Ear Infections In Dogs & Cats, An Easy Guide To Avoid Them

Dog and cat ear infections are easily avoidable with routine cleaning. Yet infections of the ear canal in dogs and cats are one of the most common reasons for trips to the Veterinarian.  This is why it is so important to clean ears on a regular basis.  Routine ear cleaning will remove excess wax, dirt and debris.

dog sitting during a vet exam

How to Spot a Possible Ear Infections: 

How Often Should I Clean My Pet Ears to Avoid Ear Infections?

If your pet likes to roll in dirt for fun, (what dog doesn’t!) or swims regularly, they may require more frequent cleanings. Trapped moisture in a warm and dark environment like the ear canal can lead to bacteria and yeast infections, but a good ear cleaning solution will act as a drying agent. Ultimately, how frequently you clean your pet’s ears really depends on your individual dog or cat.

Ear Cleaning Solutions We Love

Before cleaning your pet’s ears, it is important to know a little simple anatomy. 

 There are 3 main parts to the ear:

  • Outer ear– consists of the flap (called the pinna) and the ear canal. Unlike humans, our pets have a very long ear canal that starts vertically, but then turns into a shorter horizontal canal as it nears the eardrum.
  • Middle ear– separated from the outer ear by the tympanic membrane, or eardrum. The eardrum is very fragile and can be damaged by improper cleaning, excess wax, and infections.
  • Inner ear– contains nerves required for balance and hearing.
dog at the vets office

Pro Advice for Safely Cleaning Your Pet’s Ears:

If you have a new puppy or kitten, it’s a prime time to get them used to routine ear cleanings. Anything you do with a pet when they are young will be better tolerated in adulthood. If you have an older pet that hasn’t had many ear cleanings, you may need to work up gradually. Try working up to a full ear cleaning over a few sessions.  Give your pet lots of positive reinforcement throughout the process.

Steps for performing a good ear cleaning to help avoid those painful ear infections: 

  1. Gather your supplies starting with a veterinary approved liquid ear cleaner and cotton balls, or ear cleaning wipes.

Ear Wipes We Love

  1. Try to begin when your pet is calm. It may help to attempt the cleaning after a good play session. Or, try before bedtime so your pet will be more relaxed.
  2. Consider the help of a second person. Having someone else hold your pet, will help the process go more quickly and smoothly. For your feline friends, consider wrapping them in a towel. It is a gentle way to calm them and provide security.
  3.  Don’t forget this may get messy. Your pet will shake excess dirt and debris so be sure to avert your face so you don’t get a shower.  It may be a good idea to not wear expensive clothing or clean your pet’s ears while near expensive furniture.
  4. Now you are ready! Gently hold the ear flap up in one hand and the ear cleaning solution in the other.
  5. To locate the opening of the ear canal, you may need to part the hair in some dogs.  Place the tip of the bottle into the ear canal, and squeeze in a small amount.  Never force or wedge the bottle into the ear canal, as the pressure could rupture the eardrum. Continue to gently hold the ear flap so your pet does not shake the ears yet.
  6. While gently holding the ear flap, massage the pet’s ear canal. Put the bottle of ear cleaner down and use your dominant hand to massage the base of the pet’s ear gently and slowly. This will distribute the ear cleanser throughout the ear canal and loosen and remove wax, debris, and discharge.
  7. You may allow your pet to shake once you have massaged the ear. And remember step 4!
  8. Use a slightly moistened cotton ball to gently remove any cleaning solution and discharge from the inner ear flap. Some debris will move up to the opening of the ear canal during the cleaning process. Use the cotton balls or ear cleansing wipes to gently clean this area. NEVER use cotton swabs, as deep placement can rupture the eardrum and/or pack wax and debris further into the ear canal.
cat and dog at the vets office

There are times when your pet may need more than a routine amount of ear cleaning. 

Your veterinarian will help you determine if this is the case for your pet and, if so, how often you should do it. Conditions that May Require Extra Ear Cleaning:

Ear mite infestation. Your veterinarian will prescribe the best medication to treat mites, and ear cleanings will be necessary during treatment to remove all the extra ear debris that a mite infestation causes

Ear infections. Infections (usually bacteria or yeast) of the ear canal can cause a lot of debris and discharge to build up.  Treatment usually involves daily cleaning in addition to medications prescribed by your veterinarian.

Allergies. Pets with certain types of allergies tend to suffer from irritation to the skin lining their ear canals and are prone to infections. Ear cleaning is important to aid in prevention of these types of ear infections and provide comfort for itchy ears. Omega-3 fatty acids can also help with allergies.

Be sure to consistently monitor your pet’s ears to keep them clean, smelling good, and prevent problems such as discomfort, itching, and infections. If there is no odor and you do not see wax and debris too often, once a week is sufficient.  If your dog produces a lot of ear wax, has allergies, or is prone to ear infections, then more frequent to even daily cleaning may be advised.

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