Ear cleaning?!?

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

Ginger is 15 months and I have not cleaned her ears.  Should I have cleaned them by now?  How often do you clean them and with what?

 

Thanks,

 

Pam

[Sandy]

The groomer plucks the little hairs in Toby's ears for me.  I do it a little, but she does the major plucking.  I do, however, clean his ears maybe twice a week with a solution given to me by my dog trainer friend.  I wipe the outer ear, and then put in a couple of drops, rub his ear, do the other side, and then let him go - at which point he races around and rubs his head on things.  I think it's a good idea to get them used to having drops in their ears just in case they have an ear infection at some point.

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

oops i meant Ginger is 15 WEEKS

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

Let me just say if you have not had a problem by now then you are fortunate, but I do know that unless she goes to the groomer to have the hair removed and some sort of cleaning then you are setting yourself (and her) up for some problems. It is just routine maintenance and these floppy ears can become real breeding grounds for bacteria. I have become the queen of ear infections so I tend to err on the side of cleaning to the point of exhaustion, but $1000.00+ later, I have no plan on stopping this practice to hopefully prevent any further pain or suffering for Murphy or me.

It is very easy to pluck the hair. It comes right out, I have even pulled with my fingers. But usually use a tweezers or hemostat.  I treat with each tug of hair. You may want a groomer to do it or show you how if you are not squimish.

Good luck.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My groomer plucks the little hairs out, and I just squirt a little EpiOtic in each ear (about once a week) and then wipe.  It only takes a minute, and neither of my Doods have had an ear infection.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

If Ginger needs the hair plucked out of her ears you can do it, the vet can, or a groomer can.  Not all doodles need this.  If her ears are fine, I wouldn't do anything to mess that up.  However if she tends to have ear problems, you will need to clean them out.  Different vets recommend different cleaning schedules.  I NEVER clean Ned or Clancy's ears but I know the groomer checks to see if she needs to pluck hair.  Ned and Clancy are not prone to ear problems.  Our Springer, on the other hand,....

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

Actually you are right Nancy as I do remember reading that somewhere. Don't fix what's not broken, like not doing anal glands unless there is a problem.  I do know that my two do get dirty dusty ears even when there isn't a problem so I just swab them weekly and plucking just looks cleaner and like it would be more comfortable for them. But maybe it is a personal preference, it's just I haven't ever had the luxury of NOT cleaning a dogs ears so I can't imagine it. What a nice idea....never an ear problem.  I can only dream about it.

P.S. EpiOtic has worked the best for us if you are going to clean ears Pam.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Our vet said we should clean their ears at least once (preferably twice) a week.  I admit we are really bad about it.  Kirby's ears always are clean but Dex is prone to ear infections.  Thanks for the reminder because I'm overdue to clean their ears!

We got a cleaner from the vet.

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

OH Just saw that Ginger is 15 weeks. Oh my, that's a good time to start at least playing with her ears and introducing the idea of cleaning to her so if and when you have to do more, or the groomer has to pluck then she is not afraid. I know our breeder started very early as both mine came to me with no fear of their ears being messed with. Start now just to get her used to the handling even if you just touch inside. -