In this AnimalWised article, we show you how to clean a poodle's ears step by step and in a very simple way. This hygienic habit must be carried out frequently, to avoid the loss of dead hair in the external auditory canal and its putrefaction inside.
If this habit is important in any dog, whatever its breed, it is even more so in the poodle, because usually accumulates a lot of hairdead in this part of his body and on the other hand, he has drooping ears, which decreases the oxygenation of the ear. Performing this routine regularly considerably reduces the risk of otitis.
The first thing to consider is that this process has to be something pleasant for the dog To do this, you have to do it from puppy. You can also start this habit as an adult, rewarding him with small prizes or treats. Using positive reinforcement is an excellent way to communicate with our dog and make him understand what attitudes we like. Always give treats immediately to the behavior you want to reward.
First of all it is recommended to remove all the dead hair that is at the entrance of the ear canal, simply using your fingers. It is pulled gently, avoiding harming the animal. Blunt or round nose pliers can also be used.
Now is the time to really get down to duct cleaning. You should know that there are specific products that can be used in this process:
- physiological saline
- peroxide
- commercial preparations
Wet Moisten a clean gauze pad (cotton wool is not recommended, the strands may remain in the canal) and wrap around the finger or a blunt forceps is covered by inserting it into the outermost part of the canal, while pulling the ear to be cleaned upwards.
Make a dragging movement of all the dirt that may be inside. You have to make sure that there is no trace of gauze left inside. Once the external ear canal has been cleaned, the inner part of the ear must be cleaned. The gauze is changed, moistened and dragged away from the orifice of the external auditory canal.
Although cleaning an ear does not have too much risk, you have to think that at any time the animal can head, hitting the owner or by inserting the clamp more than it should and being able to injure the duct. In adult dogs, the duct is bent, making it difficult to reach the eardrum. On the other hand, in puppies it is straight and short, and here there is a real risk.
It is recommended not to insert the gauze more than a couple of centimeters in adults and somewhat less in puppies.
If you don't dare to perform the operation, if you notice that the canal emits a bad odor or there is a splashing noise when pressing externally on the ear canal, you should go to the vet.
These are early evidence of otitis. There are more obvious symptoms, such as the dog's head tilting or constantly scratching the area, which indicates that the otitis is more advanced.
