My Dog Won’t Let Me Put Ear Drops In – What To Do?

You come home from the vet after hearing your beloved dog has an infection. The vet recommends ear drops for about two weeks.

Buuut, your dog refuses to cooperate.

“My dog won’t let me put ear drops in, what to do?” – many pet owners ask.  So, what to do, how should you give him/her the medication they need?

In this piece of writing, you’ll find out a few techniques and methods that will help you with dripping drops into his ears.

About Ear Infection

Surprisingly, ear infections are common in dogs.

It is usually a bacterial infection and it affects both humans and dogs. Obviously, dogs have larger ears, so they are more susceptible to ear infections than humans.

Different types of bacteria can cause infection, so you should go to the vet and he’ll identify the type of bacteria. Then the vet will determine which medication should be given to your dog.

The treatment will depend on the cause of the infection, so it’s best to listen to vet instructions.

How To Recognize Ear Infection?

If you notice symptoms like scratching at the ears, redness, inflamed ears, fluid or yellow discharge from the ear, suspicious odor from the ear, shaking the dog’s head or hearing impairment, you can assume it’s an ear infection. Make an appointment with your vet who will check the dog’s condition.

Why My Dog Refuses Eardrops?

Well, ear infections can be very painful for dogs and make their ears more sensitive than usual. If your dog struggles with this kind of infection, he probably won’t let you touch his ears because of that pain and sensitivity. And this is the main reason why he won’t let you put eardrops in his ears.

When it comes to pain, some dogs are even more sensitive to the touch than other dogs. Also, this liquid can be very unpleasant in their ears. Dogs can’t understand that these drops are good for them and when they are in pain the last thing they want is messing around their ears. And that makes sense.

However, treatment is necessary and if the ear infection is left untreated, things will get worse.

11 Super Tips for Putting Eardrops In

Some dogs will maybe let you touch their ears, but if they notice that bottle in your hands, they could become aggressive and even bite you. Still, as a responsible dog owner, you have to do that. There are some tips you can try. Don’t give up, try a different approach if one method doesn’t work.

• Desensitize The Dog – This method will help your dog overcome his fears. So, prepare your dog’s favorite treats, sit in front of him and try to touch his ears. When he sniffs it, give him a treat. Then, repeat the process with another ear. Your dog will associate ear touching with a positive reward. Once he’s calm, start with drops.



• Trick And Treat – You can lure your dog with a treat he likes (for example, cheese). When he is busy eating the cheese, try to touch his ear. If he doesn’t react, try to give him drops. If he tries to react to that, give him more cheese. That will distract his attention.



• Wear Him Out – This is a little sneaky, but if it works…Take your dog for a looong walk, or play with him if he wants that. When you tire him out, he won’t have so much energy, so it’s your chance to try to give them eardrops. When he rests or even falls asleep, try to put drops in his ears.
• Warm The Drops – Place the bottle of drops into warm water and shake it. Of course, talk to your vet, he/she must approve that. Once the ear drops are warm, try to hold the dog’s ear and gently squeeze the drops into the ear canal.
• Put a Muzzle On – It is a temporary solution that will prevent your dog from biting you. Ask your boyfriend/girlfriend, or family member to hold a dog while you apply the cure.



• Hide The Bottle – Man’s gotta do what’s a man gotta do. 😀 Sometimes, when the dog notices the bottle, he can get fixated on it and won’t let you get any closer to him. So, hide the bottle, start to massage the dog’s head and ears and then squeeze the drops. Give him a treat.
• Use a Cotton Ball – Soak the cotton ball in eardrops and put it near the dog’s ear. Then squeeze the ball. This will be much more comfortable for your dog than that dropper bottle.
• Keep The Dog Calm And Relaxed – Prepare your dog by soothing him, use the technique he likes. When he is completely calm, try with drops. After giving the drops, distract him with his favorite activity or food.



• Make It a Game – Try to make this experience fun as much as possible, maybe your dog accepts it. You can play fetch with him and turn that into a positive experience.
• Surprise Your Dog – When your dog takes a nap, you can try to stealthily go near him and put drops in his ears. But, be careful and don’t do that if your dog might get scared and bite you.



• Use Calming Pheromones – Ask your vet to recommend good and calming pheromones for dogs. They will relax your dog, so you can try to give him eardrops.

Can You Sedate The Dog?

You try all these methods and they don’t work for your dog. What now? Well, when it’s impossible to put the drops into your dog’s ears, vets opt for sedation.

This is a very serious procedure and should be done only if nothing else works. Also, this method is recommended for aggressive dogs. Remember that sedation can ONLY be done by a professional vet.

Alternatives to Dog Ear Drops

If nothing helps, then you should consider an alternative. Ask your vet about recommendations.

Your vet can recommend you an ointment if the dog’s ear is infected on the inside. You should put it on your fingertips and apply it while gently massaging the dog’s ear.

Plus, there are antibiotics and pills which you can mix with the food and give to your dog.