Ear candling is a homeopathic treatment used to remove ear wax build-up. Some pet owners claim it is extremely effective at removing wax and matter in the ears of dogs with repeat ear infections. Despite any possible benefits, the dangers to your pet make this a risky natural remedy.
For ear candling to be effective at all, you must have a dog who will lay still for at least 10 minutes per side. Many pets see the flame and become fearful. If you drop the lit candle, fire is possible. This is why people performing the candling of the ear always keep a bowl of water close at hand.
How Ear Candling Works
An ear candle is a slim taper with a wick at one end and then a hollow center extending to the other end. Usually, ear candles are made of waxed cloth or paper. The non-lit end of the ear candle is inserted through an aluminum plate to keep hot wax or ash from dripping into the ear.
Once the ear candle is inserted into the dog's ear canal, light the other end of the candle. The heat from the lit end supposedly creates a vacuum through the rest of the candle. That vacuum sucks out ear wax and debris from the ear canal into the taper. Allow the candle to burn for 10 to 45 minutes, depending on the dog's behavior, and then switch sides and repeat the process.
Dangers of Ear Candling in Dog
Holistic practitioners promoting ear candling often cut open the candle at the end of a candling session and claim that material is a mix of candle wax and ear wax that's been drawn into the candle. They use this as “proof” that candling of the ear is extremely effective. Researchers have tested this and found that the material in a burned candle is simply candle wax and ash from the paper or cloth candle. In addition, there's no scientific proof that ear candles, when lit, create any vacuum let alone enough of a vacuum to suck out packed in ear wax.
Melted candle wax also poses a problem. In some situations, the melted wax residue makes its way out of the candle end. This melted ear candle wax gets into the inner ear where it affects hearing and can cause blockages leading to a very painful infection. Immediate veterinary care is needed to remove the solid candle wax.
Burns to the dog's inner and outer ear are also possible during an ear candling session. If the ear candle burns far enough, you put your dog at risk for serious burns to the skin and ear hair. Ear hair has the important function of keeping dust and contaminants from reaching the inner ear. You increase the risk for ear infections, not to mention painful burns of the inner ear can take forever to heal and create incredible discomfort to your pet.
Finally, you can end up pushing ear wax farther into your dog's ear canal simply by inserting an ear candle into the dog's ear. Compacting the ear wax will increase problems with hearing and the potential for ear infections caused by the blockage.