As a groomer I have learned a bit about the health of ears, the more you know about the health or ears and how vital it is for your dogs health and wellness the happier your pet will be. In this blog I will be discussing some of me holy grail ear cleaning products and how to properly use them.
I start by assessing the ear, a few questions you want to ask is;
- Is he/she excessively shaking or scratching at his/her head?
If you see your dog shaking or scratching at its head then that is and indication of an ear
infection and/or ear mites.
- Is there excessive hair blocking the canal?
If you see lots of hair blocking the canal to where you cannot see in, it may be time to get that hair removed.
- Do you see discharge?
If there is discharge, it may be time for ear cleaning.
- Does the ear canal smell?
If the canal has a thick yeasty smell it is a strong indication of an infection.
Now that you have asked yourself these questions its time to figure out if he/she needs a simple clean out, or if he has a small infection that can be treated at home, or wether it's time to take a trip to the vet. I advise that any pet that has excessive pus or blood that is coming from ear to be taken to see a vet right away for treatment, do not try to clear the problem yourself if the infection has gotten that far. A treatable infection would just be dark smelly discharge and yeasty oder, that should be treatable at home within about a week, again if the treatment hasn't worked you should probably go see a vet. Simple ear cleaning should take about 5 minutes if the pet has little to no ear hair and if pet has little to no discharge. A simple cleanup of the ear is good to do every 2 weeks to help maintain the cleanliness.
An infection should be oily, smelly, and could have dark discharge, this can be treated at home. Ear mites the ear has dark clumpy like discharge this could look like coffee grounds. An infection and mites can be hard to distinguish but can be detected.
Ear products I have learned to use and have found actually work are;
R-7 Ear powder
This is great for helping clear the canal of hair and to absorb some of the moisture that the ears hold on to. To use you need to pour about a nickel size amount into ear, rub around, and gently pull out the hair inside the canal, be slow and be gentle some pets can be sensitive with their ear.
K9 ear solutions
This product has quickly became one of my holy grail items that I must have for my dogs, it can be used as a flush or used as a quick ear wipe out. This is great tp use after a bath because it helps dry out the moisture or water that may have went into the ear after a bath. If he/she is suffering from an infection you can flush out the canal for a few days sometimes a couple of days in a row. The only downfall to this product if that it is a rich deep purple that may stain lighter coated dogs, but I do have a product better suited for the lighter colored dogs.
Phoenix ear cleansing solutions
This product does the same as the K9 solution, but can be harder to find I found mine at my vet, I have found it to be a great product for all types if dogs, unlike the K9 solutions, this product does not stain the fur and has a pleasant scent.
Zymox ear solution
This product I tend to use on my more intense ear infection, it has a thicker and more oily consistence that can cause the ears to become greasy, this product is more of an intense clean and clears infections fast, I really have become a fan of this product when my dogs get ear infections.
R-7 Miracle care ear mite treatment
If my dogs have ear mites I use this product to clear my pets from ear mites, ear mites can really bother your dog and can make your pet scratch at his/her ears like crazy. Not only does this product help with the mites but it also helps control ear ticks. This product works really great with R-7 ear powder.
I hope that these products help control and maintain the health of your dogs ears. This blog is not intended to replace any care that should be provided by veterinarians. If you do not feel comfortable doing any of the "procedures" with your pets ears it is best to visit a vet or even a groomer, groomers may not be able to handle infections but they can help with maintaining health and cleanliness of your pets ears. Some infections can be to bad for us to clear up at home but maintenance is key. All the products listed are those that work for me and for my pets, I do suggest researching and trying new products until you find some best suited for your pets needs.
Best wishes,
M&M labradors, poodles, and doodles
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