Cleaning Dog Ears: Essential Steps for Healthy Ear Care

Cleaning your dog’s ears is an essential thing to learn, as most dogs will need it done eventually. They may need routine cleanings to keep their ears healthy or infrequent cleanings only when the ears are dirty.

The steps to cleaning your dog’s ears are simple: gently lift the ear and fill the ear canal with a cleaning solution. Rub the ear for 30 seconds, then let your dog shake their head. Wipe the outside of the ear if needed.

However, sometimes what seems simple can actually be quite the process–especially if your dog is in pain or not used to having their ears touched.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to clean your dog’s ears, how to know when they need to be cleaned, common ear conditions in dogs, and more!

Signs Your Dog Needs Their Ears Cleaned

Every dog should have their ears checked regularly to see if they need to be cleaned. However, some dogs rarely need it done.

Overcleaning a dog’s ears can irritate them and may also make them more prone to infections. So, it’s important to know the signs that your dog’s ears actually need to be cleaned. They include:

• Visible debris or wax
• A faint odor
• Head shaking

There are also times when your dog will be more likely to have dirty ears, such as after they’ve been swimming or rolling in the dirt outside.

If your dog has a strong yeasty or fruity odor coming from their ears, redness, or shows other signs of an ear infection, you should see a veterinarian as these are signs of infection. Cleaning won’t be enough to fix the problem and can lead to more irritation.

If your dog has wax or debris in the ear canal that won’t come out with a simple flush, please see your veterinarian for a better clean. Don’t try this at home; never put objects into your dog’s ear canal.

Two Ways to Clean Your Dog’s Ears

Keeping your dog’s ears clean is important, as it decreases their risk of health problems like ear infections and makes them more comfortable in their day-to-day lives. If you’ve ever had a lot of wax in your ear, you know it can be pretty uncomfortable!

Most dogs need their ears cleaned around once a month, but there are exceptions. If your dog’s ears aren’t dirty, no need to clean them!

Some dogs are prone to ear infections, and your vet might recommend more frequent cleaning. For instance, my vet recommended cleaning my dog’s ears once a week when he was having recurring infections.

#1: Flushing the Ears

Flushing the ears is when you squirt an ear-cleaning solution directly into the ear canal. This is the most common method for cleaning dogs’ ears.

• Step One: Gather your supplies and choose a location. You’ll need a vet-approved ear-cleaning solution, cotton pads, a towel, and dog treats. Choose a location that’s easy to clean, as things can get messy. I used to clean my dog’s ears outside to avoid clean-up, but a bathroom or kitchen with hard floors works too.
• Step Two: Gently lift your dog’s ear and fold it upward. Of course, this isn’t necessary for dogs with upright ears!
• Step Three: Put the solution into your dog’s ear canal. Be careful not to touch the tip of the bottle to your dog’s ear! This can spread bacteria and even infection.
• Step Four: Rub their ear for 30 seconds. This works the solution into the ear and loosens any debris or wax.
• Step Five: Step back! Now it’s time for your dog to shake their head, which is the messy part of this process.
• Step Six: Clean up their ear and the surrounding area. Wipe the outer, visible part of the ear with a cotton pad or towel. Don’t stick anything into the ear canal, as this can lodge debris further inside or cause injury to the ear.
  You may also need to wipe down your dog’s face, the surrounding area, or even yourself with the towel you brought.

During this process, you can feed your dog treats to make it a fun and positive experience. It helps to have two people–one feeding treats and the other tending to the dog’s ears.

#2: Wiping the Ears

I’ve also had success simply wiping down the outer ears. This won’t get the ear canal clean if that’s your dog’s problem, but it does still help to stay on top of their hygiene.

• Step One: Gather your supplies. You’ll need a vet-approved ear-cleaning solution and something to wipe the outer ear with, such as a cotton pad or ball, towel, or cotton swab.
• Step Two: Squirt the solution onto your ear-cleaning utensil. It should be wet but not dripping.
• Step Three: Lift the ear and fold it over your dog’s head. Again, this is only for floppy-eared pups.
• Step Four: Wipe the outside of the ear only. Cotton swabs can help get into the ridges of the ear, especially if your dog is small, but never put them or other objects inside of the ear canal!

Tips for Dog Ear Cleaning

If your dog gives you a hard time when you or the vet try to handle their ears, they may need more training in this department.

Please remember that your dog is likely in pain, and touching the ears can make that pain worse. If they’re fighting, it’s because they don’t realize you’re trying to help and perceive it only as you hurting them.

Training Tips for Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears

• Be generous with the treats! Like any training, your dog will need frequent rewards at first. If you have two people, it may even help to have one person feed your dog treats while the other handles their ears.
• Handle your dog’s ears before you need to. This conditions your dog to see you touching their ears as a good thing. If the first time they have their ears lifted is to administer drops for a painful ear infection, you can see why they’d want to avoid that experience in the future!
  Don’t just rub your dog’s ears, but also lift them up, look inside, and practice putting objects near (not in!) the ear canal to get them used to the feeling if they ever need cleaning or drops.

• Use a muzzle if needed. Sometimes we can’t condition a dog to have their ears messed with beforehand or didn’t know we were supposed to. If you think your dog might bite, a muzzle will be necessary to get the job done. Have the muzzle on only as long as you need, then be sure to comfort your dog after you remove it.
• Ask for help from a second person. You may need someone to hold your dog still while the other person cleans their ear. Remember to be gentle but firm.
• Wrap small dogs in a blanket. Swaddling them can help you to keep them still while you clean their ears.
• Keep your dog on a leash to prevent running. My pup used to run across the yard during ear cleanings, but keeping him on a leash kept him close to me–making the job much easier.
• Take it slow. If your dog doesn’t have an ear condition, you can slowly work up by first touching the ears, lifting them, and finally putting a bit of cleaning solution inside. If your dog has an infection or other ear condition, you may need to speed the process up to ensure it gets done–but even giving your dog a break between ears can make a big difference in their stress level (and yours!).

