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Careful attention to your pet’s eyes and
ears clean are an important part of grooming. Keeping both in top shape
will keep your pet healthy and happy.
Ears
When your pet is young, start getting him accustomed to having his
ears handled. Even older pets can be taught to tolerate ear cleaning
with a little patience on your part.
While you are petting your animal, handle his ears, look inside them,
if your pet tolerates it, praise him and continue on. You may have to
do this several times a day in short sessions if your pet is reluctant
to let you handle their ears.
Keeping your pet’s ears clean will help prevent both ear mites
and ear infections. If your pet's ears have a foul odor, or if he is
scratching his ears and rubbing his head on the ground, your pet might
have an ear infection. If this is the case, you should seek the care
of your veterinarian. A normal ear will be pink in color, free of any
debris and has no odor.
If your pet’s ears appear normal, it’s time to begin ear
cleaning. You will need a good ear cleanser, such as Vet
Preferred Solutions Ear Cleanser and some cotton balls. You also
might want to do this in the bathroom, as it can get kind of messy.
Pour the ear cleanser into your pet’s ear and massage the base
of the ear for 20-30 seconds. This will loosen up any debris or wax that
may be built up. Then, allow your pet to shake its head, this will help
get the fluid out of your pet’s ear. Wipe the ear with a cotton
ball; NEVER use a Q-Tip or cotton swab in your pet’s ear. Repeat
the process until all of the debris has been removed from the ear canal.
Wipe the excess liquid from your pet’s ears and allow them to dry.
If your pet is behaving through this process, reward him with a treat.
You don’t want to reward any unwanted behavior, so if your pet
is being fussy, try to calm him by talking to him and stroking him. You
can also do something fun afterward for a reward, such as play with
a favorite toy.
If your pet has long ears or swims a lot, you will want to clean his
ears once a week. Otherwise, your pet will be just fine with a semi-monthly
or monthly ear cleaning.
Eyes
A healthy pet’s eyes will be clear and bright and the area around
the eyeballs will be white. If your pet’s eyes appear red or irritated,
are cloudy or have a green discharge, contact your veterinarian, as there
may be an underlying condition such as conjunctivitis.
Normal eye care is as easy as wiping away any crust or buildup that might
be around your pet’s eyes. You can do this with a damp cloth or
cotton ball. If you have a long-haired pet, such as a Shih Tzu, you will
want to keep your pet’s hair trimmed around the eyes to prevent
irritation.
If your pet has tear stains around its eyes, you can
use a tear stain remover like Pretty
Eyes Tear Stain Remover. Tear stains can be caused by a variety of
things from diet to infection. If you have concerns about your pet’s
tear stains, please contact your veterinarian.
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