What To Use To Clean A Rabbits Ears
Regular, normal cleaning of a rabbits ears doesnt require any special solution. A soft cloth with warm water is enough for regular cleaning. You can also use a cotton swab.
Ears with excessive wax may need a cleaning solution to loosen the gunk up. Have a chat with your vet about commercial solutions. There are home remedies, like honey and water or olive oil, that some suggest for cleaning away mild wax build ups. It is always best to take any home remedy with a grain of salt, though, and speak with a professional first.
Excessive ear wax can be stubborn. A chemical or medicated cleaning solution may be required. Your vet clinic will likely have a variety of rabbit safe cleaning solutions available.
A useful tool to have is also a head lamp. This will make it much easier to see the inside of your rabbits ear while you examine it. Alternatively, if you have someone helping you, a penlight will work just as well.
Safety And Side Effects
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , using lit candles in close proximity to a person’s face is dangerous and carries “a high risk of causing potentially severe skin/hair burns and middle ear damage”, even when they are used according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Serious potential risks involved in ear candling include:
- Burns and damage to the ear, skin, and hair from the hot wax
- Obstruction or blockage of the ear canal due to wax dripping into the ear
- Wax deposits in the ear
- Otitis externa
The most frequently reported adverse effect of ear candling is a burn, either from the candle flame or from the hot wax.
In a case report published in Canadian Family Physician, a 50-year old woman had pieces of candle wax in her ear, a perforation in her eardrum, and hearing loss after an ear candling session. The practitioner had spilled melted candle wax into her ear when attempting to remove the candle.
The authors of the case report concluded that ear candling “can do more harm than good and we recommend that GPs discourage its use.”
People with existing tympanic membrane perforation should not try ear candling. Children and babies are at increased risk of injuries and complications.
Some practitioners use the paper or foil plate to catch dripping wax. Some also use a towel or cloth for additional protection against any dripping wax. Even with these precautions, however, there are serious risks. There is also the risk that lit ear candles can start a fire.
What Can Parents Do
If your child complains of ear discomfort and you see earwax in the ear, it’s OK to wipe the outside of the ear with a washcloth. But don’t use a cotton swab, a finger, or anything else to poke inside the ear. It could damage the delicate ear canal and eardrum, or pack the wax in even further.
Check with your doctor before using an over-the-counter earwax removal treatment.
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Should You Try Ear Candling
There is no evidence supporting the effectiveness of ear candling, and it can cause burns and damage to the ears and skin.
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology guidelines, based on the evidence, “Clinicians should recommend against ear candling for treating or preventing cerumen impaction.”
Earwax has a protective role. It cleans and lubricates the ear, and can protect the ear canal from bacteria and fungus. The ear has a self-cleaning system that naturally removes earwax. Most people do not require additional cleaning, however, a breakdown in this self-cleaning system can cause a condition known as cerumen impaction.
If you develop an earwax blockage or are experiencing symptoms , you should speak to your doctor to assess your symptoms and discuss ways to safely remove the earwax.
Using Caution With Peroxide
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What Causes An Excessive Buildup Of Earwax
Most people tend to produce an excess of ear wax naturally that may cause temporary loss of hearing due to blockage in the ear canal.
Some of the factors which can enhance the risk of building up of too much earwax include:
- Individuals having narrow or very hairy ear canals.
- Accumulation of earwax for a prolonged period may dry the ear wax with an increase in age.
- Growths ofbones in the outer part of the ear canal
- Using cotton swabs, earplugs or hearing aids may push the earwax further into the ear causing blocked ear canal.
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Does Ear Candling Help With Earwax Buildup
Dr. Govil doesnt recommend trying ear candlinga treatment that supposedly creates a low-level suction force to pull earwax and debris out of the earto remove earwax.
Ive seen burns in the ear canal from people whove done ear candling, she shares.
Its important to listen to your instincts. If you think your child isnt hearing well, or they are complaining about their ear feeling full, contact your childs doctor.
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Recommended Products For Cleaning Dogs Ears
The most important of all tools for washing your poochs ears is a rinse of some sort.
Make sure you select a safe cleaning solution that is designed to be used in canine ears without causing damage. Selecting a cheap solution can be uncomfortable for your furry friend or expose them to toxic materials. If you arent sure which ear cleaning solution to use, ask your vet for suggestions.
