FR
EN
This guide is a home-care support tool. It does not replace personalized advice from your veterinarian. For any questions, contact us at 514-223-1197.
What you need
Three things are enough. Your veterinarian may have prescribed a specific solution: use that one.
Gloves
Medical gloves (latex or equivalent) to avoid contact with bacteria or fungi. Wash your hands right after.
Cotton balls or gauze
To wipe the ear flap and the top of the canal. Never cotton swabs.
Ear cleaning solution
The one your vet recommends, brought to body temperature.
Two tricks before you start
Warm the bottle under your arm for 10 to 15 minutes: a lukewarm solution is far more comfortable, and your pet cooperates better.
Pick a spot that is easy to clean: at the end, your pet will shake its head and fling the contents of the canal out. Keep valuables out of range.
The right amount: not too much, not too little
Cleaning is done according to your pet's needs, which vary a lot from one animal to the next. Some are more prone to ear trouble:
Anatomy
Floppy ears or a narrow canal: moisture and debris build up more easily.
Swimming
Water getting into the ear encourages infections.
Genetics
A family predisposition is common.
How often?
Ask your vet for the right interval: some animals need frequent cleaning, others very little. Over-cleaning irritates and inflames the canal, which is counterproductive.
Never cotton swabs
Never use cotton swabs. They push debris deeper into the canal, the exact opposite of what you want. Stick to the ear flap and the upper part of the canal, with a cotton ball or gauze.
When to call the vet
Cleaning solutions are for upkeep and prevention, not for treating an infection. Contact the clinic promptly if you notice:
- Increasing fluid or pasty discharge, on one side or both.
- An ear that is redder, warmer, or more swollen.
- Pain that is getting worse.
- More frequent head-shaking or scratching.
- A head tilt or loss of balance.
Is your pet resisting? Stop.
If your pet struggles enough to make the cleaning difficult, stop and call us. The ear may be too painful to clean without medication. Do not put yourself at risk of a bite, and do not force it: resistance is often a sign of a problem that deserves an exam.
The eardrum first
Before a first cleaning, or if there is an infection, have the ear examined: if the eardrum is damaged, some solutions are not safe for the inner ear. Your vet will choose the right product.
The procedure, step by step
Allow about 5 minutes. With a calm pet, one person is enough; otherwise get help (one holds and distracts, the other instills).
Get set up
With a calm pet you can manage alone. With a young, excitable, or unaccustomed animal, have someone hold and distract it. If it is genuinely too hard, talk to your vet about options.
Expose the canal
With one hand, lift the ear flap straight up. Fold it into your palm, furry side against your hand, thumb on the smooth inner side: you should see the opening of the canal. For a dog with naturally upright ears, just cup your hand behind the ear.
Pour in the warm solution
Holding the flap like a funnel, pour a stream of solution to fill the canal to the brim (a few seconds, not just a few drops). Do not let the nozzle touch the ear, to avoid contaminating the bottle.
Massage for a minute
Lower the flap and gently massage the base of the ear between thumb and finger. You can feel the canal as a small soft tube at the base of the ear, angled slightly toward the back.
Let it shake, then wipe
Let your pet shake its head: that is how it loosens and expels the debris. Then wipe the ear flap and the top of the canal with a cotton ball. Finish with a treat, and you are done.
After the cleaning
A few simple steps to finish cleanly and safely.
- Throw away the used gauze, cotton, and gloves.
- Wash your hands.
- Close the bottle and store it out of reach of children and pets.
Your questions, our answers
The most common situations around ear cleaning.
My dog or cat hates ear cleaning. What can I do?
How often should I clean?
Can head-shaking and scratching make the ear worse?
The ear looks redder right after cleaning. Is that normal?
A small ritual that protects the ears
Done in the right amount and the right way, ear cleaning prevents a good share of infections and quickly becomes a simple routine, especially with a warm solution and a treat at the end. At the first sign of pain, marked redness, or unusual resistance, set the cleaning aside and call us.