PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner Review for Healthy Ears
Dog Product ReviewsCopy: Serena Faber Nelson Photography: Serena Faber Nelson
Ears tend to be the quiet corner of dog care, noticed only once a head starts shaking or a faint smell drifts up from the couch. This PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner review looks at what is in the bottle, how to use it well, what owners report, and which dogs it suits best.
Made by PAW by Blackmores, the vet-developed pet range of the Australian health brand, it is meant for weekly upkeep on healthy ears. The full routine, from settling a wriggly dog to the final wipe, is covered in this step-by-step guide to cleaning dog ears at home.
Blackmores Dog Ear Cleaner at a Glance
PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner is a mild, alcohol-free ear wash for dogs and cats, built on coconut- and glucose-derived cleansers with hydrolyzed oat protein, aloe vera and citrus oils. It is used once a week to loosen wax and dirt from the outer ear canal. It is a cleanser for healthy ears, not a treatment, so red, sore, smelly or discharging ears need a vet first.
Dogs with stubborn yeast or recurring infections usually need a medicated formula chosen with their vet instead, and this roundup of dog ear cleaners for wax, odor and itch compares both kinds.
PAW by Blackmores Gentle Ear Cleaner 120ml
$19.55 from The Vet Shed
The 120ml bottle has a long, flexible applicator tip that sits at the entrance of the ear canal, which makes filling the ear feel controlled rather than messy. The formula suits dogs and cats, so a mixed household can share one bottle.
What Is the Active Ingredient in PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner?
No single active ingredient is listed on the label, because this is a cleanser rather than a medicine. The work is shared by a small team of ingredients, each with its own job.
Mild Cleansers That Lift Wax Without Alcohol
Disodium cocoamphodiacetate and lauryl glucoside are gentle surfactants made from coconut and glucose, the same family found in baby washes. They loosen wax, dirt and debris so the massage and the head shake can bring it up and out. The formula also carries piroctone olamine, an antifungal ingredient familiar from anti-dandruff shampoos, alongside a mild preservative.
Hydrolyzed Oats, Aloe and Citrus Oils for Sensitive Ears
Hydrolyzed oat protein, aloe vera, D-panthenol, glycerin and hyaluronic acid are there to keep the delicate skin of the ear canal soft and comfortable after cleaning. Cold-pressed orange and mandarin peel oils give the fresh scent. Oats are a long-trusted soother for touchy skin, which is why they also turn up in many of the gentle shampoos for sensitive skin dog moms reach for.
The citrus oils are the one thing to weigh up. The label is clear that dogs with a citrus allergy should not use it, and a dog whose ears flare alongside itchy paws and belly may have an allergy driving both, as explained in this guide to dog itchy skin home remedies.
Does the Gentle Ear Cleanser Contain Acids?
PAW describes the formula as free of alcohol, harsh chemicals and acids, yet citric acid appears on the ingredient list. It is there in a small amount to balance the pH, not to dissolve wax. The difference is that many stronger ear cleaners rely on salicylic or lactic acid to break down wax and dry the canal, and this one does not. That is what makes it gentle, and why it is not sold as a drying formula for swimmers.
How to Use a Dog Ear Cleaner Once a Week
Before the first use, remove the protective seal from inside the lid, and shake the bottle every time. Then follow the label's simple routine:
- Lift the ear flap and squeeze the cleaner into the ear until the canal is full, keeping the tip at the entrance.
- Massage the base of the ear gently for about 30 seconds.
- Step back and let your dog shake, then wipe away the loosened wax and liquid with a clean tissue.
- Repeat once a week, or as your vet directs.
Dry, flaky bits of wax may work their way out afterward, which is normal. Use it on its own, since the label advises against pairing it with any other ear cleaner.
Ear Cleaning Tips for a Calm, Mess-Free Routine
The most common beginner slip is squeezing too much too fast, so the cleaner runs down the cheek and leaves the fur on the side of the face sticky. A slow squeeze with the flap held up keeps it where it belongs.
