Matthew Criner wrote 10/21/2006 01:27 AM How to safely clean a GSDs ears? #116221 - 10/21/2006 01:27 AM
Matthew Criner Webboard User Reg: 01-22-2006 Posts: 169 Loc: Offline	How can I safely clean my gsd's ears? He has a lot of wax in them and I think it is bothering him, because he is scratching and shaking a lot lately. Is it ok for me to just use a paper towel and clean them manually with my finger? Or could this harm him? Thanks.
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steve mcdonald wrote 10/21/2006 01:43 AM Re: How to safely clean a GSDs ears? [Re: Matthew Criner ] #116222 - 10/21/2006 01:43 AM
steve mcdonald Webboard User Reg: 09-05-2006 Posts: 144 Loc: Offline	cotton ball, toilet paper works better then papaer towel. Paper towel is thick. Go to dog store get some foaming ear cleaner stuff. Wax comes out easy after that. My dog lets me get a qtip in ear. If your dog is shaking its head around it probably has an ear infection. Those who would give up essential freedoms for the temporary feeling of safety deserve neither!!
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susan tuck wrote 10/21/2006 01:57 AM Re: How to safely clean a GSDs ears? [Re: Matthew Criner ] #116223 - 10/21/2006 01:57 AM
susan tuck Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2006 Posts: 1608 Loc: Cali & Wash State Offline	Hi Matthew, If your dog is shaking his head get him to the vet. It could be infection, foxtail, etc.. I don't use q-tips because my mother told me never to put anything smaller than my elbow in my own ear <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Seriously, I would go to the vet because ears can blow up on you pretty quickly.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 10/21/2006 10:27 AM Re: How to safely clean a GSDs ears? [Re: Matthew Criner ] #116224 - 10/21/2006 10:27 AM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: How can I safely clean my gsd's ears? He has a lot of wax in them and I think it is bothering him, because he is scratching and shaking a lot lately. Is it ok for me to just use a paper towel and clean them manually with my finger? Or could this harm him? Thanks. Shaking the head = VET. Classic ear infection symptom, as Susan says. And it can get bad very fast. Smooshing cleaner around in the ear using the ear flap and allowing the dog to shake it out is the way to loosen debris and then wipe it from the inside of the flap ONLY........ no Q-tips or anything pushed into the ear. http://www.drjwv.com/care.php?view=ear.php But head shaking and visible gunk means vet. They don't shake just because of plain wax; it's because of the itch and/or pain of yeast and/or bacterial infections.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 10/21/2006 02:26 PM Re: How to safely clean a GSDs ears? [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #116225 - 10/21/2006 02:26 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	I forgot to mention that Susan brought up an important thing: foxtails and other foreign bodies embedded in the ear canal (which happens a lot when it gets in there and then the dog paws at it, pushing it deeper) are often hidden from our inspection, and can cause very serious inner-ear infections. The vet can see and remove it, as well as treat for the inflammation and infection that can result. Leaving it can lead to severe pain and, ultimately, permanent damage. Dogs shake in an effort to dislodge painful and itchy materials and objects, which makes it a good tool for us to indicate that a vet visit is in order, as Steve mentioned.
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susan tuck wrote 10/21/2006 04:38 PM Re: How to safely clean a GSDs ears? [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #116226 - 10/21/2006 04:38 PM
susan tuck Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2006 Posts: 1608 Loc: Cali & Wash State Offline	Another thing to think about is all that ear shaking can cause the blood to get between the cartildge & skin of the ear (hematoma). When this happens, it's very difficult to fix (even surgically) & you end up with a dog with a broken, shrunken, dropped ear. All the shaking is a reaction to the pain the dog is in. The best thing to do is get the dog to your vet before any secondary complications arise.
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Al Curbow wrote 10/21/2006 04:53 PM Re: How to safely clean a GSDs ears? [Re: Matthew Criner ] #116227 - 10/21/2006 04:53 PM
Al Curbow Webboard User Reg: 06-30-2005 Posts: 974 Loc: northeast Offline	I use the ear cleaner pads, wrap it around your finger and wipe around. Every time i do nails , i do ears. The vet will probably give you otomax, watch him/her do it and then you'll see how far in you can go. My vet showed me how to do ears and also showed me a section view of a dogs ear and you'd have to do something dramatic to hurt the dog with your finger and a pad, I definitely wouldn't be sticking q-tips in their ears and toilet paper breaks up when wet so i wouldn't use that either, AL AL
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Kevin Mobley wrote 10/22/2006 10:24 AM Re: How to safely clean a GSDs ears? [Re: Al Curbow ] #116228 - 10/22/2006 10:24 AM
Kevin Mobley Webboard User Reg: 12-31-2003 Posts: 172 Loc: Eastern Nebraska Offline	This is an intersting discussion. My wife has always handled this, she swears it is "bonding" for her and Luke. She simply sits down with a box of Q-tips and rubbing alcohol, calls Luke and puts his head in her lap, and she cleans his ear out pretty darn good. He have never seemed to mind, other than an occassional look at me as if to tell me how demeaning the whole procedure is, but he does go to her, even when he watches her get ready for it. So my question is; is this way of cleaning his ears ok? If not then I need to tell her to knock it off, and WHY. If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn't thinking. Gen. G.S. Patton
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Kevin Mobley wrote 10/22/2006 10:27 AM Re: How to safely clean a GSDs ears? [Re: Kevin Mobley ] #116229 - 10/22/2006 10:27 AM
Kevin Mobley Webboard User Reg: 12-31-2003 Posts: 172 Loc: Eastern Nebraska Offline	If he did not like it then it would be hard for her to do, as he will not take getting a bath from her without a considerable struggle. She like the tub, and he hates it. I use the hose and his pool, and he like that, but the tub, standby because it'll be a brawl. LOL! but hey, the wife sleeps good that night, she'll be worn out. If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn't thinking. Gen. G.S. Patton
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susan tuck wrote 10/22/2006 02:51 PM Re: How to safely clean a GSDs ears? [Re: Kevin Mobley ] #116230 - 10/22/2006 02:51 PM
susan tuck Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2006 Posts: 1608 Loc: Cali & Wash State Offline	Kevin, the q-tips are not good. They can damage the canal, and puncture the drum. Sometimes they just push the wax in deeper. You know, there is supposed to be some wax in the ear. I don't use rubbing alcohol because it is so drying, (& maybe a little harsh). I like the little pads mentioned by Al. I get mine from the vet & they come premoistened.
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