Weekly Maintenance of their Long Floppy Ears should keep the atypical problems at bay. Keep reading for a Step-by-Step How-To Guide:

Each Friday evening I find a good Rom-Com and a nice big icy beverage, curl up on my leather couch and plop down. Invariably, just a few moments later a fur baby or two will be snuggled up against me, they are like puddy in my hand. A basket that I keep handy with all of my doggies grooming tools is nearby; taking care to spend at least once a week on the teeth, nails and ears. Research shows that 30% of all Veterinary Visits are due to itching, achy, uncomfortable ears. Let’s learn a bit more about this so we can decrease those “urgent” visits.

At apx. 3 weeks of age, puppies develop their sense of hearing. From newborn, it is important to get the puppy/dog comfortable with their human looking in and feeling all around their ears. If you look at this picture, imagine your dogs ear (flop) being pulled straight up. We are primarily concerned with the care of the outer ear, nothing beyond the ear drum.

Get your puppy/dog comfortable with you touching, rubbing and cleaning those ears ASAP!

1.) Inspect your dog’s ears regularly (daily for awhile, just to keep him comfortable with you lifting, rubbing and wiping. Be sure there are no signs of infection, most of the time you will only need to do a quick clean.

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2.) Weekly, I clean the ear with a Cotton pad and cleaner. This technique works well if there is only a little visible wax or dirt, and keeps your dog’s ears in good shape. Here’s how:

🐾  Hold on to the tip of the ear and lift to open the ear

🐾  Use a cotton pad or soft cloth and wipe the exposed portions of the ear. I use a mineral oil with a bit of tea tree essential oil but sometimes if there is an “off” smell I will clean with 1/3 Apple Cider Vinegar 2/3 water spray. *See Ear Problems in next blog post.

🐾  Wrap the cotton around your index finger, and insert finger a short way into the ear (not more than 1/2 inch). Gently wipe to remove wax and dirt.

🐾  I like using a Preventative Ear Care Formula to keep the Ears in Tip Top Shape. Please Refer to my “Recommended Items for a few ideas”. I am using the Life’s Abundance All Herbal Ear Care here now and have never had an ear infection. https://bit.ly/39STOla

🐾 Repeat on the other side and you’re done!

3.) I like to keep the underside of the ears clipped very short to keep moisture and mats at bay, particularly during the wet months – here in WA from Nov through March. Here’s a 1-min. video showing how I do mine very short: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ZB_O9d0l8

4.) Most Dog Groomers will be able to care for your furry loved one and alarm you to any special needs s/he might have. I recommend finding a groomer who knows and understands the breed and who will work within your perimeters. Personally, I am able to do the weekly/monthly maintenance and typically take each of my dogs in 2-4 times a year.