Short sessions, a calm voice and a treat after each ear teach a dog that this is a small, predictable part of the week. Keeping water out of the ears at bath time, as in this guide to bathing a dog at home, helps the weekly clean do its job.
PAW by Blackmores Reviews From Dog Owners
What Owners Praise About the Weekly Formula
Across Australian retailers the cleaner earns consistently high ratings. Owners like how gentle it is, how easy the long tip makes application, and how manageable a once-a-week routine feels. One owner whose dog used to get ear trouble every humid summer said a weekly clean had kept the dog away from the vet for ear treatment, and another, whose Poodle was prone to infections, said it was recommended by a veterinary dermatologist and accepted far more happily than earlier products.
Complaints and Reactions to Watch For
Negative feedback is rare but worth knowing. One owner reported that, although the cleaner worked well, it left their dog's ear badly irritated. Watch the first few cleans closely and stop if the ear looks redder or your dog scratches more afterward.
Which Dogs Suit a Natural Dog Ear Cleaner
Floppy Ears, Waxy Ears and Sensitive Skin
Dogs with heavy, floppy ears, such as Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Basset Hounds and Cavaliers, trap warmth and moisture under the flap and tend to build up wax, so a weekly clean suits them well. Hairy-eared Poodles and Bichons do well with a liquid cleanser too, and dogs who react to stronger formulas are where this one shines.
Dogs with upright, trouble-free ears may barely need cleaning at all. Frequent swimmers and dogs with yeast-prone ears are usually better matched to a drying or medicated cleanser their vet recommends.
When to Skip the Ear Cleaner and Call the Vet
Put the bottle down and book a vet visit if an ear is very red, swollen, hot or painful, smells strongly, or has dark, yellow or pus-like discharge. These are signs of otitis externa, and cleaner in an ear with a damaged eardrum can make things worse. Stop using the cleaner if an ear gets worse after use.
Blackmores Gentle Ear Cleaner Pros and Cons
Pros of the PAW Ear Drops
- Alcohol-free and gentle, with oat protein and aloe for sensitive ears.
- Once-a-week routine that is easy to keep up.
- Long applicator tip for controlled filling.
- Suits dogs and cats, so one bottle serves the household.
- Fresh citrus scent from orange and mandarin peel oils.
Drawbacks of This Dog Ear Cleaner
- Not suitable for dogs with a citrus allergy.
- Not a treatment for infections, yeast or ear mites.
- Not marketed as a drying formula for swimmers.
- Easy to overfill at first, which leaves sticky fur.
Is the PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner Worth Buying?
For healthy ears that just need regular care, it is a lovely, gentle choice. It is kind to sensitive skin, realistic for busy households, and owners consistently find it easy to use. For ears that are already sore, smelly or infected, the right first step is the vet, not a new bottle.
For more ways to keep grooming time pleasant, the dog grooming directory gathers trusted brands for coats, paws and ears.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Instructions for Ear Cleaning in Dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Ear Infections and Otitis Externa in Dogs
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Oh I have to ask my vet about this! I have to give my dog ear drops every day when it starts to have an odor. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Thanks for sharing!
This looks like a great find – Archie our schnoodle has such dark hair it’s always difficult to tell whats going on in his ears. The tip on the bottle loosk great too, easy to get it quickly in the right place. Thanks Serena! (And gorgeous model, Soda!)
My pug has such grubby ears… I struggle to clean them with wipes.
I’ve been thinking about purchasing an ear cleaner so that I can effectively get rid of dirt and dust. I’m a bit nervous but I think I might try the Gentle Ear Cleaner from PAW.
Thanks for doing a review on it.
Soda looks less than overjoyed about having stuff squirted down her ear 🙂 I’m sure being the super clever girl she is though, she knows that it makes her feel much better! I really like PAWs products, particularly this gentle ear cleaner and also the nutriderm shampoo. Great, natural choice.
Yes! She certainly doesn’t enjoy the drops, but she LOVES her clean ears.
I’m a big fan of PAW and so is our vet – really gentle formulations that work a treat.