Got a couple of Cavaliers I'm dogsitting, I took one of them to the vet Tuesday as she suddenly started violently shaking her head and I thought she might have something down it, but when the vet checked it was just badly inflamed and waxy. I got ear drops, and when I checked the other dog her ears were much the same, so I've been giving them both the drops and they aren't shaking their heads now. However the ear still looks very red, and there is a lot of little specks / lumps of black hard wax which seems to be stuck fast to the folds of the ear, and I can't seem to wipe the black bits off with cotton wool or anything. Is there anything I could use to clean the outer ear, or is it just a case of being patient and carrying on with the drops down the ear and assuming that eventually all the black lumps of wax will clear up?

I've used baby wipes successfully for the flaps of really bad ears.

Have to clean the boys ears regularly (every other day) due to wax, which can be difficult to remove. Use cooled tepid boiled water, find it easier to budge wax than with cold. Realise BH ears are in a different league for size & can reach down further, but for stubborn black bits use coconut oil to soften before wiping away. For years would not use cotton buds & I don't poke around, but for visible bits they are great for creases my fat fingers can't manage. Good luck.

Baby wipes and Thornits powder..