Long ears, short ears, pointy ears, floppy ears. All dogs have ears, and at some point in time, all dogs’ ears need to be cleaned. If you’ve not cleaned Sounder’s ears lately – if ever – take a peek inside.

Cleaning Time. Have you heard? Some dogs rarely need to have their ears cleaned, and over cleaning could do more harm than good. If your dog has long ears, or if she swims often, she probably should have her ears cleaned more often. A clean, healthy ear is pink and free of debris. If your dog’s ear has an unpleasant odor, or if you see her shaking her head more than usual, it may be time to clean. Note that if you see redness or swelling, if there is a sweet OR foul smell, or your dog seems to be in pain, then you need to call us.

What Not to Use. Listen up. What’s good for a human ear may not be good for a dog! Hydrogen and alcohol will cause irritation in a dog’s ear canal. Q-tips aren’t good for your ears, and they are not good for Sounder either. They could push irritants or bacteria further into the canal, or actually injure the ear.

The Quick and Easy How To. Pay close attention. Pick a time when your dog is relaxed and calm. Fill the ear canal with an ear cleaning solution (ask us what kind is best for your dog), and massage gently at the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. Let Sounder shake his head to get rid of the solution. Then use a cotton ball or a piece of gauze and wipe out the ear canal. Don’t go deeper than a knuckle. She won’t like it, but it shouldn’t hurt. If she’s in pain, let us know.

If you don’t want to tackle the ear cleaning task, or if you think your dog has an ear issue that goes beyond cleaning, call us. We’re listening!