Basset Hound Ear Cleaning

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Those Big Beautiful Basset Ears!

Basset Hound Ears are big, soft, and droopy which helps to make them so unique and lovable. But if not cleaned regularly they can become a major source of odor due to a buildup of ear wax. This can cause irritation and can develop into ear infections, and a breeding ground for ear mites. This can all lead to damage to your dogs ears. This lens is all about Basset Hound ear cleaning so you can keep your Basset's ears healthy, and you and your dog happy!

Dog Ear Anatomy

Alright people! Everyone who loved biology in high school will enjoy this section! I could get more technical in this explanation but this is enough for what we are doing here.

Cleaning Basset Hound ears

To properly clean a Basset Hounds ears we need to know a little of the anatomy of a Basset ear. It is made up of the following parts, as in the diagram:

- the outer ear is the part that you see and is covered with hair. (obviously this is much larger on a Basset than shown in this diagram!)

- inside is the ear canal which is an L - shaped tube.

- this leads to the ear drum which separates the outer ear from the middle ear. It is very thin and easily damaged by excessive cleaning.

- beyond that is the inner ear which is involved in your dog's hearing and balance. It contains nerves which connect to the brain.

The Healthy Ear

Before we know how to clean a Bassets ear it is probably helpful to know what we are trying to accomplish. Here is a picture of a healthy dog's ear...

Cleaning Basset Hound ear
Photo by: Henry Moore

The inside of the ear should be a healthy pink colour. There may be some brownish colored wax seen deeper in the ear.

The degree of convolutions in your Basset's ear will depend on your dog and will determine how often they need cleaning.

One of our Bassets had smaller ears and the inside looked like a labyrinth from which nothing could escape. Her ears required constant attention.(ie: cleaning twice a week!) Our other Basset had much larger ears and the insides had relatively few twists and turns. Her ears therefore, did not accumulate nearly as much debris and only required cleaning every 2 weeks or so.

In healthy ears there should be little or no odour and no discharge of any kind.

So next time you are buying a Basset you might want to take a closer look at those mudflaps!

The Not So Healthy Basset Hound Ear

If you notice any of the following with your dog than it's probably long overdue for an ear cleaning...

- Odour from the ears.

- Any kind of discharge from the ears.

- excessive ear scratching.

- Shakes their head and/or rubs it on the floor.

The outside of the ear may have hair missing if there has been a lot of rubbing or scratching. It may also feel warm to the touch.

The inside of the ear may look red and irritated. You may see accumulation of a brownish-black substance possibly accompanied by some discharge.

Any of these may indicate that your dog is suffering from an ear infection and/or ear mites and requires immediate attention.

If you think that your Basset's ears are possibly infected it is probably best to take them to your Vet for a diagnosis and treatment.

The Cleaning Part - What Do I Need?

To do a good job of cleaning your Basset Hound's ears you will need a few supplies...

- An assistant is extremely helpful in holding your dog while you do the cleaning. You can do it yourself but it will depend on how cooperative your dog is. Most Bassets do not enjoy ear cleaning but will not put up too much of a fight either. Again it may depend on your particular dog. I would recommend two people as it is easier to do a good job and reduces the likelihood of hurting your Basset.

You will also need the following:

- A good quality ear cleaning solution. I recommend using Healthy Ears Ear Cleanser. It contains a combination of gentle ingredients that aid in the removal of dirt, wax and other unwanted matter from your dogs ears. It is veterinarian formulated, contains Aloe Vera and is designed to help prevent ear infections in your dog. If you are interested in this cleanser you can purchase it at the bottom of this page.

- Caution! Do not use "homemade ear cleaning recipes" on your dog. These can often be more harmful than helpful. If you insist on using something like that please consult with your Vet first, as your dog's ears are sensitive and could be damaged by the use of some of these substances.

- cotton balls to wipe the inside of the ear with. A soft washcloth moistened with ear cleanser is also helpful, but you may not want to keep it after the procedure!

- Cotton tipped sticks (ie: Q-Tips).

- Tweezers are handy for plucking out excessive hair around the start of the ear canal. This is not usually the case in Bassets, but yours may be an exception!

- Dog treats! A few treats offered during the cleaning will distract pretty much any Basset!

Okay..I'm Ready! Let's Get Started!

We find that cleaning is easiest when done on the floor but you can also do it on a table. Make sure that the surfaces are easily cleanable and you are not wearing your Sunday best, as it can be messy at times!

- Restrain your pet- If you are doing this on your own, first get your dog to lay down. Position yourself on the opposite side of the ear you are going to clean. Hold the ear cleanser in your right hand and use your left arm to keep your dogs head restrained.

If you have help then your assistant can restrain your dog. If you think that your dog would bite during this procedure than a muzzle may be needed. However I have never met a Basset that would bite their owner under any circumstances!

This is probably a good time to start with those treats!

- Applying the ear cleanser- Once your dog is relatively still, lift the ear flap and gently put a few squirts of cleanser into the ear making sure to get some down into the ear canal.

DO NOT squirt forcefully down the ear canal as you could damage the eardrum!

At this point your dog may try and shake it's head. That's okay, it will help loosen the ear debris. But be warned, it could be messy!

- Massage- Put the ear flap back down and start massaging the cleanser into the ear especially at the base. Our Bassets seemed to like this part and would start making grunting sounds!

- Cotton balls- Lift the ear flap again and use the cotton balls to gently wipe out the debris that has been loosened by the cleanser. You can put some cleanser on the cotton ball to make it easier. Use as many as you need to get things looking pink again, but be gentle!

- Use Q-tips -When you think you've done all you can with the cotton balls you can now use the Q-tips.

-*CAUTION!*- DO NOT stick a Q-tip down into the ear canal as you can push wax into the canal or worse yet, damage the eardrum!

Use the Q-tip to clean the areas that you can see and reach easily inside the ear.

THAT'S IT! YOUR DONE!

Your Basset will probably shake their head for a little while afterwards which will help loosen any wax that was left behind. You may want to let them outside for that!

If your dog's ears seem pink and healthy in the days following the cleaning then it is just a matter of keeping up with a regular ear cleaning routine.

On the other hand if your Basset Hound is still having problems with shaking the head, scratching, inflammation, etc. Take your pet to the Veterinarian so they can determine if there is an infection or ear mites that require medication.

The trusted source for your dog's natural health care.

Ear cleanser

RickBasset Recommends...

All Natural Dog Ear Cleaner

Veterinarian's Best Ear Relief Wash Dry 2pk is a 2 step, natural, safe formula. It soothingly cleans ears and eases scratching, redness and soreness due to waxy buildup... and keeps the ear canal fresh. It also helps guard against swimmers ear.

And Veterinarians Best Ear Relief Dry is a non-stinging, alcohol free formula that turns into an absorbent powder finish. It maintain the ears normal pH balance to manage unpleasant ear odor. It also helps prevent ear scratching, protects against waxy buildup and swimmers ear, plus soothes red, sore ears.

Used in tandem, this two-step formulation is a safe supplement to help your dog's ears stay clean and clear!

Dogwatch Magazine



The newsletter for dog people, DogWatch is packed with proven techniques to improve your pet's behavior and ease training problems. Plus, you'll find keys to better canine nutrition, effective preventive medicine and new ways to add health and vigor to your dog's life.
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If You Have 2 or More Bassets....

How to clean a Basset Hounds ears
by entrapment68 | video info

12 ratings | 9,353 views
curated content from YouTube

Featured Lens

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Treating Smelly Basset Ear Odor Due To Yeast or Fungal Infections

Basset's ears are prone to fungal and yeast infections. These are a very common cause of the smelly ear odour that Basset owners complain about. Canine Echo gold was carefully formulated by a leading naturopathic veterinarian. It contains no harsh chemicals, and is loaded with natural herbal extracts:

* Assists recovery from ear infections
* Natural anti-inflammatory helps calm pain
* Soothes uncomfortable itching
* Helps guard against future of ear problems
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Ear Mite Treatment

RickBasset Recommends...

Dog Ear mite treatmentNatural treatment for feline ear mites and fungal dog ear infections

* Natural disinfectant
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* Stops the spread of infection
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Canine ER Clear drops rid your dog of ear mites, restoring his health and comfort. These tiny parasites that live in your dog's ears can cause
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Please leave a comment, question or anything else here!

  • bejeezers Feb 10, 2012 @ 4:00 pm | delete
    A very helpful lense, well presented.
  • readabooki Jan 30, 2012 @ 12:09 am | delete
    Great lens and such cute pictures of Bassets. Easy to understand and follow.
  • BassetMamma Jul 8, 2011 @ 7:51 pm | delete
    Lots of great information here on cleaning the ears. Another dog ear treatment that works great for controlling ear symptoms in dogs ears is Dr Dogs Ear Oil, it's natural too which we like cuz we don't like chemicals in our precious pups ears. maybe it will help others, hate it but lots of Basset Hounds have ear problems, ours did before too.
  • Mickie_G Apr 27, 2010 @ 11:18 am | delete
    My basset is prone to ear problems. I need to be more diligent in cleaning his cute, long ears.
  • mukunda22 Oct 29, 2009 @ 3:29 pm | delete
    Good info and your product line looks excellent!

    ****5 and faved!
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