Tips for effective cleaning of dogs' ears

Alongside the nose, the dog's ears are the most important sensory organ in our four-legged friends. They should therefore be given regular attention.

Why it is important to clean your dog's ears

Regular cleaning of the dog's ears is important to prevent diseases or infections and thus avoid unpleasant treatment or to recognise the problem at an early stage. A lack of ear hygiene in dogs can lead to the following problems:

  • Formation of fungi and fungal infections
  • Colonisation of parasites such as mites
  • Inflammation caused by bacteria

Dogs usually like to have their ears touched and massaged with scratching movements. If not, train your dog to do this as early as possible and start by touching their ears regularly without cleaning them. If your dog tolerates this without any problems, you can reward your four-legged friend. If he behaves anxiously or avoids it, continue practising in short sequences. This is important because if your dog has an infection in its ears and is due to be treated by the vet, it is unfavourable if the vet does not get to the ears at all. This won't do your four-legged friend any favours either.

How does dirt get into a dog's ears?

The dog's activities influence how quickly and how much dirt accumulates in the dog's ears. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors and enjoy rolling around in the dirt naturally catch dirt more quickly. As a rule, however, dogs' ears are self-cleaning, which means that a healthy dog can usually keep its ears clean without treatment and does not need to have the outer ear rubbed out after every walk. Nevertheless, regular checks are important. Breed-related differences in the shape of the ears can mean that self-cleaning works less well. In dogs with upright ears, dirt can come out of the ear more easily. Long, floppy ears, on the other hand, are more susceptible to dirt becoming trapped. In addition, some dogs simply produce more earwax than others. However, this is independent of the breed of dog.

Check dogs' ears regularly for dirt and earwax

A small amount of earwax in the auricle or ear canal of the dog is completely normal. However, regular checks are never a bad idea. Regular checks are particularly important for dogs that have had ear infections or suppurations in the past. Simply take a close look in both of your dog's ears and examine them for visible dirt. You can use a small torch to help you do this, but it should not dazzle the dog. You should also smell the ears, as an unpleasant odour can indicate soiling or inflammation.

Characteristics of healthy dog ears

  • Pinna is a delicate pink colour
  • No strong odour from the ears
  • No visible coverings

If an unpleasant odour develops, the amount of earwax increases or even the colour of the skin in the pinna changes, these are signals that treatment is necessary. If the changes are severe, however, it is advisable to have your pet treated professionally by a vet rather than yourself.

Instructions: How to clean your dog's ears

For moderate soiling in the outer area, you can help yourself and remove dirt and earwax. Our Ear Clean+Care — a liquid for cleaning and caring for the skin in the ear area and outer ear canal — is perfect for this.

You usually have good access to the auricle to clean it. Apply sufficient liquid to the affected area or alternatively use a cotton wool pad or a clean and soft cloth to gently clean the pinna. Proceed from the bottom to the top in order to wipe the dirt outwards. Excess liquid can then be removed with a cotton wool pad or a clean cloth, or your dog can shake off the excess liquid and loosened dirt.

Occasionally, hair can also grow into the ear canal or be too long and disturb the dog. If this is the case, these can be carefully trimmed or removed regularly.

If cleaning the auricle is not enough and there is still a strong odour, for example, you should seek veterinary advice. They may be able to recommend a medical rinsing solution to clean the ear canal.

Tips for healthy dog ears: Dos & Don‘ts

Everything your four-legged friend does well can of course be rewarded with extra cuddles, a short ear massage or snacks!

How regularly should dogs' ears be cleaned?

The frequency of treatment depends on how dirty the ears are, as well as previous infections in this area. Checks can be carried out regularly several times a week. This is also because parasites such as ticks like to settle in and on the ears. Recognising and removing these at an early stage is extremely important. Depending on the degree of soiling, the auricle should be cleaned around twice a month. Further cleaning, such as that of the ear canal, should be carried out by a vet if necessary.

When is treatment at the vet necessary?

In summer there is a dangerous speciality: the awns. The plant parts are prickly and often barbed and can reach the eardrum. It is therefore important that they are removed with particular care to prevent the foreign bodies from being pushed further into the ear canal and causing injury. Cotton buds have no place in dogs' ears for precisely this reason! If you discover foreign bodies during an ear check, a visit to the vet is absolutely necessary!

Even if a strong odour persists or intensifies after cleaning, it is possible that the dirt is deeper in the ear or that there is even an inflammation. Often the dog also shows corresponding behaviour, such as itching or scratching the ear. In this case too, you should go straight to your trusted vet. Inflammations should never be left untreated, because the earlier they are recognised and the sooner they are treated by a vet, the better long-term consequences and permanent damage can be prevented. This is very important for the quality of life of dogs. As we explained at the beginning, dogs' ears are as important to our four-legged friends as their eyes are to most people.

Interesting facts about the dog's ears

  • The structure is similar to the human ear, but works much more precisely
  • Dogs perceive 15,000-50,000 vibrations per second (Hz)
  • Dogs can completely block out or select sounds
  • You can select and memorise rhythms such as steps 
  • Dog ears are moved by 17 muscles

The structure of the dog's ear

Dog ears can be divided into
  • Outer ear (auricle and external auditory canal)
  • Middle ear (eardrum and other small bones)
  • Inner ear (including inner auditory canal)

Facing outwards and clearly visible to us is the pinna. This is where the external auditory canal begins, which eventually leads further and further inside the ear. The earwax we are familiar with (technical term cerumen) has its origin there. This is because there are sweat and sebaceous glands in the skin that lines the ear canal. These secrete secretions that ultimately form earwax. This is intended to bind dirt or dead skin flakes and transport them out of the ear. As dog owners have easy access to the outer ear, the pinna should be checked regularly.

The tasks of dog ears

It is logical that a dog's ears are there to perceive sounds and to hear. As with us humans, the dog's ears also contain the sense of balance. Together with the nose, the dog's ears are therefore essential for orientation. Incidentally, they are more important for this than in humans, as we rely more on our eyes. A less popular characteristic of the ears is detoxification. Organs such as the intestines and the largest organ, the skin, release the majority of metabolic waste products to the outside. However, sensory organs such as the eyes, nose and dog ears also secrete end products to cleanse the body. This shows that a diet adapted to the dog's needs can also contribute to the health of the ears. The better the food is utilised, the less metabolic waste products are produced that have to be excreted via the detoxification organs. In the ears, metabolic waste products, dirt and dead skin flakes are removed via the earwax.

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