Massage the earĪfter you’ve put the drops in, it’s a good idea to give your dog’s ear canal a light massage with your finger and thumb. A good indication that you’ve given the right amount is that the lining of the ear looks oily after application. If the bottle has a long nozzle, it can sometimes be difficult to see how much is going in. You should squeeze just enough to administer the recommended dose. Some ear drops have longer nozzles than others and the thickness of the liquid can vary too. Insert the applicator nozzle into the ear and squeeze You won’t do any harm with your finger as you won’t be able to insert it far enough into the ear canal to damage the ear drum. Use cotton wool on the end of your finger – not a cotton bud – to dry the ear and clear out any loose wax. As the type of infection can differ from dog to dog, it’s worth speaking to your vet about how often they’d recommend cleaning your pet’s ears.
#OTOMAX OINTMENT FOR DOGS HOW TO#
Put the ear cleaner into your dog’s ear and give the area a gentle massage (see more on how to massage below). Clean the earīefore you give your dog ear drops, you should first use a veterinary-recommended ear cleaner to get rid of any wax or discharge. You could also give your dog a treat before administering the drops and have a treat or two at the ready for afterwards. Once you’ve found an assistant and know the directions, gather all the materials, such as cotton wool or a towel, that you might need. If you’ve got a dog who wants to pull away or hold his head down, it’s hard to restrain him and administer the drops by yourself. Having someone else hold onto your dog’s collar while you put the drops in makes a big difference. It’s important to have gentle but adequate restraint. Preparation is keyīefore you begin, familiarise yourself with the directions on the medication and then enlist a second pair of hands. Giving a treat before and after you administer the drops can work especially well with food-motivated dogs, but using praise and positive reinforcement as a reward is also effective (although it may take a little more time). If you have an older dog, or one who’s especially resistant to having his ears handled, building a positive association with the ear medication can help. You can even place the end of your finger gently inside the opening of the ear canal in their early years so that they don’t grow up to be totally ear-shy. It’s important to get dogs used to us holding and inspecting their ears while they’re young. In an ideal world, your dog would be used to having his ears handled from when he was a puppy. To help, Petplan veterinary expert Brian Faulkner shares his top tips for making the process as easy as possible. If your dog has otitis, you will be all too familiar with the challenges of administering ear drops.