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Ear and paw care

Short answerFold ear checks into the weekly routine, especially for dogs with lots of inner-ear hair or heavy wax. Wipe only what you can see - a cotton ball or gauze dampened with ear cleaner or mineral oil - and never insert anything into the ear canal. Odor, discharge, redness, scratching or head-shaking means the vet, not more cleaning. While you're at it, run the same weekly check over paws: pads, between the toes, and nail length.

Source: the ASPCA's grooming guide, linked at the end.

Cleaning ears the safe way

The ASPCA's rules are firm: don't clean so often or so deeply that you irritate the ear, and never insert anything into the ear canal - probing inside can cause trauma or infection. If the inner ear looks dirty, dampen a cotton ball or a piece of gauze with mineral oil or a purpose-made ear cleaner, fold the ear back gently, and wipe away the debris and wax you can see on the underside of the flap. Lift dirt away rather than rubbing it in. Inner-ear skin is delicate; if you're unsure of technique, ask your vet to demonstrate - they expect the question.

The infection signs that mean vet, not cotton

A dog's ear canal plunges downward, then turns horizontal, so trapped debris and water don't escape easily - which is why dogs are so prone to ear infections. The ASPCA's list of get-it-checked signs:

BehaviorEar scratching, head shaking or tilting, wiping the ear along the floor or furniture, pain when the ear is touched.

What you seeDischarge, redness or swelling, crusted or scabby skin near the flap, hair loss around the ear.

What you smellOdor from the ear is a classic infection clue - never try to clean your way past it.

Any of these is a vet visit, promptly. Cleaning an infected ear at home can make it worse.

Paws: the two-minute check

Paws take the daily beating. Once a week, pick up each foot and look: pads for cracks, cuts or embedded grit; between the toes for burrs, seeds and redness; around the nails for length (clicking on floors means a nail trim is due). Trimming the hair around the feet on long-coated dogs keeps burrs from hitching a ride and gives better grip on smooth floors. Anything swollen, oozing or repeatedly licked is, again, a vet question.

Fold it into the routine

Ear and paw checks pair naturally with the weekly brushing session - same spot, same calm handling, a few extra minutes. A line in the grooming log keeps the habit honest and gives your vet a history if something flares later.

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