Instructions
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So your dog needs some ear drops. No problem. Let’s go through the process. Before you get started, you need to know whether the bottle or syringe can actually be placed in your dog’s ear. Your vet team can tell you this. Start by warming the medication in your hand. Gently shake the bottle as instructed. If needed, drop the liquid into a syringe or dropper according to the dosing instructions.
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There are different ways to position your dog when giving them ear drops, and there’s no right way to do this. Only the way that works best for you and your dog. If you have a larger dog. Try having them sit with their rear end in the corner of a room, which will deter them from backing away from you. Straddling
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them can also work. Active dogs may need a bit of a distraction, such as a chew or a favorite toy to help them settle. For smaller dogs, you can sit on the floor and have your dog sit in front of you with their rear end between your legs, or you can have them sit on your lap or beside you on a chair.
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In all cases, second person may be helpful. Now that you’ve got your dog in a comfortable position, take the dropper, syringe, or bottle between the thumb and forefinger of your dominant hand. If you need to raise your dog’s head. Try rubbing under their jaw using whatever hand is available. Gently rub around the ear to be treated, provided the ear is itchy and not painful.
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This can help distract your dog from the medication as you rub. Gently hold the ears to be treated for floppy ear dogs. You will also expose the ear canal if the bottle is designed to go into the ear. Gently place the tip of the bottle into the ear canal and give the prescribed number of drops. If the bottle or syringe should not touch the ear, make sure to hold the ear straight up as much as possible before squeezing the drops into the ear canal.
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Once given, gently massage the base of the ear for about 30s. You should hear a squishing sound as the medication moves deep into the ear canal. If your dog won’t let you do this, that’s okay. Just try your best. If the inner part of the ear flat needs medication, place the prescribed amount on the infected part. Spread the medication with your finger, preferably while wearing the gloves.
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Release the ear and let your dog shake their head. Any debris in the ear canal may shake out, so just gently wipe it away with a tissue or cotton ball. Finally, wipe off the tip of the bottle or the syringe with a small amount of alcohol. This can help prevent the spread of bacteria or yeast. Here’s a few extra pieces of advice.
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Dog’s ear canals are L-shaped, so pulling up on their ear flap will straighten it out and make it easier for medication to flow to the target area. Floppy eared or upright, the inside of the ear is the same in all dogs. Your conditions can be painful if just touching your dog’s ear sends them running. Ask your vet about pain medication.
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Here are the key things to remember when giving your medication. Find a position that’s comfortable. Gently pull on the ear flap and praise your dog when it’s over. Giving your medication may not go as planned the first time, or even the 10th time, but as a pet owner, you do the best you can because your dog is worth it.