Haven’t you ever needed your dog to be still and patiently work with you to get through something like brushing their teach or clipping their nails? Dogs can be very temperamental when it comes to human handling on such sensitive areas.

Dog ear infections are the number one reason why dog owners visit the veterinarian every year. The good news is that it is completely preventable. The bad news is that most dog owners are not able to get their dog’s to cooperate when it comes time to get their ears cleaned.

Check out the video that Zak George made to show dog owners exactly how to get your dog to LOVE having their ears cleaned. If you don’t want to watch the video, you can also read the full text version below.

Full Text:

For things like cleaning your dog's ears or brushing your dog's teeth, don't wait until it's time to get the job done.

Instead commit to several training sessions to get them comfortable with it. That way when the time does come both you and your dog will be prepared. 

I know you hunt ducks but you can't bite me, I'm not a duck. Savage dog! You're on YouTube. Thousands of people are watching. Our challenge today will be to see how far we can get with getting Sky Blue comfortable with having her ears cleaned. It is super common for dogs to get things like ear infections or hematomas. And the best way to guard against that is to keep their ears clean. If you just rush into cleaning your dog's ears it's probably not going to go that well and it's going to make things difficult in the future, because dogs remember experiences like that. 

These Dog Ear Wipes and Dog Ear Cleaner from Petpost are really fantastic because they don't have so many of those harsh ingredients that you see in other products. And they're alcohol-free which means they're not going to burn or dry out your dog's ears. In fact there's only seven ingredients in the entire product. Things like coconut oil and aloe which will keep microbes and bacteria at bay. That's always good news. 

Petpost has tons of great products for cats and dogs. Enter the code ZAKGEORGE when you check out and they're going to give you 15% off of your entire purchase!

The first thing I want to do is make sure that Sky Blue is comfortable with having her ears touched. I'm going to flip your ear flap up. I'm going to touch it like that. I can touch the inside of her ears here. I can even touch them over here a little bit more. I'm being a little firm here just to make sure that she's not super sensitive. I want to touch her from behind the ears, make sure she's super comfortable there. Good job.

If your dog wasn't quite this tolerant that would be your cue to take a step back and get them used to being touched firmly over the next few weeks or so. This is a great start. I'm going to start with the ear wipes. See how she's smelling them? I like that. I'm going to go ahead and treat her for that. The reason I'm doing that is I want to do everything I can to have her associate getting her ears clean with getting great treats. I want her to think of them as one and the same. 

Rather than just taking the ear wipe out and start cleaning her ear I'm just going to open the cap, and then I'm going to set it down. I'm just going to give her a treat, just like that. if you've ever opened a bag of treats for your dog you'll know how they'll react, they get excited. They associate that plastic sound of the treats opening with getting treats. I'm trying to accomplish a similar thing with these ear wipes.

Open it. Yeah, and treats. See that? She looked at the ear wipes and then she looked at the treats. Let her smell it. These have a really pleasant smell to them. Just like with people we often tend to associate certain smells with certain experiences. Now I'm going to take an ear wipe out here. They're super saturated with ear cleaner. I wonder if these work on people. 

That is pleasure. I can hear everything. It's so much better now. Go get your own ear cleaner. I'm not just going to go straight into her ear. Number one, she can't really see over there and that's very likely to throw her off. I'm going to touch her paw, and look, you saw how she pulled away just when I just touched her paw with it. I want to make sure that I let her know, "It's okay. You can nibble a little bit of that turkey." 

I'm going to come underneath her chin here a little bit. "Good girl." Just to touch her with it... Most dogs are comfortable being touched under their chin. That allows her really to see what's going on. "It's okay. Good girl. Nice work. Come on. Come here. Sit. Nice work." Touch her head and see I'm going to let her nibble on it here while I just touch her all over with it. Just let her know, hey, when you get touched with this it means you're getting turkey.

See how that works? Now, let me see if I can touch the outside of her ear before touching the inside of her ear because that's less sensitive. See that? While I've got some good momentum I'm going to try and get inside the flap of her ear on the outside. Look at her twitch in there. "Oh, you're being so good." I'm not really trying to thoroughly clean her ears right now as much as I am trying to get her comfortable with having these wipes touching her ears. 

Using great treats when doing this is pretty essential because look how cooperative she's being. She's noticing it but she's not so stressed out that she's like, "Oh no, I can't tolerate this. What are you doing?" I'm actually able to kind of get in there. Look at that.

