will likely enjoy having their ears rubbed. If they’re tender from an infection they will probably pull away from you and won't want to have them touched. If you notice that your dog is sensitive about having their ears touched, it’s time to take a closer look and likely time to clean them. Some dogs may never need to have their ears cleaned. In fact, if the dog’s ear is clean and healthy, introducing cleaner into the canal could actually cause more harm than good. Dog ears are a tiny ecosystem, and if there are no concerns, it's best to leave it alone. Dogs without any of these issues can usually get by with a cleaning every one to two months.
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