Support clean, comfortable ears with EpiOtic, our gentle, pH-neutral ear cleaner for dogs. Designed for routine ear hygiene, it helps remove excess wax, dirt and debris while supporting healthy ears as part of your dog’s regular care.
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Looking after your dog's ears is an important part of their regular grooming and hygiene routine. Over time, wax, dirt, moisture and everyday debris can build up inside the ears, particularly in dogs that love swimming, have floppy ears or are naturally more prone to wax build-up.
Gentle, regular ear cleaning can help keep your dog's ears clean and comfortable while supporting good ear hygiene. Using a product that's specially formulated for pets is the safest way to remove wax and debris without using harsh ingredients or cotton buds.
At Virbac, our EpiOtic dog ear cleaner is designed to support routine ear hygiene by helping remove wax, dirt and debris while being gentle on the delicate ear canal.
Read on to learn why ear cleaning is important matters, how to clean your dog's ears safely, what to avoid and how to choose the right ear cleanser for your dog's routine.
Your dog’s ears can collect wax, dirt, moisture and small pieces of debris over time. For some dogs, this build-up may cause discomfort or make their ears feel itchy.
Some dogs may need more regular ear checks than others, especially if they have:
Ear care is one part of your dog’s wider dog health and wellbeing routine. However, regular ear cleaning isn’t needed for every dog. Some dogs have naturally clean, comfortable ears and only need occasional checks.
The goal is to support comfort, cleanliness and routine hygiene, rather than to treat disease.
Your dog may need their ears checked if you notice:
Routine ear cleaning isn’t always enough to deal with these signs. If your dog’s ears only look mildly dirty and your dog seems comfortable, a veterinary ear cleanser may help with regular cleaning.
If there’s pain, swelling, strong smell, discharge or repeated head shaking, speak to your vet before cleaning. Your dog could have an ear infection or an underlying issue such as ear mites, which requires veterinary treatment and will not improve with using an ear cleaner alone.
Dog ear cleaning should feel calm, gentle and controlled. Try not to rush, and stop if your dog seems uncomfortable.
As with other parts of your dog’s care routine, the key to cleaning your pet’s ears safely is to take things nice and slowly. You may not get much done the first few times you try, but with calm, gentle guidance and plenty of reassurance, your dog should get used to it in time.
You should use a cleanser specifically formulated for pets to clean your dog’s ears. Veterinary ear cleansers are designed to help remove dog ear wax, dirt and debris while being suitable for the delicate ear area.
Avoid using household or human products, harsh cleansers, alcohol, perfumes or home remedies unless your vet has advised them. These can irritate the ear or make discomfort worse.
A gentle product designed for regular ear hygiene for dogs can help keep the visible ear area clean and fresh. If your dog already has pain, redness, discharge or a strong ear odour, speak to your vet before cleaning.
If you’re looking for a vet-approved ear cleaner for your dog, EpiOtic is designed for routine ear hygiene in both dogs and cats.
Our EpiOtic ear cleaner has been developed for routine ear hygiene in dogs and cats, combining gentle cleansing with technologies that help support a healthy ear environment.
EpiOtic helps remove excess wax, dirt and debris, neutralise unpleasant odours and support clean, comfortable ears as part of your dog's regular care. It's a gentle, pH-neutral ear cleanser with no alcohol or perfume, making it suitable for regular use when appropriate.
EpiOtic contains ingredients and technologies that support its cleansing action:
Used as directed, EpiOtic provides a gentle, effective way to support routine ear hygiene and help keep your dog's ears clean, comfortable and healthy.
Good ear cleaning is also about knowing what not to do. To help keep your dog comfortable:
Cotton buds can push wax and debris deeper into the ear. They can also cause discomfort or injury if used incorrectly. Use cotton pads or gauze only on the visible part of the ear.
These terms can sound similar, but they don’t always mean the same thing.
An ear cleanser is used for routine hygiene. It helps remove wax, dirt and debris, and can support clean, fresh ears.
Ear drops for dogs can mean different things. Some may be supportive hygiene products, while others may contain medicinal ingredients.
A veterinary medicine is used for diagnosed conditions and should be used under veterinary direction.
If your dog has signs of an ear infection, mites, inflammation, pain or unusual discharge, you should go to your vet. In those cases, choosing a stronger product without a diagnosis may delay the care your dog needs.
Contact your vet if you notice:
Ear problems can have several causes, including infection, parasites, allergies, inflammation or foreign bodies. Ear cleaning can support hygiene, but it doesn’t replace diagnosis or treatment when your dog’s ear is painful, inflamed or infected.
Knowing how to spot things like the signs of otitis in dogs can be helpful, but veterinary advice may still be needed.
How often you should clean your dog’s ears depends on your dog’s needs. There’s no single routine that suits every dog.
Some dogs only need occasional cleaning. Others may need more regular checks, especially if they have floppy ears, swim often, are a working dog, produce heavy wax, have allergies or have had recurring ear problems.
Cleaning too often can irritate the ear, especially if the skin is already sensitive. If you’re unsure, ask your vet how often to clean your dog’s ears and which product is most suitable.
Regular ear checks can help you notice small changes early. As part of your usual care routine, you can:
Taking dog care advice and introducing simple habits like these can make ear care less stressful for both of you.
Ear cleaning can help support comfort and hygiene when it’s done gently, correctly and at the right time. The right dog ear cleanser is important, especially for a sensitive area like the ear.
If your dog’s ears appear inflamed, are painful, swollen, smelly or producing discharge, ask your vet before cleaning. For routine ear hygiene, choose our EpiOtic dog ear cleaner to support gentle, regular ear cleaning for your pet.
Use a pet ear cleanser, follow the product instructions and avoid inserting anything deep into the ear. Gently massage the base of the ear, let your dog shake their head, then wipe only the visible area with cotton pads or gauze.
It depends on your dog. Some dogs only need occasional cleaning, while others need more regular ear checks because of ear shape, swimming, wax build-up, allergies or recurring irritation. Your vet can advise the right routine.
You shouldn’t push cotton buds into your dog’s ear canal. They can push wax or debris deeper and may cause discomfort. Use cotton pads or gauze to clean only the visible part of the ear.
Smelly dog ears can be linked to wax, debris or moisture. They can also be a sign of irritation, inflammation or infection. If the smell is strong, persistent or comes with redness, pain or discharge, contact your vet.
An ear cleanser is for routine hygiene and helps remove wax, dirt and debris. Ear drops can be supportive or medicinal, depending on the product. Veterinary medicine is used for diagnosed conditions and should be used under veterinary direction.
Contact your vet if your dog has pain, redness, swelling, discharge, blood, head tilt, balance problems, persistent scratching or strong head shaking. These signs may need diagnosis and treatment rather than routine ear cleaning alone.
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