If you find it too awkward to kind of touch your dog's ears and give them treats at the same time you could always enlist the help of a friend or a partner too. These ear wipes are particularly good for small dogs. But if you have a bigger dog you might need to use a little bit more solution. This would be a really good place to stop for your first training session. Sky Blue is doing a pretty good job. I think it's time to give the liquid ear cleaner a shot, which is going to be a little more challenging. 

The best way to use this cleaner is to get this liquid inside their ear. Obviously that can be a little unsettling for many dogs. So rather than just squirting this in her ear I'm going to saturate this cotton ball and then get it in her ears by squeezing the cotton ball. And since I've changed it up a little bit I'm going to touch her a little bit here. I'm going to touch her right there. I'm going to touch her there. Good girl.

By the way, there's an art here to letting your dog nibble the turkey. If you have a big ol' chunk of turkey like that you can just feed it through little by little and just let him get a tiny amount. I'm just squirting it in there, now I'm going to massage it a little bit over here. "You're so good." I think she likes it. She's having a great time. And again, let her nibble turkey the entire time. 

I suspect she's probably going to shake off here in a second. There it is. It gets in there. It does its job and then a lot of that yucky stuff get dislodged when they shake. So it's super important to get in there and dry your dog's ears out. As long as your dog is taking treats while you do this that's a sign that they're not too overly stressed. She almost seems to be enjoying it.

Now what we want to do is see if we can get her comfortable when we squirt it. This nozzle here is optimized to really be able to get into your dog's ear. That's going to be the most efficient way to get her ears cleaned in the future. Another variable change here. She's like, "Hey, I think I'm on to you." Sit. Good. Yes, good.

I'm going to touch her here. It's okay honey. It'll be fine. You're being so good. Wow, that's excellent. Put a whole bunch in there. You're supposed to be pretty liberal with it. I'm going to massage that ear. Look at that, you're being great. I can't believe how good you are at this. Check this out. I'm not even using treats. For her first training session, ever having liquid poured into her ears she's done really well. 

Petpost guarantees that you and your dog will love this cleaner. And if you don't they'll give you your money back, no questions asked. Enter the code ZAKGEORGE when you check out and you'll get 15% off of your entire purchase from the store! I'll have all the details in the description and the link. Click thumbs up for Sky Blue. She did an exceptional job today. See you guys next time.

Floppy, droopy, straight, big, small, furry, pointy, long, short—canine ears are as diverse as they are adorable. More than an organ for hearing, they indicate their moods, tell us if we have their attention, and let you know not only if he’s contented and jubilant, but also when they are angry or stressed. With so many functions and so many different types, shapes, and sizes, caring for them is essential in ensuring a healthy, happy pooch—but can dogs get ear infections just like any part of their body?

The answer is a resounding YES. And as with any other illness that can strike your precious pooch, ear infections have a multitude of symptoms and signs that you have to watch out for and take note of—a keen eye and an observant human can be the difference between nipping the disease at the bud, and ending up with more complicated and more painful health issues.

What's Wrong With Your Hearing?

Your favorite vet will be able to tell you how much cleaning you’ll be doing with your fur baby—the perfect grooming habit to check for any ear health anomalies that he may be experiencing—but it’s always prudent to check for any unusual symptoms whenever you can.

Dogs get ear infections from:

• Exposure and reaction to allergens
• Ear mites
• Fungus (yeast)
• Problems with the thyroid gland
• Obstruction cause by foreign objects
• Untreated injuries

Not only are ear infections painful and uncomfortable, they can also impair hearing if allowed to progress. Remember how miserable you felt when you had that short bout of ear infection as a kid? Yes, it hurts just as much for our canine friends.

Fortunately most of the signs of ear problems are easy to detect, and not just limited to looking closely inside the ear. You’ll see some unusual changes in your dog’s behavior, physical condition, habits, and overall disposition: 

• Insistent scratching of the ear area
• Sensitivity (moving away when touched near the infected ear)
• Head tilting to one side
• Constant head shaking
• Moodiness, and in some cases, unprovoked aggression
• Unusual odor in ear area
• Copious discharge from the ear; may have tinges of blood, mucus, or pus
• Reddened ear flaps, swelling, tenderness
• Fur loss near the ear opening
• Lethargy and loss of appetite

So My Dog DOES Have an Ear Infection—What Do I Do? 

If any or all of the symptoms and signs listed above are apparent in your pup, trying out home remedies and DIY treatments may not be the best course to take. A professional medical opinion is crucial to pinpointing the cause of Boo’s, well, booboo, and in turn, pinpointing the right medication to cure it.

