While some people may find it better to use at-home remedies to clean their dog’s ears, the best thing to do is to visit the veterinarian or the local pet store to find an entirely dog-safe spray which will not use any harmful chemicals. Your pup’s safety and healthy should be most important.
It may take some time to warm your pooch up to the thought of you holding his ear, so take some time to familiarize him with the touch and feel. You may want to offer him some treats or something to chew on while you hold it in order to keep him from turning his head.
Take a peek inside the ears and make sure that there is no excessive waxy build-up or redness. If you spy anything that clearly looks wrong, you should consider pausing your ear cleaning and taking a visit to the veterinarian in order to get them professionally cleaned instead. Otherwise, just make sure the ears look pink and free of any obstructions.
Put a few light sprays of cleanser into the ear. Larger ears may need a little bit more cleanser than smaller ones. Make sure the cleanser goes into the ear and not just around it. The ear canal can be prone to dirt and build-up, so it’s important to make sure there is enough cleanser. Do not drown the ear in spray, however, as this can cause irritation. There should be just enough for a light coating.
If your dog has an ear that hangs, let it fall and press your fingers to it, giving a gentle massage. This can help spread the cleanser around to make sure it touches everywhere inside. If your dog has an upright ear, you may want to try to fold it down a little in order to massage the cleanser inside. This can take a little bit of time and patience. Try not to hurt your dog’s ear when you do this. Gentle massages work best!