Here are the supplies you will need to help clean your dog’s ears:

Cotton pads or balls

Cotton swab applicator

Towels

Ear cleaning solution

For ear cleaning solutions, avoid using hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to prevent irritation. You can ask your veterinarian or a friend to recommend a good ear cleaner.

Reasons to Clean Ears

One of the main reasons you need to clean your dog’s ears is that you want to prevent ear infections. Debris and earwax accumulate in dogs much faster than in humans. Cleaning your dog's ears will keep them dry and clean because the ear canals are free of debris and wax. Debris and earwax accumulate in dogs much faster than in humans

While some dogs need their ears cleaned at least once a week, other dogs usually have only a small amount of waxy buildup in their ears. In this case, owners will need to clean their ears occasionally. Keep in mind that not cleaning your ears can cause excess earwax to build up, while too much cleaning can also cause irritation.

Basically, dogs that get ear infections develop large amounts of yeast and bacteria in their ears. The two most common symptoms of ear infections are pain and itching. This can also lead to more serious conditions such as affecting balance and affecting hearing.

Ear infections may occur if the ears are not cleaned

When a dog feels itching and pain in its ears, it will shake its head from time to time. The shaking of the head is often done vigorously, which can cause blood vessels to rupture. Observe your dog and look for signs of ear infection. Other symptoms of an ear infection are excessive discharge from the ear, redness and swelling inside the ear, frequent scratching of the ear, and a bad odor inside the ear.

How to clean a dog’s ears

The best time to clean the base of the ears is when taking a bath. Therefore, the ideal place to accomplish this task is in the bathroom. If this is your first time owning a dog and cleaning its ears, make sure you have a towel ready. The dog may shake his head during this process, so earwax and debris can pop out and get stuck everywhere. Towels will keep you and your dog dry and clean.

Grasp your dog's ear flaps upward. Spray some earwax cleaner inside the flap. This is just around the ear opening. Then, place the tip of the ear inside the ear. Don't go too deep. Squeeze the bottle gently; make sure you are only using a light force.

Make sure you use only light pressure when cleaning your dog's ears

The dog may shake its head immediately. Until your dog can do this, try massaging the outer part of the ear. Massage the area around your chin where you can feel the cartilage. While massaging, you will hear a little loud noise.

Massage can calm your dog, but most importantly, you can help the detergent solution penetrate. Plus, it can help loosen earwax and debris. After a few seconds, stop massaging. When your dog finally shakes his head, have your fur readytowel.

Next, lightly moisten the cotton ball with earwax cleaner. Grab the cotton between your fingers and wipe the ear canal. Go as deep inside as possible but don't force it.

Grasp the cotton with your fingers and wipe the ear canal. Go as deep inside as possible, but don't force it

Use a cotton swab applicator to clean hard-to-remove debris, especially those located on the bumps of the ears.

Wipe the remaining dust and wax off the ears to complete the process. Afterwards, dry your pet’s head. Repeat the process while cleaning the other ear.

When you need to clean your dog's ears, do so with caution. Do not attempt to penetrate deep into the inner ear as you may damage your dog's eardrum. If the process is too painful for your dog, don't force it. You can wait for another time to do it. Best of all, reward your dog for cleaning his ears.