Should I protect my dog's ears while swimming?

The straightforward answer to your question is yes, you should protect your dog’s ear while it’s swimming. The only reason is that wet dog ears are more likely to get infected. Moreover, the presence of bacteria in the water may negatively affect your dog's ear. For this purpose, you can use an earplug.

Let me clear one thing, if you are not in the favor of using an earplug for your pup or your dog is not wearing these, then follow ear cleaning steps after swimming.

Now, when you are aware of the answer and know that ear cleaning is important than protecting, so let’s discuss the cleaning tips.

Proud dog parent is intended to help dog parents by presenting a detailed guide containing the ways to clean dog ears. Know that, we are in the favor of presenting an authentic piece of information on an internet full of fake info. There is a number of sites that are selling the wrong products without even considering dogs' health.

Let’s jump to the main topic.

Proper ear cleaning position

Begin by getting your dog used to you looking into his ear while gently holding his chin for support. Your dog should not shrink, shy away, or try to shift his head out of your hand during ear cleanings if you want him to feel comfortable. When your dog is calm, gently stroke the top of his head and say "yes" or "good dog," then release your dog's head and give him a treat. If you hold the treat in your hand that touches the dog, your dog will wiggle to obtain it; you may need to keep the treats on the counter nearby.

Gradually increase the level of difficulty. Take the top hand and gently lift a floppy ear a centimeter if you can touch the top of his head and hold under his chin with your other hand. Say "yes," release your hands off the dog's head, and give a treat when the dog is comfortable. Then lift the floppy ear an inch higher the following time. Continue in baby steps until you can look inside the ear by flipping the ear up. You won't need to lift your dog's ear to look inside if he has perky ears. You only reward your dog for calm behavior; you do not reward your dog for repeated herky-jerky behavior. If your dog is resistive and avoids the following repetition, make it easy for him to succeed.

To help with ear cleaning, use the "chin" command. You can use the other (right) palm to gently lift and clean the (dog's left) ear as your dog lays his chin on the outstretched palm of the (left) hand. At proud dog parents, you'll learn how and when to teach the command "chin."

Add cotton ball in the process

You're ready to start cotton ball training when you can softly hold your dog's chin with one palm and thoroughly gaze into his ear with the other without the dog flinching (we'll name this "ear cleaning posture"). In the hand which will manipulate the ear, place a cotton bud between your forefingers and thumb. Place the dry cotton ball in the ear cleanup position and touch the inside of the dog's ear. "Yes," you say, and take your hands away from the dog. Give him something to eat! Rep this drilling until you can insert the cotton ball inside his ear and gently spin it around. You won't be able to place the cotton swab (held between your fingertips) very deeply into his ear due to the curvature of the ear canal.

Clean dog’s ears

After that, soak a cotton swab in the ear cleaner until it's "half full." Place the cotton ball gently in the dog's ear while in the ear cleaning posture. To put the cleanser into your dog's ears, keep the cotton ball in your hand and make tiny gentle circles with it. Wipe the folds of the ears if they seem filthy on the way out with the cotton ball. After that, do the same with the moist cotton swab in the opposite ear.

Why can't you just pour the ear cleanser directly into your dog's ear from the bottle? The abrupt jetting of liquid is disliked by most dogs, and using the dropper increases the danger of germs spreading from ear to ear or from dog to dog. Since a result, a cotton ball is more hygienic and gives a more regulated delivery, as you can see how much liquid is on the cotton ball but not how much is squeezed out if the container tip is in your dog's ear.

Allow 30 seconds for the ear cleanser to settle into your dog's ears. It's quite natural for your dog to wiggle his ears throughout this period. After 30 seconds, gently massage your dog's ears in which the bases meet the skull to spread the ear cleanser around in the inner ear.

FAQs related to dog-ear protection

After taking your dog swimming, is it necessary to wipe out his ears?

Your dog's ears should be cleaned and dried immediately after a swim or bath because the warm, moist environment created by the water in their ears can encourage the growth of the fungus and/or bacteria typically found on their skin.

What on earth is that brown gunk in my dog's ears made of?

Mites in the ears: Ear mites, microscopic insects that may make your dog's ears their home, leave a crusty, blackish-brown deposit that looks like ground coffee in your dog's ears. Ear mites can cause your cat to go completely deaf if left untreated.

To wrap it up

Dog treats, an ear cleaner, and four cotton balls are a must. A "drying agent" in the chemicals, which means any extra fluid will evaporate, may be found in the ear cleaner you purchase from your veterinarian. Keep in mind that an ear infection might be caused by excessive moisture in the ear. To know more, scroll up and read the complete guide presented to you by proud dog parents.