A dog's coat can hold a lot of grime! The dog's ears present a special challenge. Keeping a dog's ears clean and dry helps to ward off ear infections – one of the most common reasons dogs go to the veterinarian.
Protect Fido's Eyes And Ears
Just use a washcloth to get that adorable face clean, and use cotton balls to clean his eyes and ears. Too much moisture in Fido's ear canal can cause problems, so we recommend putting cotton balls in his ears to protect them.
A good groomer will bathe your dog and this includes the head; they usually will put cotton balls in the ears to keep water from getting in the ear canal. Occasionally water can get in the ear canal anyway. After the bath, long, floppy ears can be very wet and can take a while to dry.
To Pluck or Not to Pluck the Hair from Your Dog's Ears
For those who are against the practice, they say plucking hair from a dog's ear can do more harm than good. The procedure can cause microscopic tears in the tissues of the ear canal which can pave the way for bacteria to invade and cause infection.
Under normal circumstances, your dog's ears should be cleaned regularly. The buildup of wax and debris can contribute to an infection or other problems when left unattended. Ear cleaning is often done by your groomer but you can also safely clean them yourself using the correct process.
The Key Problem: Water In Dogs Ears
A dog can develop an ear infection from grooming by getting water in their inner ear. The water, combined with the warm, dark environment of the dog's inner ear creates the perfect environment for yeast and bacteria to grow.
The breeds that need hair plucking because the hair tends to be rooted deep in the ear canal, are Maltese, Poodles, Terriers and Labradoodles, to name just a few. As long as the ear has no extreme build up of wax or smell, we will pull this hair up and pluck it.
Professional groomers never use alcohol or Q-Tips (cotton swabs) and often begin by lifting the dog's ear and exposing the inside flap so that it faces him. Any hair that is in the way is removed around the opening of the external ear canal and a small amount of medicated ear powder is placed in each ear.
Traditionally, it has been recommended that all dogs should have hair-free ears and ear plucking has been a routine component of dog grooming. However, recent evidence has revealed that ear plucking in the normal, healthy ear may not be necessary.
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.
After removing mats from the ears, a quick rush of blood fills the ears at the tips and can cause "bleeding out". It doesn't always happen right away. After being groomed, sometimes the ears feel different to the dog which makes them feel the need to shake their head excessively.
You can prevent water from getting into your pup's ears by blocking their external ear canals with a large cotton ball before swimming or bath time — just don't forget to take the cotton out after your pet leaves the water.
Lightly massage the outside base of the ear to help break up the wax inside the ear canal. Clean out excess moisture and wax gently with cotton balls or a cloth. Do notuse cotton swabs or stick your fingers into the dog's ear canal; this can damage the canal or ear drum.
Wondering how often your dog's ears need to be cleaned? In general, once per month is a good rule of thumb. Breeds with long, floppy ears or dogs who swim frequently may need to have their ears cleaned every other week, or even weekly. After bathing or swimming, be sure to properly dry your pup's ears.
Most Poodles need to have their ears plucked every 2 to 4 weeks.
Signs of ear mites in dogs include scratching around the ears, head and neck, skin irritation, head shaking, the presence of an ear discharge that is dark and waxy (resembling coffee grounds) and an unpleasant odour from the ears.
Ear hair can prevent airflow through the ear canal, which causes moisture to build up in the ear. This moisture can cause yeast infections and other uncomfortable conditions to develop in your dog's ears. In addition to improving airflow, ear plucking allows the ears and ear canals to be more visible.
A better way to prevent problems in the first place is to keep the water and debris out of his ear canal. Since he is a floppy-eared dog, I would suggest putting cotton balls in his ears during bathing, drying and when they clip the hair around his head and ears.
They might be nervous, cold, bursting with anticipation, or having a really stimulating dream, but an underlying medical condition or an injury could also cause such tremors.
Dark brown or black—This type of earwax is commonly associated with yeast and/or bacterial ear infections. It's a good idea to consult with a veterinarian if earwax is this color. Brown—Light brown earwax is normal and expected. If the wax is accompanied by odor or inflammation, it can be a sign of infection.