With regular ear check-ups and cleaning you ensure your dog remains healthy and free from infections that can be extremely painful or damaging his hearing. While you should check your dog’s ears once a week for any signs of infections and learn some basic ear cleaning procedures, it is best if you hire the services of a professional who can do a first rate job to keep your pooch healthy and happy.

A Closer Look at Your Dog’s Ears

Getting to grips with the anatomy of your dog’s ears is not an easy task, since they are difficult to navigate. The outside flap is called the pinna and will flop down in floppy-eared dogs, while it will stand up straight in others breeds. The external canal is just inside the ear and it travels down the vertical canal before going inwards to the horizontal canal. The external canal is covered with skin and also has cartilage that creates ridges and creases on the surface of the ears. Dog ears also contain glands that secrete important substances, such as wax, into the ear. You will find the eardrum at the end of the external canal, with the middle ear and inner ear just beyond that; these areas control your dog’s balance.

Professional Grooming

Most professional grooming services will include an inspection and cleaning of the ears. If you don’t check your dog’s ears regularly, you will make the groomer’s task much more difficult. In fact, some professionals have discovered organic matter and weeds in the ears of dogs and there are certain weeds (such as the ‘foxtail’ weed that grows on America’s West Coast) that work their way down a dog’s ear canal, which can be life threatening.

The Ear Cleaning Process

Here are some of the grooming supplies used by professionals:

• Hemostat: This should be sterilized before and after each cleaning session.
• Medicated Ear Powder: Some professionals will also use a deodorizer powder.
• Ear Cleaning Solution: There is a different assortment of solutions; some organic and some made with Aloe Vera.
• Cotton Balls: Groomers use sterile medical grade cotton wool for best results.

Professional groomers never use alcohol or Q-Tips (cotton swabs) and often begin by lifting the dog’s ear and exposing the inside flap so that it faces him. Any hair that is in the way is removed around the opening of the external ear canal and a small amount of medicated ear powder is placed in each ear.

If there is no sign of ear problems, the groomer removes any hair in the ear canal, but will not go more than half an inch into the ear opening. The powder that is used absorbs moisture and dries out wax and hairs, thus making them easier to be removed. The hemostats are used to grasp and pull the dog’s hair outwards and draw out any other debris that doesn’t belong. The groomer then cleans the hemostats and reports any observations, including possible signs of infection, to the owner. One of the final steps taken is to moisten cotton balls with the cleaning solution and clean the ear canal gently, before ensuring that all powder has been removed from the ears.

Professional groomers take their time, never place your dog in danger, and always sterilize their tools. If you want what’s best for your pooch, contact an expert today and ensure your dog’s ears are properly cleaned. Trust us, your dog will be extremely grateful that you did.