If you love little Lola at all, and want the best for her health and wellness, never ever do the following:

• Self-medicate. Giving your dog any medication that is not recommended or prescribed by your veterinarian may not be effective at all against his ear infection, and do more harm than good—we’re talking antibiotic resistance, liver and kidney damage, and a whole lot of pain for your pooch.
• Try to clean severely infected ears. If there’s advanced fungal or bacterial problem in your dog’s ear, it will need a professional intervention. Just take note of all the symptoms that you observe in your dog and don’t forget to relay to the doc so he or she knows what to watch out for, and help with the consultation.
• Don’t delay taking Buster to the clinic once you see any signs of ear infection. It’s one of the most painful health issues your dog will have endured, and you wouldn’t want to prolong his suffering and let his infection get worse.

What’s better than cure? 

You got it right. Prevention. It’s cliché, yes, but it’s cliché for a reason—because one, it’s true, and two, it’s easy to remember. 

So please always remember that healthy and clean ears mean no infection and no pain (not to mention no vet expenses for you). Getting your pooch used to regular ear cleaning and inspection is an important routine to develop, and it helps to have the right tools to do this chore, too.

• Cotton pads or wipes. Never use Q tips for cleaning your dog’s ears; they can push dirt deeper into the canal instead of cleaning it up and out of the ear.
• An all natural ear cleaner. Coconut oil-based cleansers work best and safest for regular cleaning. Its antifungal and antibacterial properties are not only effective in warding off infection, they also help soothe and relieve allergic reactions and assist in healing wounds and cuts—all without any chemicals or harsh ingredients such as alcohol or bleach (ouch!).

Sounds simple, right? Cultivating a habit of ensuring that Georgia’s ears are in tiptop shape is a part of being a responsible canine guardian, and believe us when we say that saving her from the pains of ear infection will also save you of the pains of seeing her in discomfort—and having to deal with a grumpy pooch and paying for treatment.

Has your canine family member ever had ear infections? How did you and your trusted vet manage and treat it? Tell us about all about it in the comments below!

By the time you notice your dog scratching his ears or shaking his head more than usual, an ear infection has probably already set in. You'll know when you pull back the ear flap and see the brown, gooey gunk that covers the ear canal. Worse, you'll get a whiff of that infection that will make you want to clean it up right way. The key to effective dog ear infection treatment is regular cleaning.

Visit your vet

The ear infection is caused by bacteria or yeast making a home in your pet's ears and doing what microbes do--multiplying. That's what is putting off the smell that made you recoil. Fortunately, it looks, and smells, a lot worse than it is. Unfortunately, most people are going to need to see the vet in order to get the prescription that treats the infection. The vet will prescribe a topical or oral medication that can clear up the infection itself.

Clean the ears

Dogs with floppy ears, like most sporting breeds and many working breeds, are particularly susceptible to ear infections, although dogs with upright ears can get them as well. Infections are even more common for dogs who swim a lot. Once you've begun treating the infection with medication, it's time to start cleaning the ears themselves.

Here are a few simple steps to follow:

1. Inspect the ear for redness, inflammation, or bleeding. 
2. Clean the outside of ear to remove excess build up.
3. Trim back hair that might have grown or matted around the area.
4. Fill the ear canal with a cleaner like Petpost's Dog Ear Cleaner
5. Massage the base of the ear canal moving the liquid around inside
6. Allow your pet to stand and shake its head.
7. Use cotton balls, never cotton swabs, to wipe away the gunk that has come to the top.
8. Repeat the process for the other ear.

In some cases, dog ear infection treatment can be a bonding time for you and your pet. Dogs can be anxious at first, and they need soothing. Having them lay on their sides while you reassure them can be a little therapeutic for you, too. Of course, when they stand up and shake, it can get a little messy, but it's an essential part of the process. Shaking the head is bringing the debris from the ear canal to the surface for you to clean away.

There's alot to cleaning dog ears. You can read more of our most useful tips in the How to Clean Dogs' Ears Expert's Guide.

Make it a habit

Once a dogs get an ear infection, it's easy for them to get them again. When you first discover the problem, you'll likely need to clean the ears daily until you notice that the gunk is clearing away. You will need to clean the ears less frequently but regularly after that. In most cases, a weekly routine is sufficient to prevent future infections.

Choose the Right Product

When choosing a cleaning solution for your dog ear infection treatment, it's important that you find one that will clean the area and prevent future infections. It's likely your dog's ears will be red and inflamed from scratching when you first start the treatment as well. Caustic or abrasive cleaners will irritate and dry out the area.

The Petpost Dog Ear Cleaner is a plant-based dog ear infection treatment that contains extracts from coconut and palm. It allows you to clear away the build up while preventing future infections. It soothes the area and helps your pet return to normal.

