Ears sore from plucking

[diane silver]

I'm hoping that some of you "experts" out there can give me some guidance.  My grand-dog, who has been staying with us for the week, was groomed yesterday (he's been groomed by this person many times, as has Emma with no problems).  He's really uncomfortable and I can see that he isn't feeling well at all, and I know that his ears are bothering him from being plucked.  He's shaking his head, very lethargic, and just not "himself."  I gave him a baby aspirin, but is there anything I can use to alleviate his pain?  I'm very upset to see him this way - he's usually energetic (he's only 2 1/2) and wants to have a "snack" in the morning, but wouldn't even look at food!  During the night, he went under the bed and stayed there until we made him get up to go potty!  Thanks so much, I appreciate any suggestions.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unfortunately, he probably needs ear meds. When ear plucking isn't done exactly right, it can cause a severe irritation that can actually turn into an infection very quickly. It happened with my miniature poodle and a new groomer. (Never went back there.) 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Is it possible that his ears aren't sore from plucking, but rather possibly an ear infection from bathing?

[Lynda Kamrath]

Agreed.  He may have some water in his ear and that is irritating him.  We always put cotton balls in the dogs' ears when bathing them.  Ear plucking can be irritating if too much hair is pulled at a time and the skin gets irritated.  It is best to pluck ear hairs a little at a time frequently and not just when they get groomed.  That is too intense.  For now, you can get some ear cleaning alcohol solution and warm it up by putting the bottle into heated water.  Then drip into the ear and massage the ear around to get it dispersed.  Wipe gently with cotton balls.  We have had no ear problems with our doodles, but we had a miniature poodle who had frequent ear problems.  This worked for him.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I would also do as Lynda recommended and if he is not better tomorrow off to the vet we would go.  Good luck, I hope he feels better soon.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Our Murphy has a history of severe ear infections and has never been lethargic or refused a treat, so I'm wondering what else might be going on?  I have done everything I know to keep him from another infection and it's been a few years now since his last episode, so infrequent and mild plucking seems to be the sweet spot for him.  I used to pluck every bit of hair out to keep his clean and debris free and use meds after every bath or swim. This seems to irritate his ears more. Now I pluck very infrequently, keep clean with a Vir-bac Epi-Otic solution after swimming days and he's been fine.

I do not let the groomer pluck his ears, as I agree, too much at one time may tip the scale to irritation and infection. So learn from this and find what is comfortable for him by doing it on your own.  But again, I hope nothing else is going on. Keep us posted. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

When it happened to my Poodle, she showed extreme distress almost immediately, and I took her directly to the vet that same day. The vet said there was actually a gouge inside her ear from the hemostat the groomer used.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Ouch! That's more than an infection, although some infections can lead to that. No wonder the poodle was in distress. Very different than just irritation from normal plucking or ensuing or simmering infection. As I said, maybe more is going on and a gouge would be concerning.  Best to take him in to have it checked.