How to Clean Puppy Ears

Co-authored by Lancy Woo

Last Updated: July 9, 2021 References

Before cleaning your dog’s ears, inspect them for dirt and debris, as well as any mild odors. Once you have decided that your puppy’s ears need cleaning, simply wipe the undersides with a cotton ball or a piece of gauze. If you have determined that your puppy’s ears need a deeper cleaning, use an approved cleaning solution. Take your puppy to the vet immediately if its ears show any signs of an infection, such as redness, swelling, or bloody discharge.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Wiping the Outer Ear

1
Secure and calm your puppy. Keep your puppy still by placing it in your lap. Then, place your left forearm securely over your puppy's body. Firmly, but gently, grasp your puppy's jaw with your left hand. With your left thumb, pin its earflap to the top of its head.^{[1]
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- Praise your puppy with a soothing "Good boy (or girl)" while petting it to keep it calm.
- Throughout the process, reward your puppy with treats for good behavior.
2
Groom the hair around the ear. Before cleaning your puppy’s ears, check the hair on the top of the earflap, as well as the hair under the earflap. Dirty or matted hair should be removed from the outside of the ear, as well as near the ear canal.^{[2]
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- Heavy, matted, or moist hair surrounding the ear can obstruct airflow to the ear canal, which can lead to an infection.
- Excess, dirty, or matted hair inside the ear canal should be removed by a veterinarian.
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3
Fold your puppy’s ear back. Once the hair is groomed around your puppy’s ears, fold your puppy’s ear back. Dampen a cotton ball or a piece of gauze with mineral oil and hydrogen peroxide.^{[3]
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- Do not use alcohol to clean your puppy’s ears.
4
Wipe the outer ear. Gently wipe away any debris or earwax you see on the underside of the earflap.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Lancy Woo
Certified Pet Groomer
Expert Interview. 26 February 2020.} Make sure to lift debris and earwax up and away from the ear canal. Do not rub it into the ear canal.^{[5]
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- Do not use cotton-tipped applicators, i.e., Q-tips, to clean your puppy’s ears. These applicators will push dirt and debris deeper into your puppy’s ear.
- Be careful not to insert anything into your puppy’s ear canal. This can cause ear damage, or lead to an infection.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning with a Solution

1
Tilt your puppy’s head downward. Your puppy’s ear canals are L-shaped, and dirt and debris accumulate easily in the corner of the L. Therefore, you might want to clean your puppy’s ears with a solution once a month. Tilt your puppy’s head downward, and squirt a small amount of the solution into your puppy’s ear canal.^{[6]
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- Fill the ear canal with the solution, but do not overfill it. The ear should not be overflowing with solution.
- Clean your puppy’s ears with a solution that is recommended by your veterinarian. Avoid using soap and water since it can cause irritation in your dog's ear.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Lancy Woo
  Certified Pet Groomer
  Expert Interview. 26 February 2020.}
- You may also wet a cotton ball with your cleaner and use it to wipe your puppy's ear clean.^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Lancy Woo
  Certified Pet Groomer
  Expert Interview. 26 February 2020.}
2
Massage the base of the ear. For 20 to 30 seconds, gently massage the base of your puppy’s ear. This will help loosen any debris inside the ear canal. You may hear the solution swish around as you massage your puppy’s ear.^{[9]
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- Calm your puppy by petting and praising it in a soothing voice such as, "That's a good girl (or boy)."
- Reward good behavior with a treat.
3
Let your puppy shake. Once you are done massaging, stand back and let your puppy shake the solution out of its ears. This will bring the softened wax and debris up and out of its ears. Then, use cotton balls to gently wipe away any debris and earwax.
- Remember to wipe the earwax up and out of the ear.^{[10]
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4
Take your dog to the veterinarian. If your dog exhibits any signs of pain, i.e., whimpering or rubbing its ears, while you are cleaning, then stop cleaning and take it to the vet immediately. Take your puppy to the vet if it, or its ears, show any signs or symptoms of an ear infection, such as:^{[11]
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- Ear scratching, pawing at the ears, or wiping the ear on the floor or the furniture.
- Brown, black, or bloody discharge.
- Redness and/or swelling.
- Head shaking or a head tilt.
- Loss of balance, unusual eye movements, and/or walking around in circles.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Determining When to Clean

1
Consult your vet. How often you clean your puppy’s ears depends upon your puppy’s breed, coat, level of activity, age, and earwax production. Therefore, you should consult your veterinarian before cleaning your puppy’s ears. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend an appropriate ear cleaning regimen for your puppy.^{[12]
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2
Inspect your puppy’s ear. Inspect your puppy’s ears on a weekly basis to see if they appear dirty. A clean ear will appear pink with a light coating of pale, yellowish wax. If your puppy’s ears have dark brown or black discharge, or excess wax, then it is time to clean your puppy’s ears.^{[13]
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3
Smell your puppy’s ear. Dirty puppy ears will also have a mild odor. Sniff your puppy’s ears to see if they smell yeasty, or just stinky. If they do, then it is time to clean your puppy’s ears.^{[14]
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- If your puppy’s ears are extra smelly, and it is accompanied with redness or swelling, then take your puppy to the vet immediately.

Expert Q&A

Question

What can I use to clean my dog's ears?

Lancy Woo
Certified Pet Groomer
Lancy Woo is a Certified Pet Groomer and the Owner of VIP Grooming, a pet grooming salon based in San Francisco, California. VIP Grooming has served San Francisco for over 35 years. Lancy received her pet grooming certification from the WWPSA (Western Word Pet Supply Association). VIP Grooming has been voted "Best in the Bay" in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019 and won Bay Woof’s "Beast of Bay" in 2014. In 2018, Lancy's work contributed to VIP Grooming's acceptance onto San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development's Legacy Business Registry.

Lancy Woo

Certified Pet Groomer

Expert Answer

Use an alcohol-based cleaning solution since it will dry faster and cause less irritation. Wet a cotton ball with the solution and carefully wipe around your dog's ears.