Keeping your dog’s ears clean and healthy is important to provide optimum health and quality of life.

Healthy ears in dogs are clean and dry with no discharge present, however it is normal for them to have a small number of bacteria and yeast in the outer ear canal. Checking your dog’s ears regularly can be beneficial in helping to spot any problems early and also help to get them used to being examined.

How often should you clean your dog’s ears?

There is no need to clean their ears unless they are very dirty, waxy or your vet has asked you to. Many dogs can go their whole life without needing their ear’s cleaned.

Always contact your vet before cleaning your dog’s ears, especially if you have noticed a problem – they may need further treatment, as well as or instead of being cleaned.

Common signs to look out for include:

• Redness and swelling
• Sensitive to touch
• Head shaking or hitting
• Foul odour
• Discharge
• Scratching or rubbing the ear

Tips for cleaning your dog’s ears

Before starting, make sure your dog is comfortable with having their ears handled. Be patient and don’t rush the process to prevent your dog getting stressed.

• Examine the ear and check for redness, discharge or a bad smell. It is normal for there to be a small amount of light-coloured wax. However, if there is a very large amount, the ears are very red, or there appears to be pus or a malodourous smell, it’s a sign of a problem and will require vet attention.
• Gently wipe around the entrance of the ear with damp cotton wool – this will remove dirt or excess wax.
• Insert the tip of Nutraotic ear cleaner into the ear – be sure not to insert too far – then squeeze the bottle to release the ear cleaner.
• Massage the base of the ear to help the cleaner pass into the ear canal.
• Wipe away any excess cleaner with damp cotton wool.
• Repeat the process for the other ear.

Never insert anything into your pet’s ears that could damage the canal and eardrum, such as earbuds. These can push debris further into the ear canal or damage the eardrum.

If you are worried about your pet or are unable to clean their ears, speak to your vet as they are best placed to offer advice.