An excess of wax building in your dog’s ears can encourage infection. A weekly routine should include inspection of your dog’s ears. If you see wax beginning to collect at the top of the ear, this can be gently removed with the use of an Ear Wipe. This attention to cleanliness will discourage infection and ear odour. If your dog is prone to regular trips to the vet with ear infections, it may be worth using a preventative treatment from time to time. Certain ear drops, freely available from pet stores, are useful for keeping wax build up under control. Ear Wax Drops contain natural pyrethrum-based ear drops to kill mites and soften wax to leave your pet’s ears soothed, clean and irritant free.
Some breeds of dog have ears which drain freely allowing plenty of air to circulate (example Bull Terrier, Corgi, Basenji). Other breeds suffer with ear problems for several reasons. They either have ear flaps which hang close to the ear canal like the Spaniel breeds (Cockers in particular) or they have ears in which hair grows in the ear canal interfering with aeration.
It likely that from time to time any dog will need to visit the vet because of their ears. Look out for head shaking or ear scratching, this could indicate an ear problem. Regular inspections and gentle cleaning when required can greatly reduce the incidence of ear infections. Remember the ear is a sensitive area, always be gentle taking care not to cause abrasion during cleaning. Never poke anything down the ear, only clean debris from the top.
If you own a breed whose coat needs clipping make sure that the groomer plucks any hair from your dog’s ear canal at the same time. This job is best left to the professional groomer. If you own a cat watch for earmites which dogs regularly catch from cats. Earmites cause irritation and an excessive build up of wax in the ear.. If you are at all concerned about your dog’s ears, visit your vet for a thorough examination.