Prevent Infections

If your pet has floppy ears, it's a good idea to make a habit of cleaning them regularly. Ear mites make a home in the ear canal, and their waste can cause the problem. Food allergies might cause a reaction that allows dirt and moisture to collect so bacteria and yeast can find a home. Dog ear infection treatment starts with keeping the area clean. Since infections can also be caused by ear mites, it's important to prevent them from coming back. That way the infection never happens to begin with. Besides, it gives you an excuse to have Fido curl up in your lap, and it helps keep him healthy and happy. Make a ritual out of weekly dog ear infection treatment, and you'll make certain your pet avoids the mess and discomfort that comes with an ear infection.

Our main responsibility and goal as canine guardians is to make sure our beloved pooches are in the pink of health, but one shade darker than that in can spell trouble—not to mention pain. So what does it mean and what do we do when our dog’s ear is red?

Color Coded Conundrum

Reddened skin is often associated with pain and inflammation for us humans, and it’s no different for dogs. There is a multitude of possible causes for this condition, but whatever the reason may be, red ears on Fido guarantees pain and discomfort. 

It pays to know what you’re dealing with before running around the house trying to squirt medication on your dog—and traumatizing both of you. Now that you’re aware that there’s definitely something wrong, with little Billy Boy’s ears turning flaming red and all, take a few steps back and observe other behaviors and symptoms that he may be exhibiting. He may not be able to tell you what’s up—or inside—but his body language, physical condition, and movements may give you the proper clues to help your favorite vet out with identifying the problem.

Check if your pooch has any, or is doing any of the following:

• Yellowish, Greenish or Brownish discharge, or blood (whether dry or outright dripping)
• Scratching insistently on the side of his head
• Musty, unpleasant odor  from his ears
• Swelling, inside or outside the canal
• Crusting or Scabbing in or out of the ear
• Alopecia (fur loss) around the area
• Repeated head bumping, or rubbing against you or furniture
• Head tilting (it looks cute, we know, but it could be because his ears hurt)
• Unusual clumsiness
• Unusual eye movements
• Circling, as if he’s trying to chase something stuck to his head
• “Hot” ears

It’s important to be able to take note of any of these symptoms, so you can pinpoint the culprit of the inflammation and infection, and determine what type of treatment should be done to remedy it.

Allergies 

Allergic reactions could be seasonal or dietary—so you may want to check if your pooch has recurring reddening ears during certain times of the year, or if there are any changes that you’ve made in their daily meals, even treats.

Dogs who accidentally ingest food that they are allergic to (such as soy, chicken, grains, etc.) manifest allergies through skin inflammation, instead of respiratory symptoms like us humans—so there isn’t a lot of sneezing and ha-chooing to clue you in on their condition, but their skin will definitely show the signs. Red, swollen ears are usually number one on the list.

Infection from Moisture

If your adorable canine loves the water, and is the first to jump into the pool for some wading and swimming, it might not be as fun once the moistures sets in and gets stuck inside his ear canals. The wetness and his body temperature, combined with the usual microorganisms already taking residence inside his ears may cause overgrowth, and eventually, irritation and infection.

This goes for improper bathing and grooming as well, especially for pooches with non-erect, floppy ears.  This is why it is absolutely important to learn how to clean Puppy up to prevent doing more harm than good. So yes, it’s time to stop blindly poking through her ears with Q tips in the hopes of catching all the debris, and thank your dog for all the patience and self-restraint—some have bitten for much, much less.

Compromised Immune System

Fungi (as much as we feel uncomfortable even just saying the word) naturally exists in our bodies, and our canines are no exception. What brings about fungal infection in ears may actually be connected to a compromised immune system.

Yeast is usually the culprit, always lying in wait—ready to invade once the body’s defenses go down. Overgrowth causes the funky smelling discharge, irritation, and inflammation inside the ears—and the symptoms don’t usually die down with topical treatment alone. Prolonged fungal infection is remedied by boosting the immune system, usually via supplements and changes in diet as per veterinary instructions.

Ear Mites

Parasites are the bane of every dog’s healthy existence, and the ears are not spared when it comes to these tiny, nasty invaders. Ear mites can come from exposure to other infested canines, and is commonly a problem for young puppies. Not only do they make your pooch scratch and whine all day, they produce horrible amounts of rusty, brownish discharge, and if left untreated, severe infection sets in.

These annoying buggers not only affect your dog—as mentioned, it can be passed around via contact. So if you have more than one dog at home, it’s better to prevent ear mites rather than ending up with multiple ear scratchers and hours of medication and negotiations.

