Ear Cleaning Tools for Dogs

Hemostats

• A hemostat is a curved tool used to hold and cut the small hair inside of the dog's ears. Before the hemostats are used, they must be cleaned and sterilized with soap, water and rubbing alcohol. Carefully insert the instrument into the dog's ears to hold back the hair to allow easier admittance into the ear canal, and to trim this hair to allow for more air flow into the ears. After using the hemostat, clean and sterilize it before storing it in a plastic bag or container to avoid contact with dust and potential infection-causing bacteria.

Ear Cleaning Solution

• Place ear cleaning solution, including liquid or powder, into the outer ear canal with a plastic bottle or dropper. The solution is available for purchase at pet stores or through a veterinarian. Work the solution into the dog's ears in order to break up ear wax. To remove the solution and wax, tip the dog's head the side to allow both to fall onto a towel. Avoid placing the tip of the plastic dropper or bottle too far into the dog's ear canal as this can cause injury and irritation to the dog's sensitive ears.

Cotton Balls and Swabs

• Use cotton balls to gently clean out any remaining wax that was not removed with the aid of the ear cleaning solution. Grasp it firmly and clean the outer area of the ear canal. Use cotton swabs to clean the outer area of the ear canal and any folds inside of the dog's ears. Never use cotton swabs to clean the inner parts of the dog's ear canal as this will lead to irritation and potential infection.

Ear Cleaning Frequency

• Buildup of wax in the dog's ears or lack of cleanings can cause several issues. These include ear infections caused by bacteria and parasites, which must be treated with medications prescribed by a veterinarian. These infections can be prevented with proper cleanings that occur at least once a week, or more often if the dog spends time in the water often or has past ear issues, according to Pet Education.