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Inevitably, there will come a time when your dog gets water or some kind of fluid in its' ears and they need to be dried, here's your ear dry solution for dogs. This can be frustrating for your pup -- you will notice that they will rub their paws on their ears or shake their heads in an attempt to remove the water from their ears themselves. But don’t worry! If this happens, here are a few tips you should know if you end up needing dog ear draining to help remove a dog's water from any dogs ear!
How Often Does Water Get In My Dog's Ears?
It is common that water in your dog's ears during a bath, and because their ear canal is quite long, it can be difficult for them to get the water out on their own. Naturally, your dog will try to shake their heads to try and dry or get rid of the water in their ears. Typically, this will help get most of the water or fluids out of your dogs ear, but depending on the dog breed and how much water got in, it may be hard to totally dry dog ears with just shaking.
If you notice that your dog appears to have water stuck in their ears, it’s important for you to help them as much as you can. Some dogs, like Golden retrievers, for example, have a more difficult time removing water themselves. This is due to the fact that their ears fold down over the ear canal, causing the water to become trapped in their ear. Left to sit in their ear, the fluids in your dogs ears can grow bacteria and yeast, leading to ear infections.
Steps To Cleaning Water Out Of Your Dog’s Ears
There are a few different solutions for cleaning and drying your dog’s ears. One of the most popular being a veterinarian’s ear drying and cleaning kit. This kit can be pricey, but it includes a proper dog-ear cleaner and ear drying solution. Additionally, you can purchase drying liquids at the pet supply store that is designed specifically to help dry out the water within the ear. If you wish to make your own drying solution. How do you do that? You can combine hydrogen peroxide or apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of purified water and you're good to go.
- To start, dry off your dog’s ears. We recommend using The Absorber®, its drying ear cleaner for dogs, it is both super soft and absorbent to help you get the job done. You will want to gently dry off the top of the ear, as well as the underside of the ear.
- Then, lift up your dog’s ear and put several drops of the solution directly into your dog’s ear canal. Whether that is your homemade formula with apple cider vinegar or the veterinarian drying formula both work.
- Once you have placed the solution in your dog’s ear, massage the base of their ear to help the solution move through the ear canal.
- Give your dog the opportunity to shake its head, if needed.
- Then, wipe the inner ear gently with a cotton ball to remove any debris. NEVER use a Q-tip in your dog’s ear, as it can push debris further down their ear canal and cause damage.
When To Involve The Vet
Cleaning your dog’s ears from removing water to wax is a fairly simple task, but should your dog show further signs of discomfort, you should consult your veterinarian to see if your dog has an ear infection. Some symptoms of an ear infection include bad odor, swelling in or around the ears, an off-color discharge, or your dog winces in pain when you try to touch their ears.
If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, reach out to your veterinarian as soon as possible!