How to Clean Dog Ears — 7 Easy Steps

As a pet parent, you know grooming is integral to raising a dog. If there is one aspect of dog grooming that leaves many a pet parent jittery and worried about whether they’re doing it right, it is cleaning a dog’s ears. What if you go in too deep? What if you damage your dog’s eardrum in the process? What if you don’t clean it well enough? If these questions have been making you anxious, this guide on how to clean dog ears will help. 

One thing I’ve learned from experience is that you must catch ‘em young, start slow, and build trust. When done right, cleaning your dog’s ears isn’t hard at all. You can easily get them to a point where they will quietly lie in your lap, as you get all the dirt and wax out. However, this is an exercise in patience, and it can take you anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to establish that kind of trust with your pet. 

My current pet, Drogon, a feisty German Shepherd, used to fight me with all his might when I tried to clean his ears the first few times. Given that he was all of 3 months at the time, I was surprised by the kind of strength he had in him to fight back. Today, as a grown boy, he happily lies around as I get the job done. You, too, can get there with your dog. To that end, let’s look at everything you need to know about cleaning your dog’s ears.  

How Often to Clean Dog Ears

To be able to clean dog ears the right way, you need to know how often you need to include it in your pet’s grooming schedule. If you’re a first-time parent, I strongly recommend asking your vet about it. That said, a good rule of thumb is to clean your dog’s ears once a month or after every bath. 

However, this frequency can vary depending on your pet’s specific requirements. For instance, 

• Breed with big, floppy ears may need to have them cleaned more frequently 
• If your dog loves to play in water, you need to clean your dog’s ears more often and dry them properly every time they get their ears wet
• Dogs with allergies or those prone to infection also need a more regular ear-cleaning regimen 
• Some dogs tend to have a higher build-up of wax. While a certain amount of wax is good for ear health, if it is excessive, you may need to clean dog ears as and when required 
• If you see dirty dog ears (characterized by a dark brown build-up in the outer areas of the ears), it’s time for a cleaning session 

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How to Prepare for Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears

If you want to know how to clean dog ears at home naturally and effortlessly, preparation is key. Here, I’m going to focus on two aspects: 

Preparing your dog for ear cleaning 

Getting ears cleaned is a stressful experience for a dog, and that is why preparing them for it is crucial to make this experience as effortless as possible for both you and your pup. Preparing your dog for this experience essentially entails calming them down and making them as comfortable as possible. Here are a few tips that have worked well for me over the years: 

• Start early, within a week or so of getting your pup home, but don’t go all out to clean their ears just yet. Spend some time just touching your dog’s ears and letting them see that it’s okay and that you won’t hurt them 
• Gradually, introduce a gauze pad — I know cotton balls are the preferred choice for most people, however, the fine threads of cotton can get left behind and trigger ear infections. On our vet’s recommendation, I switched to gauze pads and have never looked back — and simply move it around the outer part of your dog’s ears 
• Talk to your dog in a soft, calming voice. Pet them abundantly to let them know they’re safe 
• Keep treats handy and reward your furry baby every time they let you touch their ear or move in a little more without flinching 
• Rinse and repeat till your pet is perfectly comfortable coming to you on their own to get their ears cleaned 
• DO NOT attempt to clean your dog’s ears when they are jittery or resisting. You may accidentally end up going in too deep and cause irreversible ear damage 

Preparing to clean your dog’s ears 

Once you’ve crossed the first big hurdle in cleaning dog ears — that is, getting your pooch on board with the plan. The next order of business is to prepare for a cleanup session. The key to learning how to clean dog ears at home naturally and effortlessly is to be well-prepared. Things can turn chaotic and stressful if you have to move every few minutes to get one thing or the other you need to get your business done, and your dog runs away in the meantime, and you’re left trying to get them back to you. 

So, keep everything you need within arm’s reach. This includes: 

• A generous amount of gauze pads, cut up in strips. You can also use cotton balls or ear-cleaning wipes; however, I recommend the former
• An ear-cleaning solution or flushing solution. I strongly recommend always using Vet-recommended dog ear-cleaning products — the Epiotic ear cleaner, for example — so that you’re sure that whatever you’re putting in your dog’s ears won’t cause any harm 
• If your dog suffers from issues like allergic otitis, bacterial otitis, yeast otitis, or ear mites, you must consult with a vet about the right ear-cleaning solution. They may prescribe a saline solution, enzyme cleaner, hypoallergenic cleaner, or rinse-free cleaner, in such cases, depending on your dog’s requirements and sensitivities 
• A clean towel 
• Plenty of treats 
• It helps to have a second pair of hands to assist you, no matter how comfortable your dog is with getting their ears cleaned