Common Ear Conditions in Dogs

Ear infections

Ear infections in dogs can be caused by bacteria, yeast, or both. Things that make your dog more likely to develop an ear infection include swimming, bathing, allergies, endocrine or autoimmune disorders, injuries, excess wax, and foreign material in the ear, such as pollen or seeds.

Symptoms of ear infections include:

• Pain or discomfort in the ear
• A sweet or yeasty ear odor
• Itching
• Head shaking
• Redness
• Inflammation 
• Abnormal ear discharge
• Injuries in the ear from scratching

Ear infections are typically easy to treat with a medicated ointment applied to the ear and by keeping the ears clean. When infections are more severe, your veterinarian may prescribe oral anti-inflammatory medications or antibiotics.

In the rare case that the ear infection becomes chronic and doesn’t respond to other treatments, your vet may recommend surgery to remove the ear canal. Ear infections can spread to other parts of the body, such as the eyes or even the brain. They should be treated as soon as possible.

Ear mites

Ear mites are small and very difficult to see. If your dog has dark ears, you might see tiny specks moving around–other times, you might see nothing at all.

Dogs catch ear mites by coming into contact with another animal that has them or through their environment.

Symptoms include:

• Scratching
• Head shaking
• Dark discharge that appears similar to coffee grounds
• Hair loss from itching
• Crusty ear rash
• Blistering in the ear

Treatments include topical ear medications, parasite preventatives, and injections such as ivermectin. To prevent your dog from catching ear mites again, they should be on a parasite prevention medication year-round.

Ear Injuries

Ear injuries can be caused by scratching (often due to ear infections or mites), dog fights, if the ear is snagged on something in the environment, or anything else that hurts the ear.

It’s important to take injuries on your dog seriously. See a veterinarian for serious wounds or any animal bites, as they can become infected easily.

Ear injuries can cause pain, itching, head shaking, and ear infections. If your dog scratches the injury, they may break it open or tear it further.

Minor injuries may be treated successfully at home by keeping the ear clean, while more severe injuries will require veterinary attention.

How to Apply Ear Drops or Ointments

If your dog has an ear condition, you may need to apply drops or ointments alongside cleaning their ears. Here’s how:

• Gently lift their ear above their head
• Without touching the ear with the bottle, squeeze out the dosage prescribed by your veterinarian
• Rub your dog’s ear for 30 seconds to spread the medication within the ear

Remember to be gentle, as your dog might be in pain when you touch their ears. Clean the outer ear with an ear-cleaning solution if necessary to remove excess ointment.

If you touch the tip of the bottle to your dog’s ear by mistake, use rubbing alcohol to sanitize the bottle.

Which Dog Breeds Are Prone to Ear Infections?

Some dog breeds are more prone to ear infections than others. This includes dogs with long, floppy ears, such as Basset Hounds, dogs who are prone to allergies, such as American Pit Bull Terriers, and dogs who love the water, such as Labrador Retrievers.

If your dog falls into any of these categories, talk to your veterinarian about how to prevent ear infections in your dog. They may suggest drying their ears after a swim, changing your dog’s diet to avoid their allergens, or cleaning the ears routinely.

Sometimes, all you can do is watch for symptoms and treat ear infections when they arise. This may especially be the case if your dog is prone to infections due to environmental allergies.

Best Ear Cleaning Solution for Dogs

Personally, I’ve always purchased ear-cleaning solutions from my veterinarian. If they have an online shop, you may not even need an appointment to get the brand your vet suggests. 

If not, you can also give them a call and see if they’ll allow you to pick up a solution without an appointment. My vet allows this if the pet has been seen recently and you’re not asking for prescription medications.

Otherwise, ear-cleaning solutions are sold over the counter as well. Avoid cleaners that contain hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, as these ingredients can irritate your dog’s ears. Also, avoid homemade solutions as they can be ineffective, irritate the ears, or cause infections.

The American Kennel Club often recommends using baby oil to wipe your dog’s ears. You can also use an ear-cleaning solution such as the one below from TrizULTRA.

Best Dog Ear Cleaning Solution

TrizULTRA+ Keto Flush

• Fragrance-free
• Doesn't contain alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, which can irritate your dog's ears
• Cannot treat infections or other ear conditions; for cleaning only

Check Chewy Check Amazon

About Home Remedies for Ear Conditions

Lastly, let’s touch on home remedies for ear conditions. While there are a bunch of these on the market, and many people will tout homemade solutions, these aren’t typically effective.

Please avoid putting vinegar, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide in your dog’s ears. Remember that ear flushes won’t cure an ear infection, nor will home remedies. You’ll need a prescription from your vet for this.

Some injuries can heal at home, but when in doubt, take your dog to the vet for help. Always see a vet for animal bite wounds, as they can become infected easily.

Over-the-counter parasite prevention medications sometimes work for things like ear mites, but I personally don’t risk it with my pets. Animals can become sick from bad products, especially when buying online from unknown sources.

Veterinarian-approved medications are much more likely to treat the problem the first time, saving you money long-term. They’re also much less likely to harm your dog, though every medication can cause side effects.

I hope this article has helped you to learn more about cleaning your dog’s ears, why it’s important, and how to do it.

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