Cleaning Your Pointer’s Ears

I’ve been showing Pointers for years, so I have to make sure my dogs are always perfectly groomed, including their ears. But, any dog’s ears should be cleaned on a regular basis, whether he’s a show dog or not. And that’s especially true for floppy-eared breeds like Pointers.

Your Pointer’s floppy ears are beautiful, but they can trap dirt, debris, bacteria and other microorganisms in the moist, warm, waxy environment inside, where they can incubate into an unhealthy combination. You’ll help prevent ear mites and other infections by cleaning your dog’s ears frequently.

Cleaning your dog’s ears is easy to do, but ask your vet if you have any questions. A good way to learn how is by watching a professional groomer cleaning a dog’s ears. You’ll only need to see the process once. Just make sure you don’t injure your dog’s ears, which you can do if you use a Q-tip® or some other cotton-tipped applicator.

Begin by restraining your dog for his protection. If he jerks while you’re working on his ears, you could damage his ear drum, which could permanently impair his hearing. Soak a piece of gauze with dog ear cleaning solution (or soapy water, in a pinch) and then wrap the gauze around the tip of your finger. Using the gauze, gently swab the inside of your dog’s ear. Then, put a small amount of the cleaning solution into your dog’s ear and massage the base of the ear until you hear a “squooshing” sound. Once you’re finished, let your dog shake his head, because this will help get the solution out of his ears. Make sure you dry the inside of his ears thoroughly but gently. And whatever you do, never use a Q-tip®.