Your Shih Tzu puppy’s ears must stay clean. As a Shih Tzu breeder, I recommend cleaning your dog’s ears once a month unless your veterinarian suggests a different ear-cleaning schedule. Ear infections are avoidable if the ears are kept clean.
Some of the more common ear issues your Shih Tzu may face if the ears aren’t kept clean include the following:
- Bacterial infection
- Yeast Infection
- Excessive wax build-up
- Ear mites
Cleaning your Shih Tzu’s ears for the first time doesn’t need to be intimidating. If you’re properly prepared ahead of time things should go fairly smoothly. Just be patient and go slow!
Gather the supplies listed below before you start the ear-cleaning procedure.
- Cotton balls for wiping out the dirt after applying the ear cleaner.
- Ear cleaning solution (I like Zymox cortisone-free ear cleaner.)
- A towel (for wrapping up your puppy like a burrito if he or she gets too squirmy.)
- Treats and praise for a job well done!
- You may need a human assistant to help out if your puppy is nervous.
Below I will go over instructions for how I use Zymox ear cleaner. If you use a different type of ear cleaner please follow the specific instructions on the bottle. Always consult with your veterinarian as well. Your Veterinarian may want you to use a certain product with specific instructions. Also, if your Shih Tzu puppy’s ears become infected you may need a different ear cleaner that is efficient at removing the specific bacterial or yeast strain. Also, I don’t go over ear hair removal in this post. That is a whole other topic. Talk with your groomer and Veterinarian if you want to find out more about whether or not to remove ear hair.
First, start by lifting your puppy’s ear flap so you can see the ear canal. Pour several drops of the ear cleaner into the ear canal. Massage the base of the ear to distribute the ear cleaner and break down any dirt trapped inside the ear canal. (If your puppy isn’t cooperating you can wrap the puppy up like a burrito in the towel. Have your assistant hold the puppy while you administer the ear drops.)
Next, saturate a cotton ball with a little more ear cleaner. Use the saturated cotton ball to gently clean the outer ear canal. You may need more than one cotton ball if the ears are really dirty. I typically keep gently wiping down the outer canal until the cotton ball isn’t visibly dirty. This may take several cotton balls depending on how dirty your puppy’s ears are.
Finally, I take a dry cotton ball and dry as much of the outer ear canal as possible. Your puppy will probably shake which will help remove any excess solution from the inner ear. Make sure to repeat the process on the other ear when done. Don’t forget to give your Shih Tzu Puppy plenty of praise and a treat when the task is complete.
