How To Clean Dog Ears

If you own a dog and want to keep him well groomed, you have to learn how to clean dog ears. Cleaning dog ears should be a regular part of the grooming process, along with bathing and trimming nails. Always start cleaning your dog's ears when they are puppies in order for them to be comfortable with the process.

You will need:

• Dog ear wash
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Glycerin
• Rag

1. Buy dog ear wash or make your own. Dog ear wash is available in pet stores. To make dog ear wash, mix 1/4 cup of isopropyl alcohol with twelve drops of glycerin. Both can be bought at a pharmacy, and let it stand for about 30 minutes to thicken.
2. Twist the end of a clean, dry rag and dip the end into the ear cleaning solution. Never use cotton swabs or anything hard inside of the dog's ears because you can hurt them.
3. Lift the dog's ear to expose the pink interior part of the ear.
   
4. Use the twisted end of the rag to gently wipe and clean away dirt and wax from the dog's ear. Do not push the rag into the ear canal, only wipe around it.
5. Repeat on the other ear.

Dogs, especially those with long ears ,are prone to infections from dirty ears. Ear infections are painful and oftentimes require an expensive visit to the vet. Avoid the pain in both your dog's ears and your wallet by regularly cleaning his ears. Dog's ears should be cleaned at least once per month. If your dog is prone to ear infections or has a lot of ear discharge, your vet may recommend more frequent cleaning.