You will also want to have cotton balls or a similar item on hand. An alternative is to wrap some gauze around your finger. Never use something harder or rougher than gauze or cotton balls as this can hurt the inner ear or cause irritation.
Depending on your preference, you may also want to get some disposable gloves to wear while cleaning the ears. If you prefer, you can also just wash your hands very well before and after grooming the ears.
If your pooch has a lot of hair inside the ear , you want to get tweezers to help you remove this hair.
You can also use hemostats, which are similar to long tweezers and have room for you to easily hold them with your fingers.
Removing Excessive Ear Wax
While an ear wax blockage is generally not considered a medical emergency, it best to have it removed by a doctor who has experience treating disorders of the ears .
According to the American Academy of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, you should avoid using a cotton swab or sharp object to try to remove wax yourself. You may push the wax down further in the ear, creating or worsening an ear wax blockage, or you may accidentally puncture the eardrum.
There are a couple of different acceptable ways to remove ear wax. One is by water irrigation. The doctor may use a syringe full of lukewarm water to flush the wax out of the ear. This should only be slightly uncomfortable.
Sometimes letting a little bit of water sit in the ear prior to irrigating will loosen the wax. Some people have complained of feeling dizzy or nauseous during the procedure. This method isn’t always effective, and there is a chance that you can introduce bacteria into the ear in the process.
Some doctors may use a water jet device such as a WaterPik for irrigation, but this is not the best method due to the discomfort it can cause and the possibility of damaging the ear it introduces. Water irrigation should never be done if you have or suspect you have a ruptured eardrum, due to the risk of infection.
The FDA warns against ear candling because of the risk of burns.
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A Warning About Ear Candles
The recent popularity of ear candles is quite troubling. Ear candles are marketed and sold to the public as a means of treating earwax buildup by removing earwax from the ears. It is important to note, however, that the Food & Drug Administration has issued warnings to consumers that ear candles may not be safe to use.
The process of ear candling involves inserting a lit hollow candle into the ear, with the notion that suction created by the burning candle will draw earwax out of the ear canal. These candles can result in injury to the ear and the face including:
- Burns
- Burns from dripping wax
- Fire
These candles are especially dangerous for children. Reports of burns and other injuries are associated with the use of ear candles. As with any procedure for removing wax from the ear, you should always consult the professionals at South Florida ENT Associates before attempting to treat earwax buildup on your own.
Earwax is a natural substance produced by the body and is necessary for your overall health and wellbeing. Even though the substance may at time seem to be a problem, it is ill-advised to attempt to remove anything from your ear using a foreign object. This can lead to many complications for your ear health, up to and including rupture of the eardrum or permanent damage to the eardrum or ear canal.
Tips For Good Ear Wax Removal
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a natural substance that protects the ears and auditory canals from external aggression . While it usually drains naturally, sometimes the earwax builds up until it becomes a blockage. This can cause hearing problems and generate discomfort. Here are 5 ways to remove an earwax blockage yourself.
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Treating Ear Infections In Rabbits
Treatment for an ear infection will depend on the severity of the infection itself. Mild cases can usually be resolved by daily ear cleanings to remove ear wax.
Antibiotics and rabbits have a complicated relationship. Any vet that is knowledgeable about rabbits knows that they can only be prescribed a very limited selection of antibiotic treatments. A true ear infection will require a course of antibiotics, and possibly anti-inflammatories. Outer ear infections can be treated with antibiotic ear flushes, and persistent or middle and inner ear infections will see long-term antibiotic treatments applied.
Severe ear infections may require surgery to resolve. This surgery might be the procedure discussed above, or it may be a surgical ear flushing while the rabbit is under general anesthesia. Ear infections caused by ear mites will also involve an anti-parasitic treatment course.
Start Inside And Work Out
When cleaning, start just inside the ear and slowly work your way outside.
Start with a clean cotton ball dipped in the cleaning solution and wipe from just outside the ear canal to the outer flap of the ear, the area you can easily see.
Then squirt the ear cleaner directly in each ear and massage the ears base for half a minute.This shouldnt be uncomfortable for your pet and if it is you should seek the advice of a vet.
Once the 30 seconds are up, let your pooch shake their head, then use the gauze or cotton ball to remove the cleaner, wiping from the inside to the outside edge of the ear flap.
