How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears: A Helpful Guide
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The familiar squeak of their favorite toy. The rat-a-tat of kibble hitting their bowl. And of course, their neighborhood pal’s bark—countless sounds fill your dog’s life. Dog ears aren’t just cute scratching opportunities. They are central to dog well-being.
Ear problems are a major dog health matter. They’re the second-most common vet issue. With proper cleaning, you can keep your dog’s ears healthy. But you’ll need some help navigating your dog’s ears - they are different than human ears. We’ve provided a guide for cleaning your dog’s ears thoroughly and safely.
Mark the Calendar: Time for the Monthly Check-Up
As a general rule, plan on cleaning your dog’s ears at least once a month. Skipping ear cleanings can lead to ear infections, but overdoing them can cause irritation. Earwax is a normal ear secretion that helps protect the ear from dirt, debris, and infection. It does not need to be removed from healthy ears.
A healthy dog ear is pink, dirt-free, unirritated, and odorless. Monthly cleanings will usually keep their ears in this pristine condition.
When Ear Cleaning May Need to Ramp Up
Excessive, unhealthy earwax levels may occur and require attention, including in dogs:
Of certain breeds (Cocker Spaniels, Bassets, English Bulldogs, Poodles)
With allergies
That swim frequently
With ear infections
Showing signs of ear irritation, such as pain, scratching, or rubbing
To find the perfect ear-cleaning schedule for you and your pup, consider the following tips.
Reasons for Routine Ear Cleaning
If you’re seeing mild discharge and redness around the inner ears, that could be a sign your dog’s ears need more frequent cleanings. The same goes for funky odors or increased itching and head shaking, which are common signs of infection or other problems in your pet’s ear.
Use the Right Tools
Maybe Q-tips do the trick for your ears. But cotton swabs are the last thing you should use on your pup (as this can risk damaging the ear canal). Cleaning dog ears requires a proper, medically-informed toolkit.
Here’s a good start to your dog ear-cleaning toolkit:
Cotton Balls or Tissue – While Q-tips are not the answer, cotton balls offer a gentle, irritant-free material that’s perfect for routine ear cleaning. Pick up a tissue or cotton ball to softly wipe away any debris or discharge around your dog’s ear cartilage. Don’t press these into the ears or use them in any way you would a Q-tip.
Cleanser – The right cleanser can make all the difference. Choose a gentle cleaning solution that reduces germs and helps prevent other problems. Vetericyn’s antimicrobial ear rinse is a non-toxic solution that removes debris and germs and soothes the ear canal skin. It won’t sting, even if there are scratches in the ear, and it doesn’t cause toxicity if it accidentally gets into the eyes or mouth.
Their Favorite Treats – A little snack and lots of snuggles after grooming is more than just a “thank you” to your dog. You’ll also teach them that ear cleaning is an enjoyable opportunity for you to reinforce the human-animal bond.
Refine Your Technique
When cleaning the ears, the best technique is to start gently, then be gentler. Put simply, don’t be aggressive with your pup’s ears.
Understand the Anatomy of Dog Ears
Every wise traveler brings a map. Before embarking on an ear cleaning journey with your dog, get to know the inner workings of these organs.
Like most parts of the body, the deeper you go into the ears, the more damage and pain you risk. That’s why a light touch is essential for cleaning and why Vetericyn’s safe products are ideal.
Here are the main dog ear parts to know:
Inner Ear – The inner ear structures maintain your dog’s hearing and balance. Improper, rough ear cleanings can cause trauma or infection, or both, to this part of the ear.
Middle Ear – The eardrum lives here. This is also where the tube from the back of the nose enters the ear. Harsh cleaning can lead to eardrum damage - a major reason for the no Q-tips rule.
Outer Ear – You know the floppy part of your dog’s ear that you like to scratch behind? That’s called the pinna, and its funnel shape explains your pet’s incredible hearing. The ear canal, a long, L-shaped tube, is also part of the outer ear. You’ll find most wax, debris, or dog ear discharge in this area.
