Yes, you should clean your dog's ears for maintenance, especially if they have floppy ears or swim often, but only if they seem healthy; if you notice signs of infection (smell, redness, shaking head, discharge), see a vet first, as over-cleaning or cleaning an infected ear can cause harm, using vet-approved cleaners and avoiding cotton swabs deep in the canal.
Dogs with a history of allergies, recurrent ear infections, or floppy ears may need their ears cleaned more frequently. For a dog with healthy, normal ears, a routine ear clean is only needed if dirt or debris is noted, as overcleaning the ears can also lead to irritation of the ears.
Dark brown earwax may simply be a build-up of healthy wax. Your dog's ear may just need cleaning. Gently wipe away the dirt and debris with a warm, damp cloth and dry afterward. Yeast infections (candida or Malassezia spp) commonly cause earwax to turn greasy, dark brown or reddish-brown.
Water entering a puppy's ear can cause discomfort and lead to infections like otitis externa. To prevent this, gently place cotton balls in the ear canal before bathing, avoiding deep insertion. Use a damp washcloth around the head instead of direct water flow. After bathing, thoroughly dry the ears with a soft towel.
Ear mites can cause several signs, including a black discharge, scratching, and head shaking.
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Professional groomers never use alcohol or Q-Tips (cotton swabs) and often begin by lifting the dog's ear and exposing the inside flap so that it faces him. Any hair that is in the way is removed around the opening of the external ear canal and a small amount of medicated ear powder is placed in each ear.
An ear mite infection will cause your dog's ears to itch, which often results in them shaking their head excessively, or scratching at their ears with their paws. Ear mites can also cause your dog's ears to: produce wax. become irritated, causing them to look red and inflamed.
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Ear mites. Ear mites cause intense scratching. If you look in your dog's ears and see dark brown debris that resembles coffee grounds, then your dog most likely has ear mites.
Instead, soak a cotton ball and drip a few drops of plain water, a simple saline solution, or hydrogen peroxide into the ear with your head tilted so the opening of the ear is pointing up. Keep it in that position for a minute to allow gravity to pull the fluid down through the wax.
The best way to get rid of your dog's yeast infection in their ear will depend upon the underlying cause and may include:
If you don't clean your ears for years, earwax, also known as cerumen, can accumulate in the ear canal. The earwax can harden and become impacted, which can cause a blockage in the ear canal.
The problem with dog ear wipes is they're not able to clean deep into a dog's ear canal. Dog ear canals are long and narrow and then branch off into a right angle.
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Our vet panel agrees Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced is a great option for routine ear cleanings. Additionally, it offers anti-odor agents to help with ear stink and is also ideal for pups with sensitive ears.
While some dogs naturally have dark brown or almost black earwax, a sudden change to black earwax could indicate the presence of dried blood, which may signal an ear mite infection or injury. Consult your vet if you notice this change.
Breeds Prone to Ear Infections and Signs to Watch For
If you've noticed your dog scratching their ears or shaking their head more regularly than usual, contact your vet as soon as possible. The sooner the problem is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat. Let your vet know if you have noticed any other symptoms such as itchy skin or loss of balance.
Bacterial, yeast, or fungal infections can make the ear canal feel itchy, prompting your dog to scratch. You can do a quick visual check at home for redness, odor, discharge, or swelling. If you notice any of these symptoms, get in touch with your vet. Your dog will need medication to make the infection go away.
Some people regularly get blocked ears because they naturally produce a lot of earwax. Other causes include: producing naturally hard or dry earwax. having narrow or hairy ear canals (the tube between the opening of the ear and the eardrum)
Most dogs' ears are much larger than ours, and their ear canals are much longer. They are certainly a lot more sensitive. Owners usually only need to clean them when there is a problem; however, they may already be painful at this point, so the dog learns that handling around the ears is painful.
Ear problems tend to cause swelling, redness, pain, a bad smell, itchiness, and head shaking. Severe ear problems that affect deep inside the ear can also cause symptoms such as loss of balance, a head tilt, and flickering eye movements. Always contact your vet if you think your dog might have an ear problem.
In rare cases, animals awaken from anesthesia deaf in both ears, often following ear cleaning or teeth cleaning. It may be the case that the body shunts blood away from the cochlea during anesthesia to protect other critical organs, or that pressure or jaw positioning compresses the arterial supply to the cochlea.
Most dogs' ears are a lot larger and their ear canals are much longer than ours are. They are certainly a lot more sensitive. We usually only need to clean them when there is a problem; however at this point they may already be sore, so that the dog learns that handling around the ears is painful and tries to avoid it.