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7 Easy Steps to Clean Dog Ears

Once you have done the prep work, it’s time to get down to business and clean dirty dog ears. It can seem like a challenge and you may feel somewhat nervous about whether you’re doing it right the first few times but with practice, it will come naturally. Until then, simply follow these 7 easy steps to clean dog ears: 

1. Get your dog in a comfortable position 

To give your dog’s ears a thorough cleaning and ensure that you don’t accidentally cause any damage to the ear canal or eardrum, it is absolutely crucial to get your pooch in the right position before you get started. 

If you have a medium or large dog, the best way is to have them lying down and then sit next to them, and place their head in your lap to get easy access. If they seem uncomfortable with that, let your dog pick a spot and then work your way around it to get to their ears. If you have a small dog, holding them in your lap is the best way to clean their ears. 

Pro tip: If your dog still gets restless about getting their ears cleaned, it can help to have a second pair of hands to help calm them down. But at no point should you clean your dog’s ears forcefully. 

2. Handle your dog’s ears gently 

Whether your dog has floppy ears or erect ones, you must handle them gently. Carefully hold the upper portion of the ears between your forefinger and thumb. Do not apply excessive pressure as it can harm the cartilage and blood vessels in the area. Gently pull back your dog’s ears a little, just enough to allow exposure to the ear canal. 

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3. Put in the ear-cleaning solution 

Grab the bottle of the vet-recommended dog ear-cleaning solution you use, hold it above the opening to the ear canal, and pour the liquid in till fills the entire ear canal. Praise your dog and reassure them they’re safe as you pour the cleaning solution into their ears, as it can be a stressful experience for them. 

If you don’t have a vet-approved flushing solution, the Epiotic ear cleaner is a good choice to begin with unless your pet has certain specific needs or sensitivities ear mites, or a bacterial/yeast infection. 

Pro tip: Warming up the ear-flushing solution by placing the bottle in warm water can reduce your dog’s urge to shake their head as the liquid is being poured in. 

4. Massage your dog’s ears 

Now this is the tricky part. Once the dog ear cleaning solution is in, your dog will have the urge to shake it out. However, for it to do its job, it needs to stay in at least for a few seconds. To make sure that happens, gently close your dog’s ears (easier if your dog has floppy ears that you can just let fall back, but can be tricky with dogs with erect ears. In that, case, softly close the outer ear like a cone.)

Massage the ear canal for a few seconds by rubbing your fingers at the base of the ear. This will help the ear wax at the bottom of the canal to come loose and float up. 

Pro tip: Despite your best efforts, your dog may end up shaking their ears, causing some of the cleaning solution and wax to spill around. Now, the last thing you want is for it to land on your face, or worse still your eyes or mouth — been there, GROSS. So, don’t hunch over your dog. Instead, keep your face as far back as possible. 

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5. Give your dog space to shake it out 

Once you’re done massaging your dog’s ear, take a step back and give your pup room to shake their head and move around until they feel comfortable again. This is important for not just getting rid of as much ear wax and dirt build-up as possible but also for keeping your dog calm throughout this exercise. 

6. Wipe the ear clean

When your dog is done getting the flushing solution out of their ears, get them to sit down again and wipe any residual wax, debris, or cleaner from the outer regions of the ear using cotton balls, ear cleaning wipes, or a gauze patch. 

Pro tip: Even if you see residual wax in your dog’s ears as you clean them, resist the temptation to go in and clean it out. For one, some amount of wax build-up is essential for ear health. And second, you risk causing irreparable damage to your dog’s ears. Just imagine what would happen if your dog shook their head just as insert a portion of your cleaning aid to get wax out from the deeper reaches of the ear canal! 

7. Offer treats, love, and praise 

Your doggo is been a good boy/girl letting you clean their ears. Let them know how much you appreciate it by offering them their favorite treat, heaps of praise, and a ton of love. This will help associate positive feelings with the process of getting their ears cleaned and reinforce good behavior. 

Once you’re done, follow the same steps for the second ear. 

Cleaning dog ears has been the most unnerving part of pet care for me, for years. Well, that and cutting nails (that warrants a separate post, coming soon!). With experience and a lot of trial and error, I have found a process that works for me and my furry baby. I hope it can help you and your pet find that sweet spot where ear cleaning doesn’t feel as daunting and scary anymore.