You can repeat this process if necessary.
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Stay Away From Ear Candles
Ear candles are marketed as a solution to removing wax from ear canals, but they often do more harm than good. Unsurprisingly, for something that involves lighting a flame near your head, theyve been known to cause burns to the face, outer ear, eardrum and inner ear. . They can also make build-ups of ear wax worse and are not recommended.
Prevention Of Blocked Ear Canals
- Never put cotton swabs into the ear canal.
- Cotton swabs just push the earwax deeper into the ear canal. Reason: Cotton swabs are usually wider than a child’s ear canal.
- Earwax doesn’t need any help getting out. You can’t hurry the process.
- Never try to dig out pieces of earwax with toothpicks, match sticks or other devices. Usually, doing this just pushes the wax back in.
- These objects can also scratch the ear canal and cause an infection.
- If all of the ear wax is removed , the ear canals become itchy. They also become more prone to swimmer’s ear. This can occur in teens when cotton swabs are smaller than the ear canal.
- Limit the use of ear plugs.
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Outer Ear Infection: What Helps If Earwax Builds Up
Various ear drops can soften earwax in the outer ear canal and make it easier to remove. But home remedies like warm olive oil can also work just as well.
Earwax plays an important role in how the outer ear canal cleans itself. This canal connects the outside visible part of our ear with the eardrum. Although dirt can get into the outer ear canal, most of the “dirt” found in the ear is actually made up of tiny dead skin particles. These dead skin particles are normal because the skin keeps renewing itself through constant shedding.
In order to clean the outer ear canal, glands known as the ceruminous glands secrete fats and other substances. These secretions keep the skin of the ear canal soft, and give it a protective acidic layer. This acidic environment protects the ear canal from infection by killing and fungi. Earwax is made up of the secretions, shed skin flakes and dust particles. The medical term for earwax is cerumen. This oily mass is constantly pushed towards the outer ear by the natural movements of our lower jaw for instance, when we speak and eat and this helps to keep our ears clean.
Symptoms Of Earwax Buildup
- Too much earwax can cause rubbing of the ear or poking in the canal.
- A piece of ear wax can become dry and hard in the ear canal. This creates a feeling that an object is in the ear.
- Complete blockage of the ear canal by wax causes more symptoms. These include decreased or muffled hearing.
- A large piece of earwax may be seen inside the ear canal.
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Best Way To Remove Ear Wax: Home Remedies
Never attempt to clear out earwax buildup on your own. This can damage your ear leading to an ear infection or hearing loss. There are certain ways to get rid of the excess. Theyre also available a home treatment for removing the ear-wax safely and gently.
1) Hydrogen Peroxide in Ear
Another term used for this is hydrogen dioxide, which is generally used for the healing of the wounds. The Hydrogen Peroxide is employed by people for different things, however, it can even be effective in eliminating stuck ear wax in the ear.
To do so you must need some of the things like hydrogen peroxide in an amount of 3%, cotton balls, cotton swabs, extra-virgin olive oil, warm water, an ear dropper, a bulb aspirator, a towel, and two bowls. To make earwax removing more comfortable you have to heat the hydrogen peroxide and olive oil in the bowl.
If it is becoming more difficult in removing earwax than you should do the following things and have patience as it will take 30-40 mins.
2) Baking Soda
Baking Soda chemical term is sodium bicarbonate. It is a wide powder that is usually used for different purposes in Home. One of the best use of baking soda is to remove the ear wax. Procedure to use baking soda to remove the ear wax.
3) Coconut oil
Coconut oil is used in a wider range and it surprisingly also helps in the removal of the earwax from your ear. It contains fats known as a medium just like chain fatty acids, or MCFAs. These fats contain caprylic acid, lauric acid, and capric acid.
Self Treatment For Earwax
Most cases of earwax blockage respond to home treatments used to soften wax, as long as there is no hole in the eardrum. Patients can try placing a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercial earwax removal drops in the ear. Detergent drops such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide may also aid in the removal of wax. Patients should know that rinsing the ear canal with hydrogen peroxide results in oxygen bubbling off and water being left behind-wet, warm ear canals make good incubators for growth of bacteria. Flushing the ear canal with rubbing alcohol displaces the water and dries the canal skin. If alcohol causes severe pain, this may indicate an eardrum perforation.
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