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This guide is a home-care support tool. It does not replace personalized advice from your veterinarian. For any questions, contact us at 514-223-1197.
Why an ear treatment?
Ear medications are prescribed for an infection, inflammation, or another problem in the canal. The whole point is to get the product deep enough to act where it is needed. With a little practice, it is simple and doable at home.
An infection
Bacteria or yeast in the canal, treated right where they are.
Inflammation
A red, irritated canal, sometimes linked to allergies.
A canal problem
Any other condition of the ear canal that needs targeted treatment.
What to expect
The treated ear should start to improve within the first few days. In more severe cases, it can take a little longer. If things get worse instead, that is the time to call us.
What you need
Two things are enough. Use exactly the medication your veterinarian prescribed, and only that.
Exam gloves
Latex or equivalent. They protect you from contact with any bacteria or yeast, and with the medication itself. Wash your hands right after.
The prescribed medication
The topical treatment your veterinarian recommended for your pet's ear.
Think comfort
The product comes out of the bottle colder than body temperature, which can startle your pet, especially if the ear is raw. Warm the bottle or tube under your arm for about fifteen minutes first: it is far more pleasant. You can also start with a small amount while your pet gets used to it. The comfort the medication eventually brings is well worth it.
When to stop and call us
The ear should improve within the first few days. Contact us promptly if, instead, you notice any of these signs:
- Increasing discharge.
- An ear that is redder, warmer, or more swollen.
- Pain that is getting worse.
- More marked head-shaking or scratching.
- A condition that seems to be spreading.
- Being unable to instill the medication properly.
Is your pet resisting? Stop.
If your pet struggles, stop and call us. The ear may be too painful to treat without additional medication. Do not put yourself or your pet at risk of a bite or a nip, and do not force it: resistance is often a sign of a worsening infection that deserves a prompt reassessment.
The procedure, step by step
Allow under five minutes. With a calm pet, one person is enough; otherwise get help. If the treatment stays too difficult, talk to us: there are alternatives.
Get set up, with help if needed
With a calm pet, you can manage alone. With a young, excitable, or unaccustomed animal, have a second person hold and distract it (a treat, a toy, or just the sight of a ball works wonders).
Clean first, if prescribed
If your veterinarian prescribed a cleaning solution, clean the ear before instilling the medication. Cleaning loosens the debris; if you medicate first, the cleaning solution would then carry the medication away.
Position the ear
With one hand, gently lift the ear flap straight up. A practical method: fold it into your palm, furry side against your hand, thumb on the smooth inner side; you can then see the opening of the canal. For a breed with naturally upright ears, simply cup your hand behind the ear.
Instill without touching the canal
The cupped flap forms a funnel. Do not insert the tip into the canal: place it at the entrance and aim so the drops fall as deep as possible. Do not let the tip touch the ear, to avoid contaminating the bottle.
Massage the canal
Lower the flap and massage the whole canal, gently rolling the tissue between thumb and finger; you can feel a small soft tube under the skin, at the base of the ear. The massage spreads the medication through the canal.
Let it shake, then wipe
Most pets shake their head after instilling: that is how they push wax and debris outward, away from the eardrum. Then wipe the inner surface of the flap with gauze. Never a cotton swab in the canal: it pushes debris back inward.
Limit scratching if needed
If your pet scratches a lot, an Elizabethan collar may be needed while the medication works. Scratching can cause self-injury and should be avoided.
In pictures
After the treatment
A few simple steps to finish cleanly and safely.
- Throw away the used gauze and gloves.
- Wash your hands.
- Close the bottle or tube and store it out of reach of children and pets.
Your questions, our answers
What owners ask us most about ear treatments.
How often should I clean and apply the medication?
Should I stop as soon as the ear looks better?
Are there any restrictions during treatment?
Can head-shaking or scratching make things worse?
The right move, in the right place
Given well, on a prepared ear and without ever forcing it, an ear treatment works exactly where it should and brings your pet quick relief. At the first doubt, the first sign of pain, or unusual resistance, set the treatment aside and call us.