Vinegar & Alcohol Treatments for a Dog's Ears

All dogs develop dirt and skin flakes in their ears, and it is important to clean the dog's ears on a regular basis to avoid poor health. While this is a problem that affects all dogs, it is especially important to attend to your dog's ears if you own a dog with pendent ears, like a basset hound, an Old English sheepdog or a Skye terrier. Clean your dog's ears with a homemade cleaning solution using vinegar and alcohol.

  1. Risks

    • Without cleaning, dogs' ears are prone to a variety of issues. Wax, dirt, skin debris and oil can build up inside the ear. Over time, this irritates the sensitive tissues and leads to infection when the skin is nicked. Ear infections are painful and itchy for your dog, and they can get worse when the irritation causes the dog to scratch at its ears.

    Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol Treatment

    • Clean your dog's ears with a mixture of white distilled vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Mix a solution that is one part white distilled vinegar and one part rubbing alcohol and pour it into a spray bottle. Mix it vigorously and spray a few squirts into your dog's ear. Cup the base of the ear and rub it gently for 30 seconds, preventing the liquid from entering the ear canal. Then repeat the process with the second ear.

    Alternatives

    • Combine 4 ounces of rubbing alcohol with 1 tablespoon of glycerin and 2 tablespoons of boric acid. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake well. After this, you can spray it into the dog's ear and rub the base for 30 seconds.

    Clean Up

    • After you have sprayed your dog's ear using a cleaning solution, allow the dog to shake the excess water off of its body. Then use a cotton ball or a cotton swab to clean up the excess cleaner and the loose dirt in the dog's ear. According to Vet Info, you should avoid cleaning any part of the dog's ear that you cannot see, as this can lead to damage.