Poodle Ear Care and Cleaning: (Complete Guide)
The poodle has long been one of the most popular dog breeds among pet owners. Once the pampered companion of royal icons like King Louis XV, the poodle has since become a beloved companion in households all around the world. However, poodles are high maintenance dogs and require excessive levels of cleanliness. particularly when it comes to their ears. But how do you clean your poodle’s ears exactly?
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Cleaning a poodle’s ears involves applying ear cleaning solution to each ear canal and massaging for 30 to 90 seconds Any debris and excess fluid should be removed using a cotton ball. Veterinarians recommend checking a poodle’s ears at least once a week for excess hair, dirt. wax buildup, or infections.
Although the consequences of failing to properly clean your poodle’s ears can be disastrous, the cleaning process is actually quite simple. Keep reading to learn more about when and how to effectively clean your poodle’s ears.
Do I Need to Clean my Poodle’s Ears?
- As a dog owner, you should clean your dog’s ears regularly, regardless of your dog’s breed or bloodline. Poodle owners should be particularly keen on the state of their dog’s ears as poodles are highly susceptible to ear infections. This is due to the shape and size of poodle ears, which are relatively large and drop down over the ear canal, leading to a buildup in moisture.
- You should check your poodle’s ears frequently, at least once a week, for a few common signs that your dog’s ears need to be cleaned.
How to Tell When a Poodle’s Ears Need Cleaning
There are several common signs that should tell you that your poodle’s ears need to be cleaned.
Here are a few signs that your poodle’s ears need cleaning.
- Dirt Buildup
- Odor
- Excess Hair
- Wax Buildup
Poodles are one of several dog breeds that tend to have excess hair growing in their ears. It is important that you check the hair growth in your poodle’s ears at least once a week. You should also be mindful of any noticeable odors emanating from your poodle’s ears. It is also important to check your poodle’s ears at least once a week for both dirt and wax buildup.
There are a few signs that you should look for in the case that your poodle is suffering from an ear infection.
Signs that your poodle is suffering from an ear infection include:
- Discharge
- Erratic Eye Movements
- Shaking Head
- Rubbing
- Odor
- Dizziness
Although odor does not always signify an ear infection, the odor of an ear infection will be far more overwhelming than any typical odor emanating from your poodle’s ears. There is also typically a black or green colored discharge coming from your poodle’s ears that will accompany this odor.
Your poodle will also behave differently if suffering from an ear infection.
You may notice your poodle struggling to keep its balance, fervently itching its ears, or even moving its eyes in a repetitive back and forth motion. Finally, your poodle might simply act out in an unrelated manner, such as experiencing a decreased appetite or even running a fever.
Gather Materials Needed to Clean Your Poodle’s Ears
To remove dirt and excess hair from your dogs ears, you will have to perform two separate tasks to clean your poodle’s ears. First, you must clean out your poodle’s ears. Then, you need to pluck the ears.
To clean out your poodle’s ears, you will need the following materials.
- Ear Cleaning Solution
- Cotton Balls
The process for cleaning your poodle’s ears is actually quite simple, and it is best to keep your cleaning solution as organic and low on chemicals as possible.
You should under no circumstances use a Q-tip or cotton swab to clean your poodle’s ears as it may slip and get lodged deeper in your dog’s ear canal.
Then, to pluck your poodle’s ears, you will need the following materials.
- Ear Powder
- Hemostat
A hemostat is a surgical tool commonly used to pluck hairs in many households that bears resemblance to a pair of scissors. There are various brands of ear powder that you can find for your poodle. Ear powder is imperative to this process as it helps grip the excess hair and allows for a smoother extraction process.
Now, once you have gathered all of these materials, you are ready to begin cleaning and plucking your poodle’s ears.
How to Pluck a Poodle’s Ears Step by Step
Now, just as important as cleaning your poodle’s ears is plucking the ears. Poodles are notorious for their thick, curly hair, and it is certainly prevalent within any poodle’s inner ear. To effectively remove any excess hair from your poodle’s ears, simply follow these four steps.
- Step 1: First, tip your dog’s head to one side and fold its ear back. This may be easier if your dog is laying on its side with its head raised on your lap.
- Step 2: Then, shake a small amount of ear powder into the ear and massage the powder into the hair you wish to extract. It is important to cover all of the hair that will be plucked to the base of the hair strand to maximize the grip on each hair strand, making the plucking process much smoother.
- Step 3: Use the hemostat to pluck these hairs out of the ear canal. Try to limit the amount of hair you pluck at a time. Your dog will experience discomfort while you do this. You may also use a pair of tweezers or even your hands, but a hemostat is the most effective tool for doing this task.
- Step 4: Finally, use the ear cleaning solution to wipe out any lingering ear powder from your dog’s ear. Then, repeat the process on the other ear.
Once you have completed all of these steps, your dog’s ears should be free from any dirt or infection concerns and good as new.
Cleaning Your Poodle’s Ears Step by Step
Just As the materials necessary for cleaning your poodle’s ears are simple and straightforward, so are the steps in the cleaning process simple and straightforward. There are just four crucial steps to effectively cleaning your poodle’s ears.
Here are the four steps you should account for when clean poodle’s ears:
- Step 1: Make sure your dog’s head is tipped to one side. It can help to have your dog laying on its side, with its head raised on your lap. Then, hold open its ear flap with one hand and pour the teaspoon-sized amount of the ear cleaning solution in your dog’s ear with the other hand.
- Step 2: Then, place a sterile cotton ball at the base of your dog’s ear and gently massage this area for anywhere between 30 and 90 seconds. This is to gradually send the cleaning solution down into the ear canal.
- Step 3: The cleaning solution will clean out any debris or wax buildup inside the ear canal, bringing it to the surface. You should wipe out this debris with a separate, sterile cotton ball.
- Step 4: Repeat this process on both ears until you no longer pick up wax or debris with the cotton balls. Then, use one final cotton ball to dry out the inside of your dog’s ear.
Once you have completed all of these steps, your dog’s ears should be sparkling clean.
What is the brown stuff in my dog’s ears?
If your Poodle has brown goop in their ears, they’re almost certainly dealing with an ear infection. The occasional brown or black specks are to be expected when cleaning your Poodle’s ears, but it shouldn’t be a thick, brown, goopy substance.
This ear gunk also often smells and your Poodle may show signs of pain and irritation such as shaking their head, rubbing their ear, or moving away when you touch their ear.
If you notice your Poodle’s ear is full of brown gunk, you shouldn’t attempt to clean your dog’s ears yourself. Instead, make a vet appointment for appropriate medical treatment.
An ear infection not properly treated can spread into the middle or inner-ear and can cause permanent damage, not to mention awful pain.
Why do my poodles’ ears stink?
- If your Poodle’s ears stink, they likely have an ear infection. A bad odor coming from your Poodle’s ears is one of the surest ways to tell that there is something wrong deeper within your Poodle’s ears.
- You may also notice your Poodle shaking their head, or their ear may be painful to the touch. Brown, green, and yellow discharge may also be present.
- Infections that have progressed further can also begin to bleed or cause more severe effects such as affecting your Poodle’s balance, or other symptoms that can appear neurological in nature.
- At the first sign of any of these symptoms, you should take your Poodle to their veterinarian for treatment.
- Ear infections cannot be treated simply by cleaning the ears at home, and your Poodle needs appropriate medical care to prevent further damage.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your poodle’s ears is a necessity, and for some poodle owners, it’s a little intimidating. Instead of taking your pup to the groomer and spending extra money, hopefully, the tips and tricks I’ve shared will give you the confidence and know-how to clean your poodles’ ears all on your own.
