How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears: 10 Simple Steps

Keeping your dog’s ears clean and regularly checking them is a very important part of their care. Some dogs will need their ears cleaned more often, whereas others will need it very little, nevertheless, you should still be checking their ear health on a regular basis to identify any problems such as infections or ear mites.

In this guide, we tell you step-by-step how to clean your dog’s ears and provide information on when you should seek help from your vet.

How do I know if my dog needs their ears cleaned?

There’s no hard and fast rule for how often you should clean a dog’s ears as some will just have healthier ears that seldom need cleaning, whereas floppy-eared breeds and those that like to swim may need them cleaned more often.

Where it’s good to clean your dog’s ears when needed, over-cleaning can cause irritation in the ear canal and can increase the risk of infection. If your dog goes to a groomer, there’s a possibility they’re already having their ears cleaned at their appointment, but it’s worth double-checking to make sure.

You should check your dog’s ears regularly and if you spot any discharge or odour, it’s likely it’s time for a clean. However, if their ears seem red, inflamed or painful, take them to the vet before cleaning as this may indicate a bigger problem.

Getting started with cleaning your dog’s ears

Before you start cleaning your dog’s ears, you’ll need to get a few things ready:

• Damp cotton wool – never use cotton buds as this can push wax and debris further into the canal and they can also cause damage when inserted too far
• Dog ear cleaner – only use ear cleaner intended for dogs and avoid any that contain alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as this can irritate sensitive ears
• Ear drops – if you’ve had any ear drops prescribed by your vet, you’ll need to administer these after cleaning
• Another pair of hands – this is particularly important if your dog’s not used to having their ears handled, another person can help to keep them still
• Treats – once you’ve finished cleaning your dog’s ears it’s important to reward them with a tasty treat to make it a positive experience

How to clean your dog’s ears: step-by-step

1. If you have a smaller dog, pop them on your lap, for larger dogs, it’s usually easier to clean their ears with them sitting on the floor
2. Lift your dog’s ear and carefully hold it between your thumb and forefinger
3. Take the time to give your dog’s ear a thorough examination, looking out for any redness, discharge or odour. Light brown wax is normal, but if you spot any red, pus-coloured or black discharge it may be a sign of infection and you’ll need to contact your vet for a check-up before continuing
4. Next, gently wipe your dog’s ear with a piece of damp cotton wool and remove any dirt or wax on the ear pinna and entry to the ear canal
5. Take your dog ear cleaner and gently squeeze the bottle to release the cleaner into the ear canal
6. Massage the base of your dog’s ear for about 30 seconds to disperse the cleaner
7. It’s very normal for your dog to want to shake at this point and it’s completely fine to let them do so, in fact, it actually helps to remove leftover ear cleaner and debris
8. Take another piece of damp cotton wool and clean any excess ear cleaner away
9. If you’re using vet prescribed ear drops, apply them as per the instructions on the bottle after cleaning, this will make sure the drops get into the ear canal and don’t just sit in debris outside the ear
10. Reward your dog with some tasty treats!

Once you’ve completed the above steps in one ear, repeat them in the other one.

The steps listed above are much easier if you’ve got your dog used to having their ears handled from puppyhood, but we know that’s not always possible! If your dog seems to be struggling a lot, don’t force it and instead contact your vet. A vet nurse will be able to clean your dog’s ears for you and provide tips for future cleaning sessions.

Now you know how to clean a dog’s ears! Looking for more advice on caring for your dog? Check out our article on the top causes of dry skin in dogs next.