Ears should be clean, odour-free, pale pink in colour and have minimal wax present.
Generally speaking, most pets should be maintenance free in this area, however some smaller dogs, those with floppy ears and those prone to allergies will have more frequent problems.
Dog & Cat Ear Infection Signs NZ
- Smelly ears
- Painful to touch
- Lots of head scratching
- Shaking or tilting head to one side
- A brown/black/yellow discharge
- Inflammation or redness
- Loss of balance
- Behaviour change (irritable, depressed)
- Dropped ears
What Causes Dog & Cat Ear Infections and Ear Problems?
- Otitis Externa/Ear Infection: Infection is caused by bacteria or yeast, or a combination of both. It usually causes a funky smell in the ear and often a yellowy or brownish discharge. The inside of the ear flap is usually inflamed and red, your pet will be uncomfortable and wanting to scratch. These infections are very very common in pets with skin allergy’s
- Parasites/Ear Mites: Ear mites are probably more common in cats and rabbits, but certainly seen in dogs as well. Your pet will tend to scratch and shake their head, usually there is darker debris seen in the ear
Aural Haematoma: A few of you may be familiar with these, more often seen in bigger dogs or those with floppy ears. It is basically a big blood blister that has formed by a broken blood vessel in the ear. It happens secondary to either vigorous head shaking/scratching from ear infection or from trauma (especially if you have a puppy or dog that loves to bite ears!) - Foreign bodies: Grass seeds are quite common here in NZ, if your pet has a painful or irritated ear with no real smell or discharge its possible they have something stuck in there!
- Vestibular Disease: This is generally a disease of older dogs and it will cause a head tilt
What To Do If Your Dog or Cat Has Ear Problems in NZ
Now this is one of those times where I wouldn’t recommend at home treatment without getting advice from your vet. It is always recommended to have your vet examine your pet’s ears thoroughly to ensure their ear drum is intact and also to recommend the best treatment. There are different medications that are used for all the different types of disease’s so this is where you need your vet’s expert advice!
Dog & Cat Ear Cleaning Do’s and Don’ts (NZ Guide)
DON’T: use any kind of ear wash or medication without seeking veterinary advice
If your pet has a ruptured ear drum and you place medication or ear wash in you may cause detrimental effects. Even if you have used ear wash and medication before, you just never know what might be happening down that canal!
DON’T: leave any ear infection or problem, it won’t get better by itself!
DO: make an appointment to see your vet asap so you can have happy healthy pet and get the correct treatment
DO: learn how to clean your pet’s ears properly (see below for instructions)
DO: go back to your vet if your pet has ongoing ear problems. Recurring ear infections are usually related to underlying allergies and you will need a long term management plan – please check out our skin allergy article for more information
How to Clean Dog & Cat Ears (Ear Cleaner NZ Guide)
1. Check First
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Only clean if ears are visibly dirty, smelly, or waxy
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If there’s redness, swelling, pus, pain, or head tilt – stop and see your vet.
2. Get Your Supplies Ready
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Chosen ear cleaner (Paw, Epi-Otic, or Otoflush as advised by vet)
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Cotton wool or gauze pads (never cotton buds/Q-tips inside the canal)
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Towel (for inevitable head shake!)
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Treats for distraction/reward
3. Position Your Pet
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Have them sit or lie down comfortably.
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Gently hold their ear flap upright so you can see the canal.
4. Apply the Cleaner
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Insert the nozzle into the ear canal opening (not too deep).
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Squeeze enough solution to fill the canal.
5. Massage
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Gently massage the base of the ear (you’ll hear squelching). This loosens wax and debris.
6. Let Them Shake
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Allow your pet to shake their head, this helps bring debris up and out.
7. Wipe the Outer Ear
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Use cotton wool/gauze to wipe away loosened debris.
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Do not poke deep inside.
8. Repeat if Needed
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If directed by vet, repeat for both ears.
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Frequency:
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Paw – 1–2x weekly for maintenance
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Epi-Otic – weekly or pre-meds for chronic cases
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Otoflush – only as instructed by vet during infection management
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Cat and Dog Ear Cleaner NZ Guide: Choosing PAW, Epi-Otic or Otoflush
| Product | Pros | Cons | Best For | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner (Cats and Dogs | • Mild, natural formulation with hydrolised oats (soothing, less irritation) • Alcohol-free and non-stinging • Gentle fragrance |
• Less potent for moderate to severe infections • More a maintenance/preventative than treatment |
Routine ear cleaning, sensitive pets, prevention | PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner |
| Epi-Otic (Cats and Dogs) | • Veterinary gold-standard cleaner • Antimicrobial and keratolytic (helps remove wax/debris) • Anti-adhesive glycotechnology reduces bacterial attachment • Safe for both dogs & cats |
• Has a mild acidic pH (may sting if ear canal inflamed) • Slightly stronger scent |
Pets prone to recurrent ear infections, cleaning before medicated drops | Epi-Otic |
| Otoflush (Dogs Only) | • Antimicrobial (Tris-EDTA solution) enhances effectiveness of antibiotics when used after flushing • Excellent for Pseudomonas or resistant bacterial ear infections• Great for dogs prone to yeast infections • Low irritation if used correctly |
• Vet-guided use recommended (not a general-purpose cleaner) • Not fragranced, more clinical • May not be necessary for mild cases |
Dogs (and cats under vet guidance) with bacterial otitis, flushing before medicated drops | Otoflush |
Written by Dr. Rebecca Walker BVSc
