dog's ears should be clean, slightly pink-gray and have no odor.
Problems with the ear to watch for include:
Red, irritated skin
irt or wax builds up
"Coffee grounds" (rare)
Frequent head shaking, or scratching/pawing at ear(s)
The most common problems with ears are ear infections
(yeast or bacterial). Ear mites are actually pretty uncommon in
dogs. In any case, any of the above symptoms are grounds for having
the vet check your dog's ears out.
Ear mites are treated
Sometimes a reapplication is needed. Some people have gotten rid
of light infestations by cleaning the ear out and then coating
lightly with baby oil or mineral oil.
here for more information about ear mites.
Plus By Virbac, eliminates ear mites without irritation.
Ear infections are a little
harder to treat, usually requiring daily eardrops for a week or
so, weekly drops for some time after that. Some dogs prone to
ear infections need to have eardrops on a regular basis. Drop-eared
dogs are a bit more prone to ear infections, as prick ears normally
allow more air circulation.
Cleansing/Drying Ear Solution
(epiotic) By Virbac Ear Cleanser For Dogs And Cats
An easy home remedy
to *prevent* ear infections (will not cure an existing one) is:
Tablespoons Boric Acid
oz Rubbing Alcohol
well. Put 1 small eyedropper full in each ear. Rub it around first,
and then let the dog shake. Do this once a week and you shouldn't
see any ear infections. It works by raising the pH level slightly
inside the ear, making it less hospitable to bacteria.
To clean out an ear that's simply dirty (some
buildup of dirt and wax is normal, but excessive ear wax may indicate
that something else is wrong), take a cotton ball, dip in hydrogen
peroxide if you like (squeeze excess out) and wipe the dog's ear
out. The canal is rather deep, so you will not injure your dog
so long as you only use your finger to probe the canal. Clean
all around the little crevices as best as you can. Use another
cotton ball for the other ear. Be sure to dry the ears out thoroughly.