How To Look After Your Dog's Ears  by alexandra on 11 Dec 2014 | No Comment Although your dog's ears need to be reguarly cared for and monitored by your vet, it is quite simple to keep them clean and healthy yourself. This is especially important because it's not uncommon for parasites, bacteria or yeast to hide in the inner ear and cause plenty of pain and discomfort. It is also easy for dirt to become trapped in the ear due to the way dog's ears are shaped, trapping debris which can cause allergies and infections. Cocker spaniels, basset hounds and poodles are particularly vulnerable, due to their adorable floppy ears. To reduce infections or allergies, ear checks should be a regular part of your dog's grooming regime. If you take your dog to a groomer, ask them to pay special attention to their ears. However if you groom your dog yourself and their ears look dirty, clean them using a doggy ear cleaner on a dampened cotton ball. This is delicate enough on their skin so it won't cause any irritations and is very effective at cleaning the ears very well. If your dog has hairy ears and you can see that some hairs have sprouted from the ear canal, you can ask your groomer to tweeze them out or simply cut them down to a length that won't mat or tangle. It isn't recomended that you try tweezing them yourself as it can be uncomfortable for your pet and you wouldn't want him or her to associate that pain with you. If your dog is a frequent swimmer you may have noticed that post-swim their ears are irritated, which could mean some water has gotten into the ear. To prevent this from happening, dry your pooch's ears thoroughly using a cotton cloth. If you don't, it may lead to ear infections which can be painful.   If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your vet at the earliest convenience: Discharge Smelly ears Redness Swelling Hairloss Itchiness Crusty skin Blood in ears Ear mites Feature Credit Image Comment(s)0 Join the Conversation Name* * Please enter your name. Email * Email address will not be published Please enter a valid email address. Comment * Please enter your comment. Security Code 'Please enter security code. Submit