Poodle Ear Hair Removal: A Step By Step Guide
Your Poodle’s ear hair can get out of hand before you know it. Since your dog cannot remove excess ear hair on his own, it is up to you to take care of the situation. Not only does removing ear hair result in a more refined and elegant look, but plucking your Poodle’s ear hair can be vitally important to achieving excellent overall health. Knowing this, how exactly do you properly remove a Poodle’s ear hair?
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A Poodle’s ear hair should be removed every two to four weeks as part of a regular grooming routine. Excessive ear hair reduces airflow to the ear canal and traps in dirt and excess ear wax within. Removing a dog’s ear hair can prevent ear infections by limiting the growth of bacteria in the ear.
Rest assured, there is a true and tested process to follow when removing your Poodle’s ear hair. You will want to ensure you take proper action to help prevent possible health issues such as ear infections in your pup. Read on to learn exactly how to correctly remove your Poodle’s ear hair and discover how to make this hair removal process easier by keeping the ear canal clean on a regular basis.
Cleaning a Poodle’s Ears Makes Ear Hair Removal Easier
To keep your poodle’s ears clean and dry, you will want to follow the advice contained in this post. Once you have cleaned the ears, removing any excess hair will become even easier.
Follow these easy steps to clean your Poodle’s ears properly:
Step 1 – Use a Good Dog Ear Cleaning Solution
- There are many good cleaning solutions on the market such as Liquid K9 Solutions found on Amazon here, so just make sure you choose the one that you are most comfortable with.
- Following the instructions on the packaging, make sure that you take your Poodle’s head and gently tip it to the side. Take the ear flap and hold it up with one hand while you pour just a small amount of the ear cleaning solution directly into the ear.
Step 2 – Insert a Large Cotton Ball
Now that the cleaning solution is in the ear, you will want to immediately place a large cotton ball in the ear canal. You will want to situate it right at the opening of the canal itself.
Step 3 – Use an Effective Ear Massaging Technique
The key now is to make sure the solution makes its way all throughout the ear canal, loosening up any ear wax and dirt. Employing a good massaging motion at the base of the ear will help ensure the solution covers the entire ear.
Step 4 – Take Out the Cotton Ball
Once you have thoroughly massaged job the ear, you can remove the cotton ball. There may be some wax and dirt remaining; if true, you will want to take another cotton ball and remove any remaining debris until thoroughly clean.
That is all that there is to it. You do not want to make this process more complicated than it needs to be.
Note: Be sure not to try to clean the ear canal with a Q-tip. This is unnecessary, and can result in permanent damage to the inner ear. Stick to the dirt and wax buildup that you can see immediately in front of the ear canal itself.
How To Remove Poodle Ear Hair: Step-by-Step
Once you have properly cleaned and prepared your poodle’s ear, you will want to follow a few steps to remove the remaining excess ear hair safely. You will need to have some ear powder and tweezers handy to complete the job. Make sure you and your poodle are in a comfortable position as well.
Follow these easy steps to remove the excess hair from your Poodle’s ear:
Step 1 – Clean Your Poodle’s Ears
Cleaning your Poodle’s ears is a vital part of the ear hair removal process. Owners should inspect their dog’s ears for excess hair, foul odors, and dirt and wax buildup. Clean with a good cleaning solution to ensure the ears are clean and dry.
Step 2 – Apply Some Ear Powder
You will want to start by folding back an ear and then directly shaking a bit of powder into it. Bio-groom ear powder found on Amazon here is my favorite product to use. Ear Powder will enable you to grab ahold of your Poodle’s hair more easily, resulting in a relatively pain-free experience for your poodle.
Step 3 – Work the Powder In
Once you have applied the powder, use your hands to work it into the ear hair thoroughly. Make sure that the powder is distributed throughout the ear down to the base.
Step 4 – Use Tweezers
Take your tweezers and pluck each hair directly out of the ear canal itself. Be very gentle here so that your poodle does not feel discomfort. Some owners prefer to use their fingers to pluck the hair out instead of tweezers. The choice is ultimately up to you.
NOTE: It is important to remember that you should only pull out very small amounts of hair at a time. Do not rush through the process, or you may end up hurting your dog.
Step 5 – Clean Out Remaining Powder From the Ear
- Once you have finished removing ear hair, there will likely be some powder left to clean up. For this step, you will want to apply an ear cleaning solution. I recommend using a cotton ball for this purpose. Move the cotton ball over the excess powder and wipe it out of the ear canal.
- Following these five steps will help you successfully remove the excess hair from your poodle’s ears. Not only will your dog look much better as a result, but he will feel better as well. Ear hair removal should become a regular part of the regular grooming process for your poodle.
If you are more of a visual person, here is a video that shows this Poodle hair removal process visually:
When and How to Pluck Your Poodle’s Ears
It is important to choose a time and place to pluck your Poodle’s ears when he is most likely to be comfortable and relaxed. Plucking your Poodle’s ears can be stressful, so select a place in the house that is quiet and free of distractions.
NOTE: Try plucking your Poodle after he has already eaten and had his playtime. This way, he will be more likely to be resigned and tired, making the ear plucking process easier and less stressful for you and your dog.
To pluck your Poodle’s ears, there is no one best position to put your dog in. This is going to be a bit of trial and error and will depend on what your dog is most comfortable with. Once you find the location and position your dog seems to respond to best, you will want to use this position each time you pluck his ears.
