How to Clean Your Dog's Eyes and Ears in One Routine

By Becopets | Published: 2026-10-16

Category: How-to Guides

Build a calm weekly routine that cleans your dog's eyes and ears in one sitting. Step-by-step order, checkpoints, and the mistakes that cause irritation.

Quick answer

Clean the eyes first, then the ears, using a fresh wipe for each area so you never carry debris from one spot to the other. Work from the outside in, keep the wipe damp but not dripping, and stop if your dog pulls away or the skin looks red. Once a week suits most dogs; wipe eyes more often if discharge or tear staining builds up between sessions.

Set up before you touch your dog

Gather everything within arm's reach so you are not leaving a half-wiped dog to search for a second wipe. You need one wipe per eye area, one per ear, a dry cloth or cotton pad, and treats. If your dog is wiggly, a second person to hold a treat at nose level keeps the head still without restraint.

Pick a surface that is not slippery and a time when your dog is already relaxed, such as after a walk or a meal. Trying this right after a bath, when the head is already wet and the dog is tired of handling, usually makes the session harder than it needs to be.

Why the order matters more than the products

Eye discharge and ear wax are different problems, and a wipe that has touched one should not touch the other. Starting with the eyes means the wipe is still clean and the dog is still calm for the more sensitive ear work. It also lets you check the eyes in good light before any handling makes the dog squint.

If your dog has a known ear infection or an eye injury, this routine is not a treatment. Cleaning around a problem area can push debris deeper, so get a veterinarian's clearance first and ask whether wiping is appropriate at all.

The one-sitting eye and ear routine, step by step

1. Check both areas before you wipe: In good light, look at each eye for redness, swelling, cloudiness, or a change in discharge color, and look into each ear for odor, dark debris, or tenderness when you touch the base. Note anything new so you can compare next week. Checkpoint: if you see pus, a bad smell, or your dog yelps when the ear is touched, stop and call your vet instead of cleaning.
2. Wipe each eye with a fresh wipe: Use a clean Dog Eye Cleaning Wipe for one eye, wiping from the inner corner outward along the lower lid, then discard it and use a second wipe for the other eye. Never wipe back toward the eye with a section that has already touched discharge. Checkpoint: if the wipe comes away heavily stained or the eye stays wet and irritated after wiping, note it and mention it at your next vet visit.
3. Dry the eye area: Press a dry cloth or cotton pad gently under each eye to soak up remaining moisture. Leaving the fur damp keeps the skin warm and moist, which is exactly the condition that encourages tear-stain build-up and irritation. Checkpoint: the fur should feel dry to the touch, not just less wet.
4. Switch to a fresh wipe for the ears: Take a Dog Ear Cleaning Wipe and clean only the parts of the ear you can see, working from the outer flap inward along the ridges. Do not push the wipe or a finger down into the ear canal; that pushes wax and debris deeper. Checkpoint: if the wipe comes back with a strong odor or a large amount of dark debris, book a vet check rather than cleaning more often.
5. Let the ear air out, then reward: Give the ear a moment to dry naturally, then offer a treat and end the session. Keeping the last step positive is what makes the next session easier, especially for dogs that dislike having their ears handled. Checkpoint: if your dog shakes its head repeatedly or scratches at an ear afterward, stop the routine and get the ear checked.

Products that fit this routine

Dog Eye Cleaning Wipes: Gentle and hydrating wipes to help remove tear stains and eye discharge, made from bamboo-derived rayon and infused with soothing cucumber and aloe. The soft texture and cucumber-aloe formula suit the thin skin around the eye, where a rough cloth or astringent product would be too harsh for routine use.
Dog Ear Cleaning Wipes: Gentle wipes designed to help tackle build-up of wax and dirt, made from bamboo-derived rayon and infused with soothing chamomile, aloe vera and a refreshing coconut scent. A separate wipe for ears keeps eye debris out of the ear canal, and the chamomile-aloe blend is mild enough for the folds of the outer ear.