The fix in 4 steps
Never push into the canal, and skip cotton swabs.
Treat after.
In this guide4 sections
Dirt and wax on the ear flap is a 2-minute job. You need a wipe or a dog ear cleaner, a treat, and a dog who stays put for one minute.
How to clean them: the wipe (weekly)
- Slip a wipe over your finger, or fold one flat.
- Wipe the inside of the flap and the folds you can see.
- Stop where your finger stops. Never push into the canal, and skip cotton swabs.
- Fresh wipe for the other ear. Treat after.
How often to clean your dog's ears
- Check weekly. Lift the flap and look. Clean ears need nothing.
- Clean when you see dirt or wax, and after swims or baths.
- Floppy ears and swimmers hold moisture, so they need it more often. Virbac lists its rinse for use 2 to 3 times a week.
How to clean them: the rinse (floppy ears, swimmers)
- Do it in the bathroom or outside. A rinse ends in a head shake.
- Follow the directions on the bottle.
- Let your dog shake, then wipe what comes out off the outer ear.
- Treat, and dry the flap.
The picks
- Weekly once-over: Earth Rated Dog Ear Wipes. 5 x 5 inch wipes, alcohol-free and paraben-free. Lightly scented with wild oat.
- Squirmy dog: MEDUWEDU Ear Cleaner Finger Wipes. The wipe goes on your finger, so there's no bottle to dodge.
- Floppy ears and swimmers: Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced. A sting-free, neutral-pH rinse that lifts wax and debris.
Clean only what you can see, once a week or when it looks dirty. Wipes for routine, a rinse for floppy ears and swimmers.
