You Regularly Clean Your Ears, so Why Not Your Dachshund’s As Well?
Your cute, little mutt looks cute and adorable with those long, floppy ears. However, this same feature makes your Doxie more susceptible to ear irritation and infection.
In this post, let us take a deeper look at why it is important to keep your dachshund’s ear clean and how to keep it that way.
Why Do You Need to Regularly Clean Your Dachshund’s Ears?
You know how adorable Dachshunds are when they run in slow motion. Their big ears flapping and bouncing up and down while their small and long body seems to comically move. All these make them all the more adorable.
However, as you might imagine, having too much of a good thing may turn into something bad. Take for example your dachshund’s ears.
The ears of a dachshund may look cute, but their shape increase the chance of ear infection. For one, their ears hang low and it covers the opening of their ears. This prevents good air circulation going in and outside of the ear. The ear can easily stay moist, which can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Also, since the ears are close to the ground, fleas and ticks can easily jump along the coaster ride. To make things worse, the waste products of these parasites add to the dirt accumulated inside your Doxie’s ear.
Not a pleasant thing to hear or behold, right? Can you now see the importance of regular ear cleaning?
So, if you decide to clean your dog’s ears, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Check Your Dog’s Behavior
One of the best indications that your dog is having an ear problem is when he scratches his ear too often. Nodding and shaking of the head could also indicate ear irritation. Moreover, if you smell a foul odor coming from his ear, then you should go ahead and check it.
These things may indicate an early sign of ear problems and may even be a manifestation of an existing infection.
Perform Visual Inspection
Whenever you are able, like when your Doxie rests on your lap, try to do a visual inspection. A quick look at your dog’s ears should give you an idea of how healthy his ears are.
Check for critters. Fleas, mites, and ticks could just be right there inside and around the ear. Critter feces look like poppy seeds. Red dots may indicate bug bites.
Prepare All the Equipment
You surely want to clean your dog’s ears quick and easy. So, before you start, prepare all the necessary items for ear cleaning. Make sure to have these things at hand:
- Ear cleanser – not every cleanser suits your pooch. Find the best cleanser for your buddy, or better yet, ask your vet.
- Cotton balls – choose the softest and smoothest you can buy from the market. Cotton pad and swabs can be great substitutes.
- Towel – use this to help in wiping excess fluid or keeping the area clean.
Hold Firmly
You don’t want your pooch to mess up everything. Hence, make sure your Dachshund is calm. You can clean your dog’s ear when he is relaxed and comfortable.
With that, you may start by holding your dog’s ear firmly.
This will avoid excessive shaking or nodding until you are done with the cleaning.
Keep in mind: be gentle. You can be firm, but not violent.
You Are Good To Go
If you feel that you and your Doxie are comfortable already, then, you can start the process.
Drop some cleanser and make sure the tip of the bottle will not touch the ear to prevent bacteria from spreading. In most cases, cleanser comes with detailed instructions. If present, please follow the instructions accordingly.
Once the liquid is poured in, insert a cotton ball inside to prevent the solution from leaking out.
Massage Time!
Cleanser and cotton balls are already in your bud’s ear.
Now, grasp behind the ear and gently massage the base of the ear canal. This massage action should break up wax and loosen other substances stuck down the ear.
If you are doing it correctly, you will hear or feel the liquid moving inside the ear canal. Afterward, remove the cotton ball and replace it with another one. Repeat the procedure of massaging until the cotton ball comes out clean.
Repeat with the other ear
Cleaning your dog’s ears is fairly easy. It is fun to clean your pooch’s ear.
But, do not get too excited yet because you are not done. You need to do the same process to the other ear.
Don’t forget to wipe the outer ear with a dry towel to make sure everything is all clean and good to go.
Clean during Washing
When you bathe your Doxie, it is also the appropriate time to clean the ears. Remember not to get water inside the ear. Aside from the fact that it may hurt your dog, it could also add more moisture, encouraging further bacterial and fungal growth.
What you can do instead is to use a clean washcloth. You can wipe the area around the ear with the washcloth. If possible, insert the washcloth to take out dirt from the nooks and crannies of the inner ear.
Give Them Treats
After doing it with both ears, you are completely done! Your pet is ready to play again.
But giving them treats after the session helps you earn their trust.
Giving treats would also reinforce in their mind that ear cleaning is a pleasurable experience. It will also teach them that cleaning the ears is a safe and painless procedure.
Give Them a Gentle Touch
Cleaning your dog’s ear does not require special equipment nor studying DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine). Anyone can do it, but if you do, do it with gentleness, great care, and of course, love.
If in case you are still a bit hesitant to clean your Doxie’s ears or you aren’t confident enough to do it, by all means, call your vet. You should get practical advice and even tutorial from your vet once you have discussed the need for ear cleaning.
