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What is a Dog Ear Cleaner?
A dog ear cleaner is a product designed to clean dogs' ears to get rid of bacteria, yeast, and other microbes that can cause smelliness, itchiness, and irritation. Regularly cleaning your dog's ears, especially those that are more susceptible to ear infections or frequent the water a lot. Before buying an ear cleaner for your dog, here's what you should look out for.
Ingredients:
Here are some of the most common and helpful ingredients you'll find in ear cleaning solutions.
Salicylic acid and lactic acid: Antimicrobial, which prevents yeast or mild bacterial infections.
Hydrocortisone: Combat itchiness.
Ketoconazole: An anti-fungal treatment.
Aloe vera: Has natural soothing properties to treat itchy ears.
Eucalyptus: Has natural antibacterial properties.
Types:
Liquid: These cleaning solutions are drops that get into the nooks and crannies of your pet's ear canals. They work best for those who have significant wax build-up but can be messier especially for squeamish pups. To apply liquid solutions, you're going to need a cotton ball to gently wipe it. Never use a cotton-tipped swab or anything pointed as this can further bacteria growth.
Wipes: While they don't get as deep into the ear as a liquid cleaner, wipes are still good for routine cleaning and less messy than the former. You can't get deep into your dog's ear canal but you can remove the external wax build-up. Also, since each wipe is disposable, it's not an eco-friendly option.
Frequency:
The cadence of cleaning your dog's ears depends on how they look and not the time between cleanings. Over-cleaning can also lead to infections and irritation, so only clean them when you notice changes from a pink, healthy, odorless ear.
Dogs with long-hanging ears, such as Basset Hounds and Cocker Spaniels, are more at risk of ear infections and should have more frequent ear checkups.
Pets that spend a lot of time swimming, like Golden Retrievers and Labradors, also may be more prone to ear infections.
If your dog is scratching or rubbing its ears a lot, it's a sign something could be wrong. It could be an actual ear infection, ear mites, or just a build-up of yeast in the ears. Consult your vet rather than self-diagnosing if you see them behaving differently.
Use an ear cleaner solution or wipes to clean your dog's ears at home. Liquid products require the use of a cotton ball to gently wipe them down, whereas wipes are good to go on the ears.
Certain dog ear cleaners can soothe your canine companion's itchy ears, though it may take a few days to notice improvements. Look for products with soothing ingredients, like aloe vera and chamomile.
