A step-by-step guide to safely giving your dog ear drops
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Handle with care
In an ideal world, your dog would be used to having their ears handled from when they were a puppy. It’s important to get dogs used to us holding and inspecting their ears while they’re young. 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.
If you have an older dog, or one who’s especially resistant to having their ears handled, building a positive association with the ear medication can help. 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).
Preparation is key
Before you begin, familiarise yourself with the directions on the medication and then enlist a second pair of hands. It’s important to have gentle but adequate restraint. Having someone else hold onto your dog’s collar while you put the drops in makes a big difference. 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.
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. You could also give your dog a treat before administering the drops and have a treat or two at the ready for afterwards. Then follow this step-by-step guide:
1. Clean the ear

2. Dry the ear

3. Insert the applicator nozzle into the ear and squeeze

4. Massage the ear
After 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. To do so, gently press down his ear flap and place your fingers at the base of his ear. Then slowly and firmly move your finger and thumb in a circular motion, but be ready to lighten the pressure if you notice that your pet is experiencing discomfort.
This will help the oil get right down to the bottom of the ear canal, and also disrupts any of the excess wax that you might not have been able to reach with the cotton wool. A lot of dogs really enjoy a massage like this, finding it soothing.

5. Let your dog shake
6. Give your dog a treat or reward
Video: how to give your dog ear drops
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