Yes, professional groomers typically clean a dog's ears as part of a standard grooming session, removing visible wax and excess hair (especially for floofy breeds like Poodles), but they often leave deep cleaning or addressing infections to veterinarians, checking for redness or odor first, as proper ear care depends on the breed and condition. While some groomers offer basic cleaning, it's crucial to ask your groomer and vet to determine if your dog needs more intensive care, like ear plucking or medicated solutions, to prevent infections.
For a dog with healthy, normal ears, a routine ear clean is only needed if dirt or debris is noted, as overcleaning the ears can also lead to irritation of the ears. A routine ear cleaning is recommended if the ears get wet, such as after swimming or bathing.
Dark brown earwax may simply be a build-up of healthy wax. Your dog's ear may just need cleaning. Gently wipe away the dirt and debris with a warm, damp cloth and dry afterward. Yeast infections (candida or Malassezia spp) commonly cause earwax to turn greasy, dark brown or reddish-brown.
Check With Your Groomer – Some groomers clean dogs' ears as part of the grooming experience, and your dog may not need any more than that. Inspect Your Dog's Ears Regularly – You should check for signs of waterlogged ears or excessive moisture, blockage, irritation, or smells, especially after baths or swimming.
The key is to keep the experience as positive as possible.
Ear mites. Ear mites cause intense scratching. If you look in your dog's ears and see dark brown debris that resembles coffee grounds, then your dog most likely has ear mites.
Infections. Bacterial, yeast, and fungal infections are big players when it comes to dirty dog ears. These infections often cause redness, swelling, and a foul odor.
Ear mites are extremely small, making it difficult to spot them. If you use a soft cloth to wipe the dog's ears, you may be able to spot the mites in the residue. They appear as tiny white dots. Some symptoms to look out for are brown or black waxy ear secretions and a strong odor from the ears.
Ear mites can cause several signs, including a black discharge, scratching, and head shaking.
Most dogs' ears are much larger than ours, and their ear canals are much longer. They are certainly a lot more sensitive. Owners usually only need to clean them when there is a problem; however, they may already be painful at this point, so the dog learns that handling around the ears is painful.
If you don't clean your ears for years, earwax, also known as cerumen, can accumulate in the ear canal. The earwax can harden and become impacted, which can cause a blockage in the ear canal.
Pain can cause a loss of appetite or increased fussiness with food. You might also see over-grooming around a painful spot (licking or biting at skin), or a sudden drop in overall grooming habits (especially with cats). These subtle cues deserve your attention!
Sometimes your veterinarian will recommend a thorough ear exam under sedation or anesthesia if: the dog will not allow cleaning while it is awake. it is suspected that a foreign body such as plant material is inside the ear canal. the veterinarian needs to collect samples from the ear for cytology or culture.
Routine Ear Cleaning: Regularly clean your dog's ears to prevent wax buildup and reduce the risk of infections. Regular Check-ups: Schedule regular veterinary visits to monitor your dog's ear health and address any issues promptly.
A healthy, clean dog ear is light pink and odorless. However, a dirty dog ear might smell musty or have brown or black earwax. If your dog starts shaking their head or scratching at their ears, you can prevent a nasty infection by cleaning them as soon as possible.
Breeds Prone to Ear Infections and Signs to Watch For
Common and usually normal, brown earwax may indicate the presence of dirt or debris. If it turns dark brown–or when foul odor is paired with brown discharge, dog ear infection may not be far behind.
Dog Ear Cleaning: 6 Mistakes to Avoid for Healthy, Happy Ears
One sign your dog may have mites is a crusty, blackish-brown ear discharge, which often looks like dried shoe polish. Other signs include scratching and head shaking. There are several treatments for ear mites; some options only kill the adult mites but newer products also eliminate the eggs and the immature forms.