How To Clean Dog Ears at Home Naturally

Cleaning a dog’s ears at a professional groomer or veterinarian is expensive, and an unfamiliar environment only stresses the dog.

Thankfully, there are numerous safe DIY solutions for cleaning dog ears. Most importantly, you should know how to clean dog ears correctly to avoid harming your pet.

However, sometimes, seeking the help of a professional is a better idea because home dog ear cleaning may only worsen infections and ear diseases.

Gather The Supplies

Start by gathering the supplies necessary to clean dog ears. You will need cotton pads or soft cotton balls, a towel, tweezers if your dog has a lot of hair inside the ears, treats as a reward, and an ear cleaner.

Don’t use cotton swabs because you may push the wax and debris into the ear canal and harm your dog’s hearing.

A towel is necessary to prevent ear wax from spilling all over the floor, but it may not be necessary if you clean your dog’s ears in a tiled, easy-to-clean environment.

Home Ear Cleaners vs Professional Products

Choosing a high-quality ear cleaner is essential to effectively remove wax buildup and debris.

The choice between DIY vs. professional dog ear cleaner is controversial. On the one hand, professional products undergo numerous checks to ensure their effectiveness and safety for dogs.

High-quality professional dog ear cleaners are approved by veterinarians and can target particular problems, such as infections, sensitivity, and itchiness.

On the other hand, professional dog ear cleaners may be costly, and many dog owners opt for home remedies.

Some veterinarians insist that one should never use homemade dog ear cleaning solutions. However, they can be equally effective and safe as professional products if the ingredients and concentration are correct.

Furthermore, DIY dog ear cleaning solutions can be made from ingredients everyone has in their kitchen cabinets or first aid kits.

However, homemade solutions aren’t the best choice for dogs with special needs such as sensitivity and itchiness.

Many sources recommend using apple or white vinegar to clean dog ears. But vinegar causes extreme pain when applied to infected or wounded areas, even when diluted, so it’s only suitable for perfectly healthy ears.

Furthermore, most DIY ear cleaners don’t dry out as effectively as commercial dog ear cleaners, creating a moist environment perfect for bacteria growth. So, only use DIY ear cleaners if your dog’s ears are healthy.

DIY Ear Cleaning Solution Recipe 1

Assuming your dog has no special needs for ear cleaning, consider this DIY dog ear cleaner recipe. You’ll need a bottle with a dropper cap, white vinegar, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, and povidone-iodine.

Mix four tablespoons of white vinegar, three to four drops of isopropyl rubbing alcohol, and four drops of povidone-iodine. Shake well until all the ingredients are mixed.

Povidone-iodine is a popular antiseptic with a distinct yellowish-red color that doesn’t sting but may leave yellowish stains on the skin. If you’re concerned about staining, exclude the ingredient from the recipe.

Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is also optional, but the ingredient is highly effective against bacteria and doesn’t sting the skin.

DIY Ear Cleaning Solution Recipe 2

Another simple dog ear cleaning solution recipe involves mixing one tablespoon of glycerin with two tablespoons of boric acid. Glycerin coats and soothes the ear skin, preventing itchiness, dryness, and redness.

Meanwhile, boric acid effectively breaks down waxy buildup and quickly dries out, reducing the risk of ear infections. However, don’t use this recipe for dogs that can’t sit still during ear cleaning.

If a dog shakes its head and the boric acid gets into its mouth, it may experience vomiting, diarrhea, fever, thirst, and loss of appetite. If boric acid is ingested in large amounts, the poisoning can be fatal.

However, it’s safe for use on the skin and often found in commercial ear cleaners. This mixture doesn’t need to be poured down the ear canal but can be applied using cotton balls.

DIY Ear Cleaning Solution Recipe 3

White or apple cider vinegar and boric acid are by far the most popular ingredients for DIY dog ear cleaners, but both are drying.

To prevent your dog’s ears from itching, mix these ingredients with witch hazel that will maintain a healthy skin pH.

