Check your pet’s eyes and ears regularly. Clean ears with an alcohol-free veterinary solution and cotton wool, massaging the base of the ear — never use cotton buds, which push wax and debris deeper and can create a plug. Clean eyes with damp gauze, wiping from the inner corner outwards. A bad smell, dark wax, redness or persistent head shaking all mean a trip to the vet.
Key facts:
- Check regularly: ears and eyes, as part of routine grooming.
- Ears: alcohol-free solution and cotton wool; massage the base of the ear afterwards.
- Never use cotton buds: they push debris deeper and can form a plug.
- Eyes: damp gauze, wiping from the inner corner outwards, one piece per eye.
- Warning signs: bad smell, dark wax, redness, head shaking, scratching at the ear.
- Higher risk breeds: drop-eared dogs such as the Cocker Spaniel and Basset Hound.
Ears and eyes are where small neglect becomes expensive quickly. An untreated ear infection can perforate an eardrum; an untreated eye ulcer can cost the eye.
How do I clean my pet’s ears?
Use an alcohol-free cleaning solution designed for animals, and cotton wool or gauze — never anything you have to push into the canal. Apply the solution, massage the base of the ear for a few seconds (you should hear a soft squelch, which means it is working its way in), then let your pet shake its head — that is what brings the debris up. Finally, wipe away what is now visible on the outer part of the ear. That is all.
Why must I never use cotton buds?
Because a dog’s ear canal is L-shaped, not straight like ours. A cotton bud does not clean it: it packs the wax and debris further down, towards the eardrum, where it forms a plug and provides an ideal environment for infection. You can also perforate the eardrum. Whatever the temptation, clean only what you can see.
Which pets get ear problems most?
Dogs with long, heavy, drop ears — the Cocker Spaniel and Basset Hound are the classic examples — because the ear flap seals the canal, keeping it warm, dark and humid: exactly what yeast and bacteria want. Dogs that swim a lot are also at higher risk, as are pets with allergies, in whom recurring ear infections are often the first sign of the underlying allergy.
How do I clean my pet’s eyes?
With damp gauze or a clean cloth, wiping gently from the inner corner outwards, and using a separate piece for each eye so you do not transfer an infection from one to the other. Flat-faced breeds — Pugs, Bulldogs, Persians — need this more often, because their tear drainage is poor and the folds around the eye trap moisture. Never use human eye drops or products unless your vet has prescribed them.
What are the warning signs?
For ears: a bad smell, dark or abundant wax, redness, heat, persistent head shaking, scratching at the ear, or a head held tilted to one side. For eyes: redness, squinting or holding the eye closed, excessive tearing, a cloudy appearance, discharge, or pawing at the face. An eye that is painful or closed is an emergency — a corneal ulcer can deteriorate within a day or two.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use cotton buds in my dog’s ears?
Never. They push debris towards the eardrum and can create a plug or perforate it.
Why does my dog keep shaking its head?
Persistent head shaking usually means an ear problem — infection, wax, a foreign body such as a grass seed, or an allergy. See your vet.
Which dogs get most ear infections?
Drop-eared breeds like the Cocker Spaniel and Basset Hound, swimmers, and dogs with allergies.
My cat is holding one eye shut — is that urgent?
Yes. A painful, closed eye should be seen the same day; corneal ulcers can worsen very fast.
Recurring ear infections and eye problems mean repeated consultations and medication. Petplan España (Petplan Ibérica, S.L.) reimburses 100% of the vet bill up to €3,100 a year, with a €45 excess, at any vet you choose. See the policy terms.
