As part of the grooming process, cleaning the ears of your Shih Tzu is important. This is because if left untreated, the ears of a Shih Tzu can become infected which may damage their hearing. From ear mites to sore spots, effective grooming can minimize the damage to the ears, so they remain clean and healthy for the rest of their lives.
Cleaning Supplies
You will need to check with your vet, but there are some products on the market that will help you keep the ears of your Shih Tzu clean.
- Ear Cleaner: Be sure it is approved for dogs
- Cotton pads or balls
- Tweezers
- Towel
And most importantly, treats so you can reward your Shih Tzu for their patience as you clean their ears.
Ear Cleaning Steps
The first step is inspection. Look carefully inside the ears of your pooch. If they are red, inflamed, or smell bad then they probably have an infection. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to get the proper treatment. Once any infection has been cleared up, you can then start a regular regimen of cleaning their ears.
Sit: Get your Shih Tzu to sit, reward them, and let them sniff the ear cleaner
Hold: Hold their ear flap so you can gently pour the cleaner into their ears. Follow the instructions and keep your dog calm.
Massage: Once the cleaner is in, gently massage the base of the ear for up to thirty seconds. Your Shih Tzu may actually enjoy having their ears massaged in this manner.
Shake: Once the massage is complete, let your Shih Tzu shake the solution out of their ears. This is when you need a towel.
Wipe: Take the cotton pad or ball and gently wipe the part of the ear canal and outer ear that you can see. Wipe only to remove any visible dirt or debris.
Reward: You rewarded your Shih Tzu at the start, reward them again for cleaning an ear. Then move them around so you can repeat the process with the other ear.
Tips
While cleaning the ears of your Shih Tzu is simple, getting them to stand still may be problematic. This is because you have never done this before, and the unknown can be concerning to your dog. Here are a few tips that will help make it easier.
Confinement: A bathroom is a good place because they can only go so far. However, you can also be outside if you can keep them from running off. At least when they shake the solution around outdoors, it’s not going to get on any walls.
Gentle: Go through the process one step at a time and reassure your Shih Tzu all the way through. This will help them to settle down and feel more comfortable.
Be sure to wear old clothing in case you get the solution on yourself. After a few times, your Shih Tzu will go through the cleaning without incident as they get used to what is happening. Plus, you can have peace of mind knowing that their ears are properly cleaned.
