Looking for ways to prevent ear problems in your dog? Do you know the proper way to clean a dog’s ears? It’s true that dog ears come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. But despite their varying appearance, all dog ears offer an excellent sense of hearing, and the procedure to clean them is the same.

When you take a close look at your dog’s ear, both the inner and outer structures, you can easily see how delicate they are. With some breeds in particular, it’s important to prevent ear problems before they start. Below are five helpful tips for preventing ear problems in your dog, and suggestions on how to clean those floppy things.

1. When it’s time to bathe your dog, very gently wedge some cotton in the ear canal. This will ensure that no water or shampoo gets into his ears.

2. Most dogs’ ears should be cleaned about once a month. Although some sources recommend using a cotton swab, the risk of accidentally injuring your dog is high if he should suddenly shake his head. Instead, use a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol, diluted hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil, or a special solution for cleaning ears recommended by your vet. Gently and carefully wipe around the inner folds of the ear canal as well as the external opening, lifting away the buildup of wax.

While doing this, make sure that you don’t end pressing any wax deeper into the ear. And to avoid injuring the delicate structures of the inner ear, clean only the parts of the dog’s ear that you can clearly see. Keep in mind that ear wax serves a protective function. So unless your dog is suffering from ear mites or some other infection, don’t go digging for gold — leave some wax behind.

3. If your dog typically runs around in brush and tall grasses, make sure to regularly check under his ear flaps. Vegetative “cling-ons” like burrs and foxtails can easily stick there. Sometimes they can even work their way into the inner ear, greatly irritating the membranes, which can lead to ear infections and one very unhappy dog.

4. Certain breeds of dogs are actually prone to growing large amounts of hair in their ear canals — this includes poodles, English spaniels and some terriers. In this case, you’ll have to be diligent about removing the hair as well as cleaning the ears. If this is typical for your breed, your groomer will often handle this tricky matter of ear care for you. But make sure to ask, as overgrown hair can lead to painful infections. With these dogs, you’ll need to address ear care more than once a month.

5. With the moistness of the area, any injuries or cuts around the inner ear can quickly become infected. Make a habit to check your dog’s ears regularly for any cut or injured tissue, especially if he’s been tussling with another animal.