Everyone loves a cute Basset Hound. How can you resist that long sad face and those adorable floppy ears? But those ears can cause a lot of health problems for your Basset Hound. Basset Hounds are more likely to have smelly earwax due to their long floppy ears which become dirt traps as they crawl across the ground. This wax tends to build up and, if not cleaned properly, can lead to serious ear infections.

First, the best prevention for infection is to keep your Basset’s ears healthy and odor free. This can be achieved through frequent cleaning. Before you start cleaning the Basset, you need to have the right tools to get the job done. These tools include: cotton swabs, cotton balls, soft cloths, and some ear cleaning solution. Some people in the past have used mixtures of hydrogen peroxide and water or isopropyl alcohol and water as a cleaning solution. But today, most vets discourage this practice, preferring that you use specific ear washes or cleaning solutions.

Second, now that you’re ready to begin the cleaning process, start with the outer ear using a cotton ball or soft cloth moistened with the cleaning solution and wash the outer area first. Be sure to clean the entire ear and get into the many folds of hounds ears. It is important to remove all dirt.

Next, you want to move inside the ear. Be very careful. Fill your dog’s ear canal with enough fluid to fill it up. Then gently massage your dog’s ear for about 20 to 30 seconds. This will loosen any dirt and wax. You can use a cotton ball to wipe away dirt and excess fluid, but don’t push the cotton ball too far into your dog’s ear canal.

Lastly, if your dog is suffering from a severe buildup of earwax, I suggest you take him to the vet. Never try to remove accumulated wax yourself. If your dog seems to be scratching and rubbing a little after you’ve cleaned his ears, he most likely has a buildup of wax. The best way to prevent this problem is to try to keep your Basset Hound’s ears as dry and clean as possible.