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.

Tear stains—two words that are all too familiar—and all too annoying and inconvenient—for us humans whose pooches have to endure this unsightly and uncomfortable reddish-brown streaks. While some causes of these rusty streaks may not warrant an emergency trip to the vet, it helps to know how to remove tears stains and keep them away—without using anything that may harm or compromise your dog’s health.

Recognizing the Signs—Beyond the Obvious, That Is

Tear stains are caused by the overproduction of tears in your pup’s eyes and failure to drain it down the proper way, called epiphora. Some of the reasons behind this may include:

• Congenital (inborn) defects in or total absence of the puncta (tiny holes in the corner of the eyes that serve as primary drainage pathways leading to the nasolacrimal duct system)
• Allergic reactions to food, grooming products, pollen, dust, smoke, or other allergens
• Irritation of the eyes caused by foreign objects
• Eyelids and / or eyelashes growing inwards instead of out
• Injury or scarring along the tear drainage system
• Teething for puppies (though epiphora should lessen after this period)
• Fungal or bacterial infection
• Overactive tear glands

Dogs with flatter facial structures, or deep set eyes often get the short end of the stick when it comes to epiphora—Pugs, Maltese, Shih Tzus, Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, and the like are more than likely to experience having tear stains marring their beautiful faces at one point of their lives—and for some, for the most part. It is also more obvious for pooches with light colored coats and long facial fur (as tears get stagnant around the eyes by pooling under and around the lids, sticking to the hair follicles and skin).

So what makes the tear stains reddish? Tears contain substances similar to dye called porphyrins, just like saliva and urine. Porphyrin is iron-rich, and once exposed to air and sunlight, rusty, brownish staining occurs. The longer the tears remain stagnant in the coat, the more it darkens and discolors the fur.

Some of these causes may require more up close veterinary intervention and observation, and with the case of the obstruction of the puncta, surgery may be needed to remove the scar tissue or widen the opening of the holes to permit easier drainage of the tears.

But once you’ve confirmed with your favorite doc that Fido’s epiphora is due to more manageable circumstances such as seasonal or dietary allergies, the occasional teary eyes because of too much fun in the pool, or that incident in the park sand box, there are easy and safe ways to get rid of those ugly red marks on your beloved canine buddy’s face at the comfort of your home.

Choosing Your Grooming Tools

Wanting to know how to remove tear stains the natural and safe way puts you on the right track to ensuring that you get a good handle of these unattractive streaks without putting chemicals and other synthetic ingredients that may make things worse, or cause other health problems to Buster—you want to stop his tears, not start yours.

What most well-meaning humans don’t know is that a lot (if not most of) supposed effective and safe tear stain removers contain antibiotics—yes, antibiotics. For some reason, Tylosin has managed to find its way into grooming product shelves in the market, and with FDA’s blessing, too. Not only does it pose a risk in causing major damage in your dog’s liver, Bruno may also develop antibiotic resistance due to repeated use of these grooming aids—this will not bode well once he falls sick and actually needs these antibiotics to cure him. Other countries have already demanded a recall on stain removers containing this ingredient.

Fortunately, there are all-natural tear stain removers that you can still conveniently stock up on for your pooch. The magic word: coconut oil.

Yup! This superfood not only boost the immune system and regulates appetite, healthy digestion, and a whole enchilada of other benefits for the internal canine system, it also makes for a superb grooming partner and—you guessed it—tear stain buster.

How do you develop your own home-based tear stain removing regimen?

1. Choose a comfy spot for Spot. While most well-socialized dogs tolerate face grooming, it can be a challenge for some, especially if their eyes are irritated. Cuddle for a minute or two with Scruffy until he doesn’t eye your grooming kit with suspicion—maybe add a treat or two in the mix, and you’ll get him—and yourself—in the zone in no time.

2. Use damp, well-woven cotton pads or wipes to clear off the gunk and tears. Avoid using cotton balls that may leave wisps stuck to your dog’s eyes—it will cause more irritation, and not to mention more cleanup. Never use any wet wipes containing alcohol because if you don’t like the way it stings when it goes anywhere near your eyes, it goes without saying that poor Goldie won’t be too happy with it either.

