How to clean your dog's ears

A yellow Labrador Retriever is sitting amongst the wildflowers with one ear folded back.

How to clean your dog's ears

20 February 2023

Reviewed by Dr Jill McMaster BVM&S MBA MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon and in-house expert at BorrowMyDoggy on 6 Jun 2023

It’s a question many dog owners can likely relate to - how to properly clean your dog’s ears? Proper ear care is essential for your dog’s health and our friends over at White Cross Vets have shared these tips on how to make the process as easy as possible.

Start with a good belly rub and some treats - it needs to be a fun experience for your dog
Whilst someone is holding your dog’s head still, use an ear cleaning product specifically for dogs and squirt a small amount into the ear
Massage the solution into the ear - you should hear a squelching sound
Use some cotton wool to wipe away any excess solution, don't put anything down your dog's ears, as you can damage their ear drum!
Let your dog shake their head - this will also remove any excess solution and prevent it from tickling them
You should check your dog’s ears weekly for irritation, redness, dirt or waxy build-up and call your vet immediately if you notice swelling, inflammation, off-colour discharge or signs of pain.

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