<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<![endif]-->
When your dog sees you carrying a bottle of Oti-Cleanse and some gauze, and he takes off in the other direction, don't worry! This is an expected reaction in most dogs when someone is about to put something in their ears. Cleaning dog's ears is an important part of their grooming and an essential way to maintain a healthy ear.
The first tip in cleaning your dog's ear is to never let any liquid go down into the canal because this is the fastest way to an ear infection. An ear infection can turn really nasty and painful before an owner is even aware of it. When bathing your dog, make sure you don't spray his head and around his ears with water. The best way to rinse off shampoo is to use a big cup and pour over the head on one side while you use one hand to cover the ear completely. Take your time when bathing your dog around his head and neck area.
Another tip is unless you are a licensed professional, don't use cotton swabs except around the outside area of the ear. You shouldn't go digging into the canal. This could may cause pain and make your dog really uncontrollable during this ear cleaning and any other time you may need to clean his ears. Swabs can also push unwanted material into the ear canal and cause infection.
Just grooming time isn't always the only time you will need to clean your dog's ears. Dogs can be cursed with ear mites. Ear mites are tiny arthropods that will take up residence in your dog's ear and cause a great deal of itching and burning. The worst part of treatment is preventing your dog from scratching down to raw meat and starting a whole new problem to treat as well. The best way to get of ear mites in your dog is to purchase a medication that is specially formulated for killing mites.
You will usually have to drop a few drops in the affected ear a few times a day for at least seven days. Before you begin this treatment, it is best to clean out your dog's ears of the black waste the mites leave behind. You will probably want to do this ear cleaning outside because your dog will shake his head and that waste will go everywhere. Use a cotton swab with an ear cleaner to wipe away as much as you can before you drop the ear mite medication in.
Some ear cleaning will require the attention of a veterinarian, as in the case of an ear with a yeast infection. Some yeast infections can become sever and highly painful. A veterinarian will have the necessary aid to handle the dog while treatment is being administered. Usually a solution like Epi-Otic is used and then a topical ant-fungal medication may be prescribed to treat the ear with at home, water or other fluids entering the ear canal can cause these kinds of infections.
