How to Care for a Dog's Smelly Ears Daily

If your dog has a bad smell coming from its ears, proper daily care is essential. Dogs' ear canals are covered with dense hair, which can trap dirt and lead to ear mites if not cleaned regularly. A healthy ear canal should be clean, odorless, free of debris, and pink in color. If your dog frequently shakes its head or scratches its ears, it may be uncomfortable and in need of cleaning with appropriate pet products.

Cleaning method: Start by wiping the outer ear canal with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. Check for any dirt deep inside the ear; if present, gently remove it with a cotton swab. If the dirt is hard and difficult to remove, leave it for now. Avoid inserting the swab too deeply, as this may cause discomfort and potentially harm the inner ear. Next, apply two drops of pet ear-cleaning oil into the ear, cover the ear, and gently massage for one minute. This should soften the earwax, making it easier to clean with a cotton swab. Ear cleaning should be done weekly. If your dog's ears are red, swollen, itchy, have a strong odor, or have excessive wax, clean them daily. After three days, you should notice improvement, and then gradually reduce the frequency until the ear condition normalizes. Initially, your dog might resist cleaning due to discomfort. To manage this, have one person hold the dog's head still while the other cleans. Provide gentle reassurance during the process. Over time, your dog will become more comfortable with ear cleaning. Additionally, trim the ear hair appropriately as dense hair can affect ventilation and lead to inflammation. Use eyebrow scissors for trimming inside the ear. Pinch the ear gently and trim the hair along the inner edge, taking care to do it layer by layer until you reach the skin. For the outer ear, use specialized grooming scissors designed for dogs, which have one serrated edge and one straight edge.