We will start by asking a question:how often do you clean your ears? Normally every time we bathe we usually do it, that is, you most likely clean your ears daily. In the case of dogs, it is very important, as in humans, to keep the ears clean, to avoid possible undesirable diseases and infections.
Some breeds will be more prone to dirt and infection than others, due to their long, floppy ears. A clear example of this are Beagles, whose long ears are sometimes difficult to clean their ear, since when we talk about the ear we are talking about the auditory canal, not only the outer part of its ear (which hangs in the case of the Beagle).
What is the correct way to do it?
There are those who often say that the best way to clean the ears of humans is to do it with the elbows (by which they are meaning that it is better not to do it) because people we usually clean our ears with cotton buds And it turns out that these are dangerous since what they do is push the dirt and wax and clog the ear canal forming a plug.
The same is true in the case of dogs. The wax in your ears is normally greasy and it is not so easy to remove only with water, since it is composed of dead cells and accumulated dirt that if you try to clean with swabs it is more likely that it will go deeper into the ear instead of going out, that is why it is most recommended to do it It is a gauze rolled on the tip of the finger, always taking great care not to hurt the dog, since like the human ear, theirs is very sensitive and delicate.
The most recommended in any case will be use water with a solution such as saline or some special liquid to clean the ears that can help dissolve the accumulated wax.
The method will then be to moisten the gauze a little with the solution to be used, roll it around the finger and insert it into the dog's ear very carefully and change it every time it comes out dirty, thus avoiding infections.
This procedure should repeat until the gauze comes out completely clean and then, with a new gauze, the other ear is cleaned, never with the same one with which the first one was cleaned, because in the event of an infection it could be passed from one to another.
The signs that your dog does not have clean ears
It's easy to notice when your dog needs a good ear cleaning, since in general these begin to shake their heads to scratch and in the case of long-eared dogs, move them from one side to the other.
It will be convenient for you to verify and if you notice any type of discharge out of the ordinary, any irritation or redness or even any wound that may have been caused by scratching continuously, it is best to consult with the veterinarian, who will be in charge of telling you if it is necessary treating your dog with some type of antibiotic to improve your condition.
Dogs are also prone to otitis, not only humans and for them it is something besides uncomfortable, painful, because we can understand what is happening to us and that it is a disease that with adequate medical treatment will improve. In their case, it will also improve with proper care, but, unlike humans, they cannot understand it, therefore it makes them despair and scratch or shake or drag their head against surfaces such as walls or the floor, to try to feel some relief from the discomfort they have in their ear.
The definitive solution to this problem in your dog is prevention and the best way to prevent both otitis and any other type of disease in the ears is the cleaning correctly and at the right frequency (once a week will be more than enough). If you do it very frequently then you could cause the opposite effect to the expected and generate dryness and discomfort, so everything is better to do it in the right measure.