Cleaning your pet’s ears should be part of your routine care. Checking your pet’s ears weekly is recommended and regular cleaning will also help to prevent ear infection.
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Fig.1 Dogs Ear
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Fig.2 Cats Ear
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As seen in figure 1 above, the dog's ear canal has a vertical and a horizontal component. This predisposes the dog to ear infections as debris must work its way upward rather than straight out.
Figure 2 above shows that a cat's ear is more L-shaped than yours, and debris loves to collect at the corner of the ‘L’.
To remove this debris:
- Fill your dog or cat’s ear canal with an ear cleaning solution. We recommend Rufus & Coco Ear & Wound Care.
- Massage the base of the ear for 20 - 30 seconds to loosen the wax. Wipe out the loose debris and excess fluid with a cotton ball. Repeat until you see no more debris.
- Repeat as required.
- If your pet is showing signs of ear irritation or inflammation, then follow the routine cleaning directions – repeating 1 to 3 times a day for several days, or as directed by your vet.
Cotton applicator swabs can be used to clean the inside of the earflap and the part of the ear canal you can see. They should NOT be used further down in the ear canal since this packs debris in the ear canal, rather than removing it.
You may find your pet does not like to have its ears cleaned because it is uncomfortable. Talking to him or her during the process, stopping momentarily to give her a treat if she is doing well (we do not want to reward fussiness!) and doing something fun afterwards may help.
After the ear is clean, let your pet shake their head and allow some time for the ears to dry. Then apply any prescribed ear medication.
Warning - To rule out the possibility of other ear problems such as the presence of grass seeds, obtain the correct diagnosis before commencing use of the product. If no improvement is noted, consult your vet.
Product recommendations: