Cleaning the ears is not necessary with most dogs and can cause problems and infections if done incorrectly. However, if your dog has a history of ear disease, a vet may advise regular cleaning to help keep recurrence at bay. You will need cotton wool pads, ear cleaner, a towel and, if possible, a second pair of hands. Put a few drops of ear cleaner into their ear canal, massage the base of the ear to make sure the solution gets evenly distributed inside and wipe away the outer surface of the ears with the cotton wool pad. Use a different pad for each ear to avoid spreading bacteria. Never poke anything into the ear, such as an ear-bud, because this can cause damage and inflammation particularly if your dog suddenly moves their head. For a step-by-step guide, check out our handy article on how to clean a dog’s ears.