The skin in the ear canal grows like the finger nails -- from deeper layers outwards -- transporting debris to the exterior, where it falls off. Ear wax or cerumen, composed of glandular secretions plus dead skin, isn't "dirty" but a barrier that keeps out contaminants -- a natural protection. Over-vigorous efforts to remove it from the ears only interfere with the self-cleansing mechanism and may drive dirt further in.

The ear is normally a self-cleaning mechanism. Wax acts in a protective manner, catching particles that may land in the ear. Fine hairs inside the ear canal constantly move wax and sloughed skin out of the canal. Wax and skin can build up inside the ear canal. If the canal is not clean, the eardrum can become completely blocked, greatly reducing hearing and eventually cause permanent damage.

Women who are exposed to German measles, measles, mumps, or any other viral diseases during their pregnancies have a very high risk of giving birth to a baby with serious hearing impairment. Have your baby's hearing tested if you have been exposed to these conditions during your pregnancy, or even if you suspect hearing impairment.

To maintain healthy ears, avoid loud noise concentrated at the ear canal such as listening to very loud music from earphones. Decreasing background noises is very helpful. When using loud machinery, lawn mowers, grass trimmers or industrial equipment, always use earplugs because a number of occupations result in hearing loss due to increased noise. Making use of ear protective devices can decrease the development of hearing loss.

Clean your ears with extra care. Wipe the outer ear with a washcloth or tissue. Do not put anything into your ear smaller than your elbow. Do not use Q-tips, bobby pins or sharp pointed objects to clean your ears. These objects may injure the ear canal or eardrum.

If the ear piercing is a little bead ring, wash the ring carefully, and rotate it through the ear with antibacterial ointment on it. If it is a stud, it is harder to clean. You have to clean around it very carefully. It is not recommended to take the stud out to clean it. When it is first healing the layers of the skin inside the ear might cause a problem when trying to put it back in. Once it is healed, pulling the ear piercings out, cleaning them and putting it back is fine. But during the healing process phase, the first 3-6 weeks, I wouldn't take it out. I have a ring in there so it can be rotated around and cleaned properly.

If your ferret has ear mites, after cleaning the ear thoroughly, drop the ear mite medication into the ear canal: a large quantity is not necessary, but it should go well down into the canal, not sit on the surface of the external ear. Treatment must be repeated several times at regular intervals to kill all the mites. The length of the intervals will depend on the specific medication. If there are either cats or dogs in the same area as the ferret, treat all of them for mites or the ferret will become reinfested very soon.