Ear care

There are many reasons to have your dog professionally groomed -- preventing ear problems is a big one. Routine ear hair plucking can help prevent infections and reduce the risk of ear mites, microscopic parasites that can invade the external ear canal.

Photo by kyle smith on Unsplash

Elizabeth Toc, co-owner of The Tailored Tail, says if you don’t pluck excess hair from your dog’s ears, moisture and bacteria can build in the ear. “If regular ear cleaning doesn’t seem to be enough, we are trained to thin out the dogs ear hair so less dirt and debris collects in the ear.”

At the groomer your dog’s ears are cleaned with a gentle washing solution then, if necessary, groomers carefully pluck hair from the ears. This can be uncomfortable for dogs so Toc suggests letting the experienced groomer handle the plucking. Often, the professional groomer is the first to notice a problem in your dog’s ear that might need a second look by a veterinarian.

If there is a build up of hair and moisture is trapped in the dog’s ear canal it can be an ideal environment for yeast, creating an unbalanced microbiome that can lead to ear infections.

Regularly plucking ear hair is easier than dealing with a buildup of dirt and ear wax, which can be a real challenge to remove. According to Royal Veterinary College, some dogs are most likely to need regular ear cleaning, and even plucking, than others. Their study showed that the top five most likely to have ear problems are: Basset Hound, Chinese Shar Pei, Labradoodle, Beagle and Golden Retriever. Poodle and spaniel types of dogs overall are at greater risk of ear infection. Dogs with long and hanging ear flaps had a much higher risk of ear infection compared with dogs with pointy ears. The study also showed that smaller sized breeds have fewer ear problems.

Toc says dog ear cleaning is a crucial aspect of your dog’s overall hygiene. It can help prevent infections and keep your dog’s ears healthy. According to Nahf, an online pet resource, cleaning your dog’s ears at home can also help prevent ear infections. Fill the canal with a dog ear cleaning solution and massage the vertical ear canal from the outside, then wipe out the canal with absorbent gauze.

Nahf says don’t use paper towels or cotton because these may leave fibers behind and cause irritation. You can also find dog ear cleaning wipes that are helpful for clearing away dirt and debris from the external ear flaps.

In between dog groomer appointments, Vetericyn has these suggestions for pet owners to keep ears clean:

• Conduct regular cleanings

• Check for debris

• Keep ears dry

• Use gentle cleaning products