Ear cleaning?

[Mom2NicandNat]

What's the best way to clean the ears?

[Milkbones]

That's a loaded question if I ever heard one!

Okay, I have a set day to clean ears, as I am a person who does better doing stuff on a schedule, so today (Sunday) is the day, evening, rather. Every Sunday, I grab my ear cleaner and you can use cotton balls, cosmetic pads, tissue whatever, and sneak up on the unsuspecting dog. Mine hate ear cleaning, Sophie especially, so I catch her snoozing back here. Anyways, lift the ear and fill the ear canal with ear cleaner. This can be either a commercial or a homemade one (half white vinegar/half rubbing alcohol put into an old commercial ear cleaner bottle). Quick stuff in a cotton ball or whatever you're using to keep the stuff from oozing out, lower the ear and with your hand, gently massage at the base of the ear. You'll hear squitch, squitch, squitch. I do it to the count of 20, at which time I quickly raise the ear, tilt the head to drain, take out the cotton ball, then let the dog shake it's head. You want to use the cotton ball or whatever to gently get in and remove any debris you see. If working around the crevices is hard, you can use a Q-tip, but never put it in the ear canal unless the vet says so. And, repeat with the other ear. Afterwards, your dog may or may not run around the house making a silly of itself, like mine do, rubbing it's head against the carpeting, etc., for a while. Like I said, they generally do not like having their ears cleaned, but it's a necessary evil. I tell mine "A clean flap is a happy flap". Of course, they don't believe me, but then, I'm the Mother.