Ear & Eye Care

The ear and eye care range covers routine dog ear cleaner and cat ear cleaner solutions, heavier flushes, ear drops, an eye wash and a tear stain remover. Several are labelled for dogs and cats together, while Virbac EPIOTIC SIS and Dermcare Otoflush are written for dogs. Ears and eyes are also where home care runs out quickly — head shaking, a strong odour, redness, squinting or any discharge should be seen by a vet before you put anything in, because the right product depends on what is actually going on.

Cleaner or flush

A routine cleaner is the maintenance product: fill the ear, massage the base, let the dog shake it out, wipe the outer folds. A flush such as Dermcare Otoflush is a heavier wash for ears that load up with wax, and is often used on a vet's instruction. Wipe only the outer ear and the skin you can see; nothing but the liquid goes down the canal. How often you need any of it depends on the dog. Drop ears and regular swimmers need attention far more often than a prick-eared dog that stays dry, so buy a bottle size that matches how often you will really use it.

Tear stains and eye cleaning

Rusty staining below the eye shows up most on white and light-coloured coats. Fido's Tear Stain Remover is the topical option here, and Natural Animal Solutions Eye Clear is a gentle wash for wiping debris away. Constant watering usually has a physical cause, from a blocked tear duct to a lash rubbing the surface, so it is worth a vet's look rather than an indefinite run of stain remover.

Brands on this page

Natural Animal Solutions has two products here (Ear Clear and Eye Clear), with single products from Virbac, Dermcare, PAW by Blackmores, TROY and Fido's. The TROY drops are sold as an ear canker treatment rather than a cleaner — read the label and check with your vet before using them.

• Dog grooming supplies
• Cat grooming supplies
• Dental care
• Skin & coat care
• Flea, tick & mite control
• All pet health care