Once you have cleaned the ears and added some powder, you can begin plucking. You will follow the steps mentioned previously in this guide for removing ear hair from your poodle. Make sure that to only remove a few hairs at a time. While many owners find that tweezers are the optimal tool to use, others find that their fingers work just as well.
Grab hold of the hair that you are going to pull and jerk quickly to remove the offending hair. This is best for you and your dog. Do not delay the process. Just get in there and get it done. Your Poodle will appreciate that you have not made them sit there through a three-hour procedure. He is just as eager to get it over with as you are.
When plucking, it’s important to remove the hair that you can clearly see. This is not the time for you to start exploring your hidden veterinarian skills. You do not want to dig into the ear canal, looking for hairs that may or may not be there. If you don’t see them right away, then ignore them. Only remove the hair that is right in front of you and visible.
Should a Poodle’s Ear Hair be Plucked?
- A Poodle’s ears should be plucked every two to four weeks as part of a regular grooming routine. Excess hair accumulates quickly in the ear canal, decreasing airflow and providing the optimal conditions for bacterial growth. Plucking the ears is believed to be the safest way to remove ear hair in Poodles.
- Poodles are a breed that tends to be more prone to hair growth in the ear canal. Unfortunately, there is nothing that you can do to stop this, so it is important to be proactive and keep your dog’s ears free of excess hair.
- Some poodles, such as miniature and standard varieties, tend to grow long ear hair that interferes with the flow of air into the ear canal. This makes plucking even more essential.
- Plucking ear hair has become the preferred method of removing ear hair from a Poodle because it safely removes both the strand and the root of the hair. Sadly, the follicle will remain, which is why the hair will grow back, and the process will have to be repeated every two to four weeks.
Why Is It Important to Remove Hair From a Poodle’s Ears?
- Poodles possess large hairy ears that drape over the ear canal, making the inner ear more prone to bacterial infection and dirt and wax buildup if not properly cleaned. As a result, a Poodle’s ear canal can become quite warm and dark, creating a hospitable environment for bacterial and yeast infections.
- Before you set out to remove excess ear hair from your poodle, it is important to inspect the entire area and give the ear a good cleaning. You will want to look for any buildup of dirt or wax. It is vitally important to clean the ears at least once a month, but weekly is even better. If you wait too long, this buildup could become quite substantial and prevent you from doing the cleaning on your own.
How Can You Tell if Your Poodle Has an Ear Infection?
The most common symptoms of ear infections include unusual odors, colored discharge, head shaking, and noticeable bouts of dizziness. While the origin and root causes of a dog’s ear infection can vary, bacteria in the ear is a primary cause of chronic ear infections in Poodles.
Symptoms of ear infection in Poodles include:
- Continual rubbing – Be on the lookout for your poodle to be constantly itching its ears. If this is the case, then there is something going on that is not normal. You may even notice your pet rubbing its head on the floor. This is an indication of possible infection as well.
- Colored discharge coming from the ear canal – Wax will eventually begin to discharge. When it does, you will notice a black or green liquid coming from the ear. This is not normal, so infection is likely to be the cause. If you see puss, this is a clear indication of an infection as well.
- Strange odors – A Poodle’s ears should not have funny smells coming from them. If you smell foul odors eminating from your dog’s ears, this could be evidence of a possible ear infection.
- Noticeable bouts of dizziness – Ear infections can wreak havoc on a Poodle’s equilibrium. If you obderve your dog becoming dizzy for obvious reason, then you will want to check for a possible ear infection.
- Constant head shaking – An ear infection could also be the culprit if your poodle starts to suddenly shake the head like he is trying to get rid of something.
- Unusual eye movements – If you notice strange movements of the eyes, this could indicate a middle ear infection. Middle ear infections can be rather serious if left untreated, so you will want to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible if detected.
- Other common indicators of ear infection – Some other symptoms of an ear infection in Poodle’s include sickness, a lack of interest in normal activities, or a loss of appetite.
While keeping your poodle’s ear clean will not eliminate the chance of ear infections developing, it can certainly minimize the risk. So be on the lookout for these symptoms of ear infection and address them as soon as possible with your vet. Being proactive can make a big difference in the health and well-being of your poodle long term.
Should You Pluck or Trim Ear Hair?
- An awesome alternative to ear plucking should be having your groomer do the trimming down carefully, especially in the ear flap of the dog so as to trim the hair in the ear canal. When it is kept short, this will prevent hair from blocking the good flow of air or getting tangles in any ear wax.
- However for those that get chronic build up of wax, infections or irritation, then yes it is a good suggestion to get the hair removed. Plucking poodle ear is preferred to trimming because that will shorten the strands while not fully unblocking the flow of stunted air.
- As a matter of fact, if the ears of poodles were to be have clipped hairs, this would result in a somehow thick and dense area which most likely would trap more yeast, bacteria and possibly debris.
Final Thoughts
Most Poodle owners may think that to tend their dog’s ears when grooming their pooch. Plucking your Poodle ear hair is not only a good hygiene practice but is also a basic ear health care. Plucking hair from your Poodle’s ears ensures that there is enough air circulation in the air to keep away moisture. By keeping your dog’s ears dry, she will be less prone to ear infections since bacteria and yeast only thrive in moist areas. Plucking ear hair also reduces wax buildup.
It is a good habit to be plucking ear hair, however you should not do it regularly. Just make sure you pluck ear hair monthly while keeping your poodle hair clean.The best part is that you can do this on your own at home. However, if you don’t feel confident enough to do it, then you can have your groomer do it for you