Pour a quarter cup of water and a quarter cup of vinegar into a bottle, and add one tablespoon of witch hazel and two tablespoons of boric acid. Shake well until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Apply with a cotton pad.

Pick The Right Moment

Dogs rarely enjoy ear cleaning, and we can’t blame them for this – the procedure isn’t particularly pleasant. To make your dog cooperate, pick the right moment to clean its ears.

Don’t attempt to clean your dog’s ears when it’s full of energy – walk with it beforehand and wait until it calms down. However, don’t clean your dog’s ears when it’s sleepy because you may irritate it.

Don’t clean your dog’s ears right after it has eaten because it may be less responsive to treats. Lastly, ensure that your dog is in a good mental state. Don’t try to clean your dog’s ears when it’s distressed unless necessary.

Ear Cleaning Process Step-by-Step

Before cleaning your dog’s ears, inspect them to ensure they are healthy. The symptoms of ear infections in dogs include foul odor, redness, yellow, brown, or bloody discharge, frequent scratching, swelling, crusts, scabs, and shaking of the head.

If your dog has any of these symptoms, avoid cleaning its ears at home and see a veterinarian. If your dog only has mild wax buildup, you can get to work.

Note that most dogs don’t need their ears cleaned unless the wax buildup is visible to the naked eye or they’ve recently swam because water stuck in the ear canal may cause an infection, and ear cleaners help remove it.

First, gather your supplies within easy reach because if they are too far, your dog may use its chance to run away.

Next, pick an easy-to-clean environment such as the bathroom or kitchen, and sit comfortably on the floor or chair, depending on your dog’s size. Place a towel on the floor under your knees to catch the dripping solution.

Gain control over your dog – position it between your legs and keep it firmly.

Take your dog’s ear flap in one hand and the ear cleaning solution in the other. Then, pour the solution into your dog’s ear, filling the entire ear canal.

You should only pour commercially made solutions or DIY ear cleaner recipe #1 into your dog’s ear canal. For other DIY recipes, use a cotton ball and rub your dog’s ear gently.

Put down the ear cleaner bottle and gently massage your dog’s ear base with a cotton ball or pad. Continue to massage for about 30 seconds to remove all wax buildup and debris.

Hold your dog by the ear flap to prevent it from shaking its head. Then, release your dog’s ear and let it shake its head to remove the remaining ear cleaner, wax, and debris from the ear canal.

Inspect your dog’s ear again and repeat the procedure if necessary, but be careful not to overclean the ears. Give your dog treats and repeat the procedure with the second ear. Give your dog a treat again.

You may need to give your dog treats several times throughout the process to reward it for patience. This way, you’re creating positive associations with ear cleaning, and your dog is more likely to be patient next time.

Mistakes in Cleaning Dog Ears

Know the most common mistakes in cleaning dog ears at home to avoid hurting your pet. Never use cotton swabs or Q-tips because they may push debris into the ear canal and damage it.

Don’t use hydrogen peroxide for DIY dog ear cleaning solutions. Although it’s a popular antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide is very drying and can cause itchiness.

Don’t clean your dog’s ears if you notice any abnormalities. Suppose that your dog has an itchy, red ear from a mild infection.

If you pour an ear cleaning containing vinegar or alcohol into its ear, it will itch even more. Consequently, your dog will scratch its ear, worsening the infection.

Many dog owners are afraid to pour too much solution into their pet’s ear but filling the entire ear canal is crucial for optimal cleaning. Otherwise, the cleaning may be unproductive.

Don’t discipline your dog in the process, and never use harsh punishment if your dog misbehaves. Remember that your dog doesn’t try to escape out of spite but because the procedure is highly unpleasant.

If you discipline your dog while cleaning its ears, it will have negative associations with the process and be even more hesitant to sit still the next time.

Lastly, don’t clean your dog’s ears on a light couch, near expensive curtains, or in white jeans because the procedure can get messy.

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