Prevention is Loads Better than Curing a Grumpy Dog

We’ve all heard that, yes, but it doesn’t become a cliché unless there’s some truth to it. To avoid a miserable doggie and a miserable human with disrupted schedules, high blood pressure and an empty wallet, regular cleaning with the right product drastically lowers the chances of you seeing red ears on your precious Ms. Paws. Just be sure never to use any of the following:

• Q Tips—they push most debris back inside the canal more than they pick them out
• Alcohol—it hurts, it doesn’t help, and it burns

All Ears on Natural Cleansers

If you don’t want hard-to-spell and equally hard-to-read chemicals inside your dog’s ears (and who does, anyway?), going for cleaning solutions with natural ingredients is the best way to go. Coconut oil-based ear cleaners are gentle on the skin and canal, and have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that help relieve the redness, pain, and swelling. 

Never hesitate to ask your veterinarian about natural and organic options that you can use for your pooch’s ear maintenance and health. After all, you would want to know what you put on your own body—of course you’d want the same for your furry family member.

Puppy ear infections DO happen, and because of the young age of the dog, they can be difficult to take care of. First, it's important that we take a minute to discuss the term "puppy" and what age is considered an adult.

Most dog owners use the 2 year mark as the official transition from puppyhood to adulthood for Whiskers. However, it truly does very by breed, with smaller dogs maturing more quickly than larger breeds. 

For the purposes of this article, we will consider puppies to be between birth and 2 years old.

Are Puppy Ear Infections Worse Than Adult Infections?

For puppies that are very young, under 6 weeks, an ear infection can be a very dangerous condition. Since the pups ears are still developing, and their immune systems are not yet strong, an ear infection can progress much more quickly in a baby pup. To compound that issue, there are much fewer options for treatment if a puppy under 6 weeks is suffering from an ear infection.

If you do have a puppy under 6 weeks that is suffering, popular ear cleaners and ear infection treatments such as Zymox and Virbac should be avoided on puppies because of the multitude of harsh chemicals in the ingredient list. There are many natural solutions available, and checking with your veterinarian should point you in the right direction.

If you have a puppy between 6 weeks and 2 years old, you have much less to worry about. Puppy ear infections at this stage are no worse in severity than ear infections in adult age dogs. 

That being said, dealing with an ear infection with a puppy is more challenging to treat than adult dogs, because puppies tend to be much more skittish when having their ears touched. You will need to be extra patient and slow when doing ear treatments or cleanings on a puppy. You definitely want to give many treats and reassurance to make sure that they are comfortable enough to have the effective cleaning session possible. 

Symptoms of Puppy Ear Infections

The symptoms of ear infections in young dogs are the same as those in an adult. If you are able to spot the signs early, you will be in much better shape to stop the infection where it stands. Catching an ear infection at an early stage means you might avoid a trip to the vet and all of the expenses that come along with it.

You need to take action if you notice your puppy showing any of the following symptoms:

• shaking it's head
• scratching it's ears or head on the carpet
• redness outside or inside the ear canal
• excessive dark colored wax or discharge
• a foul odor coming from the ears

Ear infections are the most common reason for a visit to the vet. If you want to avoid spending hundreds of dollars every time it happens, it is best to shift your focus your efforts on preventative measures instead of reactionary ones. That being said, the first thing you should do if you notice your young dog experiencing any of the above symptoms is to do a thorough ear cleaning.

Infections in puppy's ears thrive on wax, dirt, and darkness. By getting rid of the wax, and drying out the area when you're done, you will be able to make a lot of progress in beating this infection. By using a high quality dog ear cleaner with a clean cloth, cotton ball or cotton pad, you can get rid of a lot of dirt and bacteria that are causing the infection.

Because puppies are young and more sensitive, it is definitely preferable to use a natural treatment as opposed to a chemical one. Coconut oil has recently been hailed as a miracle cure for immune support and skin care. For puppy ear infections, coconut oil also has anti fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, all of which are helpful when trying to naturally fight off an infection.

Knowing the secrets of cleaning dog ears is a specialty that most groomers and veterinarians have mastered. We recently wrote an in-depth article on the process in a post titled: How to Clean Dogs' Ears - The Expert's Guide.

The Conclusion

The bottom line is that if you have a puppy under 6 weeks that is showing the symptoms of a serious ear condition, you should go to the vet. If your puppy is between 6 weeks and 2 years, you can avoid a trip to the vet by using a natural dog ear cleaner. Either way, it is recommended to avoid using harsh chemical medication that can cause long term damage to your young dog.