Didn’t I just help my baby take a shower yesterday? Why is there still a strong odor when my baby comes closer Many times, the source of the odor is not because you didn’t wash your dog clean, nor because it played dirty, but because of its “ears”!
A healthy dog‘s ears are dry and tasteless, but often after a summer, many furry parents will find that when they open their baby’s ears, there is a strong odor rushing in, and coffee colored liquid may even flow out; Or it may be noticed that dogs begin to exhibit behaviors such as shaking their heads and scratching their ears.
If encountering the above two situations, it can be confirmed that the inside of the dog’s ears is no longer simply dirty, but infected!
Dogs’ ears are dirty, be careful not to get ear diseases
Dogs, like humans, secrete oil inside their ears. Over time, oil, dust, and water accumulate to form earwax. If they don’t develop the habit of cleaning their ears, the earwax inside will continue to grow and accumulate, gradually forming a breeding ground for mold. Especially in hot and humid climates like summer, it will accelerate the growth of yeast or bacteria inside the ears, making it easier for dogs to suffer from ear diseases. Common causes of ear odor include bacterial otitis media, ear scabies infection, and mold infection. Especially for breeds with drooping ears, such as Marzis, Shih Tzu, Miguru, Golden Retriever, ancient Shepherd, etc., extra attention should be paid and ears should be cleaned regularly.
In addition to ear diseases, cleaning the inside of the ear is sometimes related to the most troublesome “tear mark problem” for parents. Because when the ear canal is infected with bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or when the ears are swollen, painful, or strongly itchy, dogs cannot resist scratching their hind feet and stimulate the secretion of lacrimal glands. Therefore, if a dog’s ears are found to be unclean, simultaneous treatment is necessary to cure the condition.
Regularly help dogs clean their ears and stay away from smelly ears
The correct way to help dogs clean their ears:
① Pour ear cleaning solution into the entire ear canal
② Gently massage the base of the ear (touching the two thin tubular ear canals behind the ear)
③ Let the dog naturally release ear cleaning solution, and then wipe the released secretions clean with toilet paper and cotton
Cleaning frequency
-Because dog ear wax has the function of protecting the ear canal, under normal circumstances, earwax will also be excreted on its own. Therefore, if there is no odor, no unknown secretion flowing out, and no frequent itching or shaking of the head, just clean the outer ear wheel is enough
-Parents can choose the press type ear cleaning spray during daily maintenance, which is more convenient and easy to use than the general inverted type, and can also achieve the effect of ear cleaning; Routine deep cleaning can be done once every two weeks and treated before showering
-But if infected with conditions such as otitis externa and ear mites, the frequency of cleaning must be discussed with a veterinarian, depending on the severity of the infection
The structure of dog ear canal is very complex, and dog ears do not have self-cleaning function.
Do not use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to clean the dog’s ear canal when choosing ear wash solution
Ear washing requires the preparation of ear wash solution, some cotton balls or gauze. For large dogs, it is recommended to have two people operate, with one person controlling the dog to facilitate the other person’s cleaning. Three simple steps to wash dog ears:
1. Let the dog lie in a comfortable place, and if the dog doesn’t cooperate, two people can work together.
Open the dog’s ear with one hand and clean and rub it with the other hand for about 30 seconds
2. Open the dog’s ears, apply the ear wash solution to the ear wall, and slowly squeeze it into the ear until the liquid reaches the opening near the ear canal.
Then slowly insert a cotton swab into the dog’s ear and gently remove earwax along the grooves in the ear canal. If there is yellow earwax on the cotton swab, be sure to use another cotton swab until there is no more yellow earwax on it. Then use cotton and gauze to wipe around the ears
3. Let the dog swing freely
Press down on the base of the dog’s ear and massage the outer side of the ear canal for about 30-60 seconds. If the method is correct, you can hear the sound of “squeaking” water. Release your hand and let the dog shake its head on its own. Use gauze to wipe off any secretions and fluids on the surface of the ear canal.
If the dog doesn’t shake its head, we can use a tissue or gauze block to help it suck out the ear wash.
If there are no ear diseases, ear cleaning 1-3 times a week is sufficient. If you have ear diseases, please follow the doctor’s advice. The minimum cleaning frequency for the ear canal is once every other day (i.e. every 2 days), and the day when the ear canal is not cleaned allows the ear wall to rest.
Special precautions:
1. Small dogs can use a cotton swab to wipe secretions, but only in the upper part of the ear canal, to clean the folds inside the auricle.
Due to the L-shaped shape of the dog’s ear canal (vertical at the front and horizontal at the back), it is strictly forbidden to use a cotton swab to clean the ear canal without authorization. This can easily push earwax into the horizontal ear canal at the back, which can accelerate the formation and deterioration of ear diseases.
Be sure to use pet specific ear cleaning solution! The ear cleaning solution sold in supermarkets already contains special ingredients that can dissolve earwax and earwax and have antibacterial properties. Do not replace it with anything else as it may harm the dog’s ear canal.
2. Animals with abundant ear hair, such as VIPs, Bichon, Xishi, Chenery, Yorkshire, Gummu, etc., need to have their ear hair removed before washing.
3. Daily ear care: Ear washing can be done once every two weeks for standing ear dogs and once a week for drooping ear dogs. Animals with abundant ear hair should be washed approximately every 7-10 days.
4. The dosage of ear cleaning solution should be at least 0.7-1ml to fill the ear canal
Have all the dog owners learned? Be sure not to let water into your dog’s ears when bathing. Regularly clean your dog’s ears!
