How-to guide

How to Clean Your Dog's Ears Safely

How to clean your dog's ears with a vet ear cleaner in three simple steps, how often to do it, what never to use, and the signs of an ear infection.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read · By the Hushku editorial team · 2 sources

Short answer

Fill the ear canal with a vet-approved ear cleaner, massage the base of the ear for about 30 seconds, let your dog shake, then wipe away loosened debris with cotton wool or gauze, no deeper than your first knuckle. Clean only when the ears are dirty or as your vet advises; never use cotton buds, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. Red, smelly or painful ears need a vet, not cleaning.

Key facts

Fill the canal with cleaner, massage for about 30 seconds, let your dog shake, then wipe.
Never go deeper than one knuckle, and never use cotton buds.
Avoid hydrogen peroxide and homemade solutions.
Clean only when needed; over-cleaning causes irritation.

Overview

Most dogs with healthy ears need very little ear cleaning. Over-cleaning can irritate the ear canal and actually cause problems. Dogs that swim often, have floppy or hairy ears, or are prone to infections may need cleaning more often.

Check first. Healthy ears are pale pink, with little wax and no strong smell. If you see redness, swelling, dark or yellow discharge, or your dog is shaking its head or yelps when you touch its ear, see your vet before cleaning: the eardrum may need to be checked, and some cleaners shouldn't be used if it's damaged.

What you need

A vet-recommended dog ear cleaner
Avoid homemade solutions, which may irritate or not clean effectively.
Cotton wool balls or gauze
Not cotton buds, which can push debris deeper and damage the canal.
Treats
To make the experience positive.
A towel
Your dog will shake, and cleaner goes everywhere.

Step by step

1
Get your dog comfortable
Choose a calm moment, ideally after a walk. Sit with your dog in a corner or in the bath so it can't back away. Handle the ears and give treats before you start.
Tip: Practise touching and lifting the ear flaps for a few days beforehand with treats.
2
Fill the ear canal with cleaner
Lift the ear flap and squeeze enough cleaner into the canal to fill it. Keep the tip of the bottle from touching the ear, to avoid injury and contamination.
3
Massage the base of the ear
Gently massage the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. You should hear a squelching sound as the cleaner breaks up wax and debris.
4
Let your dog shake
Step back and let your dog shake its head, which brings loosened debris up from the canal. Hold a towel up to protect yourself.
5
Wipe away the debris
Use cotton wool or gauze wrapped around your finger to wipe the inside of the ear flap and the opening of the canal, no deeper than one knuckle. Repeat until it comes away clean.
Careful: Stop and see your vet if your dog seems to be in pain.
6
Reward and repeat on the other side
Give a treat and some praise, then do the other ear. Use fresh cotton wool for each ear.

Common mistakes

Using cotton buds
Why it backfires: They push wax deeper and can damage the ear canal or eardrum.
Do this instead: Use cotton wool or gauze on your fingertip only.
Using hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or vinegar
Why it backfires: They can irritate healthy ear tissue and sting inflamed ears.
Do this instead: Use a cleaner made for dogs' ears.
Cleaning an infected ear instead of seeing a vet
Why it backfires: Cleaning doesn't treat infection and can hurt if the eardrum is damaged.
Do this instead: See your vet for red, smelly, painful or discharging ears.
Cleaning too often
Why it backfires: Over-cleaning can irritate the ear and upset its natural balance.
Do this instead: Clean only when needed, or on your vet's schedule.

Sources

We check guides against veterinary sources and update them when guidance changes. How we write and review.

Questions.

How often should I clean my dog's ears?

Only when they look dirty, or as often as your vet recommends for your dog. Dogs that swim regularly may benefit from a drying cleaner after swimming.

Should I pluck the hair in my dog's ears?

Routine plucking is no longer generally recommended unless the hair is causing problems, as it can irritate the canal. Ask your vet or groomer.

What does brown ear wax mean?

A little light-brown wax is normal. Lots of dark brown discharge, especially with a smell or itching, can mean infection or ear mites.

Key facts

Overview

What you need

Step by step

Get your dog comfortable

Fill the ear canal with cleaner

Massage the base of the ear

Let your dog shake

Wipe away the debris

Reward and repeat on the other side

Common mistakes

Using cotton buds

Using hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or vinegar

Cleaning an infected ear instead of seeing a vet

Cleaning too often

Sources

Questions.

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