Do I need to clean my dog's ears?
Sage Kassulke
2025-09-26 20:49:41
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No, not all dogs need their ears cleaned. While it is important to clean your dog’s ears when needed, over-cleaning may cause irritation in the ear canal, which can lead to infection. Some dogs that have healthy, clean ears may never need to have their ears cleaned. However, 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.
Shanel Hermiston
2025-09-26 17:24:49
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You will need more equipment like syringes or an ear dropper, and the oil needs to be warmed to your dog’s body temperature.
Clean your dog’s ears first, and then apply the medicated drops approximately 15 minutes later.
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.
Can I use olive oil to clean my dog’s ears?
Whilst there isn’t any harm in using olive oil, it’s a messy option and tends to be more difficult to apply than a dog-safe ear cleaner.
Macie Jenkins
2025-09-26 16:08:50
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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.
Ear cleanings are also often recommended as a maintenance routine for dogs prone to ear infections.
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.
Dogs with a history of allergies, recurrent ear infections, or floppy ears may need their ears cleaned more frequently.
For a dog with healthy, normal ears, a routine ear clean is only needed if dirt or debris is noted, as overcleaning the ears can also lead to irritation of the ears.
A routine ear cleaning is recommended if the ears get wet, such as after swimming or bathing.
Regularly check your dog’s ears for signs of infection, which may include redness, itching one or both ears, headshaking, discharge or increased wax in the ear, odor, discomfort when touching the ear.
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