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Can I use hydrogen peroxide to clean my dog's ears safely at home?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Rottweiler | Male | unneutered | 84 lbs

Is it safe to use Peroxide in dogs ears?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on August 30th, 2019

I don't recommend to use peroxide or any other product not tested and proven safe for pets. Instead use a cleaner (vets and pet stores carry these) that is meant for dog ears. These products will generally not overly dry the skin, cause damage to the ear drum (but if the ear drum is ruptured, any products applied in the ear will cause damage) and these products generally condition the skin as well. Here is a helpful link: https://www.petcoach.co/article/ear-infections-otitis-externa-ear-cleaning-in-dogs/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additiona questions.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on December 19th, 2017

    Peroxide can be very irritating to inflamed tissue and is not recommended. One component it breaks down into is water. This can make any ear infection worse. A cotton swab should never be inserted deep into the ear as it could rupture the eardrum. Use an approved ear cleaner, such as Epi-Otic, and cotton balls to clean ears. Follow the link below to an article from the PetCoach library regarding ear cleaning. https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-steps-to-clean-your-dog-s-ears-properly/

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