Mac Animal Clinic

How to properly clean your dog's ears

Ear cleaning is one of the most important things you can do at home to help prevent ear infections in your dog. 

Cleaning your pet's ears removes not only ear wax (cerumen), but also any yeast and bacterial overgrowth in your pet's ears. Cleaning by itself may even be sufficient to resolve mild uncomplicated ear infections and can be used to prevent future infections. The key factor, is making sure that cleaning the ear is performed with an appropriate ear cleanser and proper technique.


Dr. Mac and Loki have created this video at Mac Animal Clinic in Oakville,  to show our pawrents how to clean their pet's ears.

The “Clean Until Clean” approach is preferred. 

  1. Use an ear cleanser which has been recommended for your dog by a veterinarian. There are many different ear cleaners, and depending on your dog's ear condition we may recommend a specific ear cleanser. 
  2. The ear is filled with fluid until the fluid is seen at the orifice. 
    This flushing technique involves filling the ear with an ear cleanser and not applying a set number of drops.
  3. The ear canal is then gently massaged to help break up debris and develop fluid waves within the ear canal. Gently squeeze or push against the cartilage of the ear canal.
    Tip: It is helpful to try and keep a hold of the ear flap so that your dog can not shake all the fluid out before you can massage the fluid! 
  4. Fluid will flow out of the external orifice during the massage process and by now your dog will probably have shaken his head and removed more fluid. 
  5. More cleaning fluid is added to fill the ear again. This is an important part of the ear cleaning technique; it is imperative to try to, at least briefly, prevent any head shake, massage or dropping of the ear. 
  6. Excess fluid should be wiped from the top of the ear with a gauze of soft paper towel.
  7. Observe the cleaning fluid and determine if it is cloudy or if flecks of debris are still present. If so, gentle massage is again performed. This process is repeated up to three times as too much cleaning with massage can be irritating. 
Ear cleaning if done well, is generally all that is needed to keep an ear clean for at least one to two weeks. If the next cleaning reveals that the cleaning fluid is relatively clear (similar to how it looks straight out of the bottle), then the ears are most likely cleaned well. If the ears liquid or the gauze seems dirty, then try cleaning again in a few days, but not more than twice a week. 

If you have any questions on how to clean your pet's ears or if you aren't sure which ear cleaner to use, contact us at 905 844 6786. We would be more than happy to help!

Itchy Pet Awareness Month

By CY Mac • 03 Aug, 2023
August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month! This month was created to help unite pet owners and veterinarians in managing pets with skin conditions. We want to empower pet owners with the resources to identify signs of concern in their pets, and get the veterinary care they need to provide rapid and lasting itch relief. Did you know that allergic/atopic dermatitis (dry, itchy, inflamed skin) is the number one reason for veterinary visits? Even knowing this there are still an alarmingly large number of pets that go untreated by a veterinarian every year, often simply because owners are unaware of what to look for. Your pet’s itch could be caused by: Flea allergy Environmental indoor and outdoor allergens Food allergy Contact allergy Parasites such as fleas and mites Bacterial or yeast infections Remember, all pets will scratch, lick, bite, and rub. But if it is becoming more frequent or excessive, it may be a sign of an allergic itch. Signs of Itch Include: Excessive scratching. Biting, chewing, rubbing or scooting Frequent licking Recurrent ear problems Hair loss Body odor Skin changes Because the frequency at which something occurs is subjective and will vary depending on who you ask, we often refer to the Canadian Academy of Veterinary Dermatology Itch Scale . It is an incredibly helpful tool for us to be able to objectively measure the severity of itching. Early treatment is always preferred in these types of cases. Severe, prolonged scratching can damage the bond between pets and their owners by interfering with normal activities and increasing stress in pets themselves. It’s not uncommon that pet owners will experience stress, anxiety, and frustration about their pets itch. Especially when they know their pet is uncomfortable but aren’t sure how to help. Check out our Dermatology Page for more information and resources. If your pet is itching for help, don’t wait. Reach out to the M.A.C. team today at 905-208-9933 or at reception@macvets.com to see how to get help for your pet’s itch, fast.

Will My Pet Get Bored of Eating the Same Food?

By CY Mac • 20 Jul, 2023
Will My Pet Get Bored of Eating the Same Food?

Hot Weather Safety Tips

By CY Mac • 20 Jul, 2023
Many people love spending the long, warm days of summer outside with our canine companions, but being outside without the proper precautions in hot weather can be dangerous for our pets. Here are some of our top tips for keeping your pup cool in the heat: Adjust your walking routine Aim to go for walks either early in the morning, or later at night when it’s cooler. If you do choose to walk during the day, remember to check the temperature of the pavement. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s too hot for you to walk on it comfortably in bare feet, then it’s too hot for your puppy's paws! Provide lots of fresh, cool water Dogs can get dehydrated quickly, and it is therefore important to ensure there is always water easily accessible. Remember to take some on the go with you, even for just short walks. Provide cool surfaces to lie on A cool, damp towel is an inexpensive and easy solution. Reduce the amount of walking and exercise Even though it is tempting to keep our little ones' routine the same, their safety is more important. Providing activities indoors such as puzzle feeders or long lasting lick toys will help to keep them calm and occupied. Provide water playtime Try setting up a sprinkler or kiddie pool (preferably in the shade) to let them play in while supervised. Prevent sunburn Did you know that dogs can get sunburnt too? Those more prone are those with no hair, with white or thin coats, and dogs with light pigmented noses and eyelids. Applying a pet safe sunscreen or keeping them indoors is best.
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