My dogs get to flopping their ears. I had the veterinary to a health check. He took a swab of the inner ear & looked under a microscope & gave us some cream to squirt into the ear & I use a half of kleenex to clean the outer ear. The cotton swab works ok but I am afraid of poking them in the ear. They really don't like it when I clean the excess medicine out. I squirt the medicine in the ear, then message the ear gently & they usually will shake their heads & that is when the excess cream works its way out into the outer inner ear flap. Then I use the half kleenex to whip the excess cream out. It gets oily & makes the outer inner ear flap dirty. Do take your dog to the veterinary & they will most likely give you medicine for your dogs ear.