Natural Dog Ear Cleaner

Method

1. Mix the two ingredients. Pour the apple cider vinegar and witch hazel into your bottle in equal parts. Put the lid on and shake. That's the cleaner made — it really is this simple.
2. Warm before use. Cold liquid in the ear is unpleasant for dogs and can cause them to flinch or resist. Hold the bottle in both hands for a minute, or stand it in a cup of warm (not hot) water for two minutes before use.
3. Apply to the ear. Gently lift the ear flap and squeeze or drop 5–8 drops of the solution into the ear canal. Release the ear flap and immediately massage the base of the ear firmly for 20–30 seconds. You should hear a squelching sound — this means the solution is working loose the debris inside.
4. Let them shake. Step back and let your dog shake their head. This brings loosened wax and debris up toward the outer ear.
5. Wipe the outer ear. Using a cotton wool pad, gently wipe away any debris from the outer ear and the visible folds just inside the ear opening. Never push cotton wool or cotton buds down into the ear canal.
6. Repeat on the other ear. Always clean both ears in the same session, even if only one looks dirty.

Why each ingredient

• Apple cider vinegar creates a mildly acidic environment in the ear canal that discourages the bacteria and yeast that cause most minor ear infections — the same reason it's used in human ear drop preparations
• Witch hazel is a gentle astringent that removes excess wax and oil without stripping or drying — it reduces odour without the harshness of rubbing alcohol