How to Clean a Dog’s Ears | Safe Ear Cleaning Tutorial for Dogs (Vet Tech Demonstration)

Summary

Megan demonstrates basic ear cleaning on a dog. Before cleaning, a veterinarian has confirmed that the dog’s eardrum is intact—a key safety consideration when choosing an ear-cleaning solution. The goal is to gently loosen and remove waxy debris without pushing tools deep into the ear canal or damaging delicate tissue.

Basic Procedure

1. Check the eardrum and choose an appropriate cleaner. The demonstration uses a commercial ear cleaner because the eardrum has been confirmed intact. If it is not intact, Megan recommends using saline solution instead.
2. Apply a small amount of cleaner. Lift the ear and squeeze a little solution into the canal; a small amount is sufficient.
3. Massage the base of the ear. Gently squish the base to help loosen wax and debris.
4. Wipe with a cotton ball. Place a cotton ball as far as a finger can comfortably reach, then remove the debris. Megan prefers cotton balls because gauze may cause bleeding on delicate ear tissue.
5. Clean the outer-ear folds. Don’t overlook the folds of the visible ear.
6. Use a cotton-tipped applicator sparingly and cautiously. Megan uses one only for the outer folds and avoids pushing it far into the canal. Inserting it too deeply can cause damage.
7. Repeat as needed. Add a little more cleaner if the ear seems dry, and continue until the cotton balls come away with less debris.
8. Let the dog shake if it wants to. Megan notes that shaking at the end may feel good to the dog, then repeats the process for the other ear.

Speakers and Sources

• Megan — Presenter and demonstrator.
• A veterinarian or doctor — Mentioned as having checked the dog’s ears and confirmed that the eardrum was intact; not heard speaking in the subtitles.
• The dog — The patient being treated; does not speak.