Vets disagree: Should I pluck my toy poodle's ear hair for ear issues?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Barni. The hair could be causing most of the problem right now. 2 schools of thought on hair in ear canals- leave it alone unless it's causing a problem and the other school of thought is to keep them plucked not matter what. Lots of hair in the ear canal can cause excessive itching and can make ear infections worse. Hair is full of bacteria which can aggravate the problem. Normally wax and secretions are produced in the ear canal and those are normally pushed along to the outside of the ear canal. This is a normal process of the ear cleaning itself. Hair causes an obstruction to this process and can lead to problems. Possible reasons for scratching at the ears can be flea infestation on and around the head, too much hair in the canals, an ear infection (ear mites, yeast, bacteria), or some type of skin infection involving the ears. I would advise a recheck with your vet or another vet if you need a second opinion. Typically when I see ears like this and the history you provided, I advise plucking the ear canals and then evaluating the ear canals for signs of problems. Plucking the hair often times requires some sedation/anesthesia due to pain. If there is a discharge in the ears, that should be examined under a microscope to evaluate for ear mites, yeast, and bacteria. If the ears are just inflamed, this could indicate problems with allergies. Once a diagnosis is made or suspected, a sound treatment plan can be implemented. This may include ear plucking, ear cleaning, ear medication, medicine for pain/inflammation, etc. I hope this helps. Good luck with Barni.

Honestly, I would just leave it alone for 24-48 hours since putting anything in the ears will hurt very much. Ear plucking is commonly done in this type of breed, but you may ask the groomer not to do it in the future. In a day or two, if Shotsie still seems uncomfortable and the ears are still irritated, you can get a pet ear cleaner like Dechra EpiKlean Ear Cleanser - it is balanced, so it won't burn like vinegar would, and will help the ears stay dry. Use the ear cleaner once a day for a couple days. If the ears still look irritated, then Shotsie should be evaluated by a vet for infection or other damage.

No, this isn't normal, and I would have Brownie seen by a vet first thing tomorrow. This could be due to allergies, an endocrine disorder, ear infection, or insect bites (fleas, mites). The vet can diagnose what is causing her to lose the hair on her ears, and can treat her for it.

Having her ear hairs clipped so that grass is less likely to have something to stick to would help. I would be hesitant about putting any picks near the ear. If you do use any I would advise a small amount of coconut oil. Rub it into your hands first so there is no excess dripping and rub into putter ears careful for no fluid to leak into the ear.

I do not clean ears unless they need it. I generally recommend inspecting and smelling the ears weekly. If there is discharge or odor then I clean them with a dog ear cleaner and a soft cotton ball. Overcleaning can upset the natural balance in the ear and cause problems. When he’s groomed they will check the ears and pluck the excess hair in them to keep the ear canal open. I’m glad you are concerned and taking such good care of this cute boy. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Prince Tab.

I would be concerned that the concentration of vinegar may worsen things or burn the ear. If the ear is still red you can try a commercial ear cleaner from a local pet store that is safe to use in the ears and see if that helps. If the ear stays red or is very bothersome to Daisy, I would have it looked at by your vet to rule out issues such as infection or allergies that may require a prescription medication to treat.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ear mites generally are noted first with signs of thick, dark discharge which appears a bit "crusty". However-the lack of these symptoms does not mean all is well with the ears of your pup. Dogs can get frequent ear infections, just like we can. I can tell from your photos that your pup has hair that grown down into the ear canals-this will be part of the problem. Those hairs trap debris, water from bathing, extra wax, etc and act as a great reservoir for bacteria to grow. I always recommend to my clients to have the hairs "plucked" by their groomer when they go or to come in to the office so that we can do it. After the hairs are cleared and the ears are cleaned, I like to do an exam of the ear canal and to take a swab of the ears to see what kind of yeast and/or bacteria are present there. It is important to have this exam performed by your vet to verify that your pet's eardrum is intact and not perforated. Likely your pet will get prescribed some antibiotics if your doctor finds it necessary, as well as pain medications or something for that awful itch. After everything is well controlled, it is usually easy to get my owners on a good ear cleaning regimen to keep ear infections at bay. I hope this helps! My best to you and your pup!