3. Snip away. Preferably using blunt-tipped scissors, of course. Trim away the matted, clumped fur around the eyes for easier access to the skin underneath. If you don’t get to clean the area thoroughly, it will become a veritable breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

4. The main event: the tear stain remover. Use the product according to its instructions (they’re there for a reason; going trigger happy with the fluid may not help at all and cause a lot of mess, and a lot of unnecessary cleanup). 

5. Bonus round: keep those wipes handy. You have to make sure Ginger’s eyes are always dry, so get ready to wipe when you see your pooch’s eyes acting up in between grooming sessions.  

Consistency is Key

Staying committed to keeping your dog tear stain-free will require your dedication to your grooming regimen. No product can get rid of tear stains in one go (though you’ll be surprised at how many of them promise to do so). Good things come to those who wait, and stain-free puppy eyes come to those who clean it regularly.

The best thing that you can do for your dog today is purchase our popular tear stain remover and join the thousands of groomers, vets, and dog owners that have clean and happy dogs! You can click here to purchase your Tear Stain Remover today!

Have you ever had a run in with tears stains? Tell us how you keep your canine baby clear-faced and tear-free in the comments below!

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!

You love snuggling up to that adorable face, but lately it looks like Bitsy is crying all the time. You know she's not actually sad, but the fur under her eyes has turned reddish brown, maybe even black. If you're not sure how to get rid of tear stains, it's actually a simple process. With a little bit of routine care, you can get Bitsy's coat back to that powder-white fluff you've always loved.

Know What Causes the Tear Stains

The tears themselves are not causing the stains. For a variety of possible reasons, when Bitsy's eyes get irritated the tears aren't dissipating the way they do in most dogs. It could be because Bitsy produces more tears than most dogs or that her eyes tend to get irritated more easily. It might even have something to do with the areas of the eye that typically drain the tears being clogged in some way.

No matter what is causing the tears to stay on her coat, the tears themselves aren't causing the stains. It's the dirt and debris that the tears collect. That's why it's often a reddish brown color. In most cases, you're not going to be able to treat the cause of the tears themselves, so knowing how to get rid of tear stains comes down to treating the area where the tears settle.

The Treatment Process

The good news is that the treatment itself is a great time for you to spend pampering your best friend. You only need a few supplies such as 4-5 cotton balls, a safe cleaning solution. After that, it's a very simple process:

1. Shake the bottle of Tear Stain Remover.
2. Squeeze the solution onto a cotton ball.
3. Rub the stained area to get rid of dirt and gunk.

Most tear stain removers are safe for external use, but you want to be careful not to get any of the product in Bitsy's eyes or mouth. When you first start, you'll want to repeat this process for 5-7 consecutive days in order to clean the area. After that, weekly treatments will typically protect the fur from future stains. As the new fur grows in, you'll start to see the roots coming in as snow white as the rest of her coat.

Eventually the stains will go away because you're getting rid of the dirt that causes them. If you'd like to get rid of the faster, use cotton balls to apply a mixture of 10% hydrogen peroxide with water to the area. You'll be safely coloring Bitsy's hair, although we recommend patience and letting the fur grow back naturally.

Pick the Right Treatment

Not all tear stain removers are created equally. Some contain antibiotics which have not been approved for use on dogs. In addition, antibiotics for tear stains are unnecessary. If you notice a discharge that suggests an infection or if Bitsy is scratching at the area, you need to see your veterinarian. While microbes can grow in the area of the tear stains, infections caused by the tears themselves are unlikely.

Since you'll be treating the tear stains regularly, it's critical that you choose a product that is safe for your pet. Go for a natural formula.

Figuring out how to get rid of tear stains on your pet comes down to understanding your treatment options. In a small number of cases, allergies cause the excess tearing, but for most pets the cause is something genetic that is going to have to be treated regularly. Once you know how to get rid of tear stains though, the best part will be that you have an excuse to spend a little mommy or daddy time with Bitsy curled up in your lap. Not that you needed an excuse in the first place.

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.