How To Clean a Dog’s Ears | Chewtorials скачать в хорошем качестве

How To Clean a Dog’s Ears | Chewtorials

Keeping dog ears clean can go a long way to preventing needless pain and suffering, but doing it incorrectly can create more problems. So how do you clean a dog’s ears? The first step? Talk to your veterinarian. While some dogs’ ears need regular cleaning, not all dogs need to have their ears cleaned on a regular basis—and washing your dog’s ears too often can actually cause infections and other health issues. Your vet can tell you how often your furry friend needs an ear cleaning, and recommend any special products or tools that may help them. What You’ll Need to Clean Your Dog’s Ears 1. Dog Ear Cleaning Solution: Opt for a veterinary-recommended cleaner. Do not use household products like vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, which can irritate the ear. Shop dog ear cleaners:   chewy.com/b/cleansers-2436   2. Cotton Gauze, Cotton Balls or Squares: You probably already know that it’s unsafe to stick cotton swabs into your own ears. That rule applies to dog ears, too. Instead, have cotton balls or squares handy. 3. High-Value Treats: A special treat offered before, during or after a cleaning session can help make the experience a positive one—both for your pup and for you. Shop dog treats:   chewy.com/b/treats-335   4. Dog Ear Wipes or Pads (Optional): These products help clean debris from the parts of the ear you can see and touch (aka not the ear canal), with the added benefits of being convenient and relatively mess-free. Shop dog ear wipes:   chewy.com/b/wipes-2437   How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears: Step-by-Step Instructions 1. Place a cotton ball or piece of gauze in the outer ear canal. If you’ve ever used ear drops in your own ears, you know that the feeling of liquid in your ear canal can be, well, uncomfortable. It’s the same for dogs—but here’s a technique that can help. Start by inserting a piece of cotton (either a cotton ball or cotton gauze) just slightly into the opening of your dog’s ear. One cotton ball works for most medium and large breeds; about half a cotton ball works best for smaller dogs. Avoid pressing the cotton too far inside your dog’s ear, which can present the same risks as inserting a cotton swab. The cotton should go no further than just inside the opening to the ear canal, so that it stays in place without you holding it there, but is easy for you to remove (or for your dog to shake out) when the cleaning is over. Why insert cotton first? When it’s time to use the ear cleaner, the cotton moderates the flow of the liquid into your dog’s ear canal, making it a more comfortable experience for your pup. 2. Fill the ear canal with cleaning solution. Place the tip of the cleaning container on top of the gauze, right next to the opening of the ear canal. Allow the cleaning solution to saturate the cotton and flow into the ear canal. You may hear a crackling or squishing sound as the cleaning solution works to remove the wax. When the ear is full, the gauze or cotton will be saturated with the fluid, and the ear canal will sound squishy when you massage it (more on that below.) 3. Massage the ear canal. Your dog ear cleaning solution will begin to break down wax and debris on its own—remember that squishy sound you heard?—but to maximize its effect, you should massage the ear canal. Spend about 30 seconds applying gentle pressure in a circular motion to the area where your dog’s ears attach to their head. 4. Let your dog shake their head. It’s only natural for your dog to want to shake the fluid and leftover gunk out of their ears—so when you’re done massaging, go ahead and let them! Keep a towel nearby to protect yourself from any free-flying liquid. (You’ll thank us later.) 5. Wipe away the remaining debris. When your dog is done shaking, use cotton balls or dog ear wipes to wipe away any visible wax or debris. 6. Offer your dog a yummy treat for a job well done. End the session with lots of praise and a treat your dog especially loves, to let them know this whole ear cleaning business is a good thing. Besides, they deserve it! If ear debris is still present after you clean your dog’s ears, you can try cleaning again—but only if your dog is up for it. Don’t repeat the cleaning if your pup appears to be in pain. Instead, contact your veterinarian to ensure there is not another issue such as an infection or a foreign body or mass in the ear. Your vet may also be able to give you advice on ear cleaning techniques that may be more effective for your individual dog. Now that you know how to clean your dog’s ears, you can help prevent infections, pain and discomfort caused by wax build-up. Just remember: Before starting any ear cleaning regimen, check with your veterinarian about how often to clean and what products to use. Happy cleaning! #howtocleandogears #chewy #chewtorials #howto #dogears