Cleaning dog's ears?

The best way to clean their ears is with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water--use cotton balls ---NOT q-tips (you can do a lot of damage with them if you are not careful!)--push the cotton ball only as far in as your finger goes comfortably and sweep out

the vinegar helps neutralize everything in their ears--alcohol and peroxide are way to harsh for them!

I would take your dog to the vet first of all, to find out why the ears are dirty to begin with and to make sure there is not an infection. Once you get the infection under control the vet can recommend a good cleaner. A previous person answered with a home remedy that I have used myself with good success (the one with the apple cider vinegar). There is a thin celaphane like layer of tissue that protects the inner ear called the tympanic membrane. If that is damaged from infection or has a hole in it and you pour some liquids into the ear you risk damaging the dogs ears permanently even resulting in head tilts or loss of hearing. Better to be safe then sorry. Let the vet look in the ear to make sure the tympanic membrane is intact and proceed from there. Once you get the right rinse you can clean them periodically from then on and avoid any further problems. I have a lab with chronic ear problems and I still have them checked once in a while. Good luck :o))

The best and safest way for you to clean your dog's ears at home is to use a cotton ball and either a commercial ear cleaning solution (available at any pet store or your vet) or a solution of water and vinegar. Either pour the solution directly into the ear canal or soak a cotton ball with it and shove the soaked cotton ball down into the ear canal. Massage the base of the ear to work the solution down into the ear canal and work some of the waxy debris up out of the ear. Take a dry cotton ball and wipe out the ear canal as far down as you can reach with it. Keep wiping with dry cotton balls until you stop getting gunk out. If the ears are particularly dirty you may have to go back in a second or even third time with more solution. You can use q-tips to clean the folds around the base of the ears, but don't go down into the ear canal with them. If you take q-tips into the ear canal, you'll most likely just compact the dirt/wax/debris against the ear drum and this can actually lead to ear infections.

NEVER use alcohol to clean a dog's ears! Alcohol burns like hell and it will dry out the dog's skin. Most dogs are not overly fond of ear cleanings to begin with and if you make it a painful experience they will quickly learn to not allow you to clean their ears. Also, do not use plain water or eye cleaning solution. Ear cleaning solution is designed to create a hostile environment for yeast and bacteria by changing the pH in the ear. Water and eye cleaning solution will not change the pH in your favor and can cause ear infections by actually creating an environment that yeast and bacteria thrive in.

Its better to refrain from using a qtip, because many people do not know how far is too far. Dogs have a canal that goes vertically and then horizontally before hitting the ear drum, but if you arent familiar with the depth to go, then just use a cotton ball. A good mixture is half alcohol, half vinegar. But, if you can get ear cleanser from the vet or petstore, this may be better because they help break down the wax, so when your dog shakes his head that junk will come loose.

Get something from the pet store that will help loosen the wax and rub a little into the ear. (There are special formulas for ear mites, too). You can use a q-tip, but don't go in too deep.

Do NOT use alcohol!! It burns like fire! Dont believe me? then try using it in your own ears. Use a 50:50 ratio of white vinegar and water with a cotton ball. Not q-tips. Or get a earcleaning solution from your vet. Also...don't try peroxide either as it will burn your dogs skin.

okay, whenever I clean my dog's ears, I use a Q-tip. You can also use a kleenex, but i don't use alchohal. Sometimes it can injure the dog's ear. yet, if you feel the need to clean your dogs ear with alchohal, use rubbing alchohal and don't put too much on. Also, don't clean the dog's ear too deep in the ear canal, if you can't see it, don't clean it.

I use paper towels and alcohol. I don't use q-tips because I'm afraid I might go to deep in the ear canal and hurt the dog. You can also buy ear* cleaner and I've only tried a couple but in my opinion alcohol works just as well and its cheap.

I use Q-tips and alcohol. Do NOT enter the ear canal too deep - you could injure the ear.

If you are not comfortable with that, I have also used a Kleenex or cotton ball with alcohol, which is the better way to go.

yeah, Q-tips work, go to the store or something and look for something to clean dogs ears.. Or go to Petco and ask.