Here are signs of inflammation in these areas:
Outer Ear Infections – Waxy yellow or reddish discharge, inflammation, itchiness, and a bad odor suggest an outer ear infection. Call your veterinarian if you notice these signs, as ear infections can have many causes. A product like Vetericyn Triple Action Ear Treatment can help relieve itch, remove infection-causing buildup and germs, and support ear health alongside treatment recommended by your veterinarian.
Middle Ear Infections – The most common cause of middle ear infection in dogs is an outer ear infection that spreads. Dogs with recurrent outer ear infections should be checked for middle ear infection. In some cases, the inner ear infection occurs alone. These dogs do not have outer ear symptoms, but they do have nervous system, hearing, or breathing issues.
Inner Ear Infections - Inflammation within the inner ear causes the head to tilt to one side, rapid back-and-forth eye movement, and other signs of nervous system problems.
If you notice these symptoms, contact your veterinarian for advice.
Follow a Step-by-Step Ear Cleaning Routine
To become the ear-cleaning dog whisperer, break down the process into chunks. Try this routine with each ear for proper and effective cleaning:
Position – For small dogs, place your pet comfortably on your lap. For larger breeds, position yourself at the side of your dog, preferably with them seated or lying down.
Calm and Soothe – Ensure your dog is on the same team with a short massage or petting session. By making them comfortable, you’ll have a much easier, safer time cleaning ears.
Expose – Clips or a cleaning partner come in handy here. If your dog’s ears are floppy, pin or hold the flap back to reveal the cartilage and ear hole.
Apply Cleaning Solution – Slowly squeeze the cleaning solution into your dog’s ear canal. Be prepared for your dog to shake their head. Make sure to massage the spot where the pinna meets the head for about 30 seconds, ensuring the cleaner gets distributed throughout the ear..
Wipe Away – Take your cotton material and gently remove any debris or discharge you can see on the inside of the pinna. Do not dig deep into the ear canal —you’ll risk pushing dirt further down the ear, or even causing damage.
Dry Off – Use a soft towel or T-shirt to wipe away any remaining solution.
Give Medicine – If you’re currently treating an ear infection, administer the medicine now. Make sure not to touch the bottle to your dog’s actual ear to avoid germ spreading.
Say Thank You – Offer your dog a treat and lots of snuggles for their good behavior. This can make next time a little easier.
Deal With Discharge
Ear cleaning is all about preventing infections. But sometimes, even with preventive care, life happens. Dog ear problems are common, affecting almost 20% of all pups.
Here are issues to watch for :
Ear Mites – These critters may technically be visible. But they’re so tiny, they could slip right past an unassuming eye. If you notice head shaking and scratching, along with crusty dark brown or black discharge in the ears, mites might be the culprit. Your veterinarian can diagnose mites and advise you on treatment.
Allergies – The catch-all of inflammatory issues, allergies are a common cause of dog ear infections. Watch for allergy symptoms, talk to your veterinarian, and use vet-approved treatment for your dog.
Polyps and Tumors – Rare, but possible. Certain breeds, such as German Shepherds or Cocker Spaniels, may be more prone to ear canal tumors. If your dog has recurrent ear infections, ask your vet to check for any developing bodies in their ears.
Happy Ears, Happy Dogs
By following this guide, you’ll have all the essentials for how to clean a dog’s ears safely. And don’t forget—Vetericyn has your dog’s back, and ears,with our antimicrobial, non-toxic ear cleaning products.
Do you hear that? That’s the sound of happy ears and happy dogs.
Reviewed by Dr. Kathy Adamson
Dr. Kathy Adamson earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.
She completed a one-year small animal medicine and surgery internship at the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. Alongside her studies, Kathy worked in a research lab, contributing as an author and co-author to various journal articles.
She has also pursued medical writing and editing certification through the University of Chicago Graham School. Currently, she runs KMA Veterinary & Medical Writing, a freelance medical writing company, serves as the Digital Content Manager for the Greater Chicago Area Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association, is a member of the AMWA Communications Committee, and enjoys writing about healthcare topics for people and their cherished pets.
