To pluck or not to pluck that is the question

[Lori Ann Padgett]

when we got Harper she had trouble with ear infections. Both ears were extremely itchy and she was miserable! Her first visit I took her to the vet and she looked inside her ears but neither of them were red or looked like she had an infection. When she went in the following week for her shots another vet said the same thing but she actually saw an infection and swabbed Harpers ears! They said it would be a good idea to pluck them. She actually stopped itching and her ears stopped bothering her. This was about a month + ago. Now that the hairs grown back she has another ear infecting. I was thinking on having her ears plucked again but I keep reading its not a good thing to do! To pluck or not to pluck that is the question!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

We've had many debates over this here; there are opinions on both sides, and probably always will be. For poodles, IMO it is absolutely essential that the hair be removed from the ear canal regularly. For doodles, it depends on the individual dog. Factors include type of coat, past history of ear issues, and size and shape of the ear canal. JD's coat is thin, silky and sheds heavily. His coat is not curly or woolly. His ear canals are wide and there is no hair in them at all. He has never had an ear infection, despite the fact that he has severe environmental allergies and skin issues. His ears never get plucked, and rarely even need cleaning.

But my poodles and schnoodle had thick woolly non-shedding coats, woolly profuse hair in their ears, and frequent ear infections. Their ears required regular plucking and weekly maintenance with a good cleaning & drying solution. 

If your vet is recommending that you keep Harper's ears plucked, I would follow the vet's advice on this.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Our family had a Bichon growing up and I HAD to pluck her ears and clean them regularly or they got really dirty!

Luna has very little hair in her ears, really only at the very outside near the opening.  We don't even need to clean her ears but I check them and do a sniff test regularly.  

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

We brought Polly home with a yeast infection in her ears, our groomer pulled a ton out right away and we worked hard cleaning them up and giving her the meds.  They are much better now and healthy looking, we will keep them plucked to help keep them clean.  Not sure it is the right decision for everyone but think it is in our case.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I groom doodles and some have poodle-ears, as Karen describes--lots of hair and narrow ear canals. I think you will need to pluck them and use a cleaning solution regularly-- If you don't want the hairs all plucked out at once at the groomer's, causing your pooch some anxiety, then do it yourself--put some talcum powder on your fingers and give her a nice ear massage--then just reach in and pull out some hairs! If you do this every day for a few minutes, it won't build up in there. I do that all the time with my dogs and they flinch at the first and second pull, but then I stop and do some more the next day--it is much easier on them than it is when I am grooming a dog and have to pluck each ear for five minutes--the ear gets pretty sore.

I once pulled a three inch long clump of hair out of a doodle's ear--it had just kept growing and growing down into the ear canal--so it really is important to get in there and clean the ear out now and then...in my opinion!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Thankfully, Enzo has more Golden ears.  There is a bit of hair and I do pluck.  I bought some ear powder.....very little goes a long way.  Helps keep the ear canals dry ( she swims in our pool frequently) smelling good, and helps in grabbing a hold of the hair.  Our Vet explained to us, the ear hair has very little root and comes out very easily. And she doesn't feel a thing.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

What did your vet say to do?

[Stella]

Like the others have said, depends a lot on the coat type. My F1 doesn't have hair in his ear canals and I only have to clean the inside of his ear flap occasionally. My multi-gen has the hairiest ears ever, all the way to his ear drum. Our old vet told me I should pluck them, which is dutifully did regularly, as well and cleaning his ears - they get gunky. When we moved, our new vet told us she didn't believe in plucking and that we should leave them. So, I tried it - worst mistake ever!! His ears got so hairy and were full of thick inch long 'candles' of dark brown wax. It was horrible, took me so long to pluck and clean them out again and his ears were so irritated. Now, we have a regular schedule of plucking and cleaning to stay on top of the hair situation!!

[Kyoko]

I pluck. Charlie is F1b, and took after her poodle dad much more than she did her F1 mom. She has very curly and densed coat. And if her ears are not cleaned and plucked on regilar basis, she os prone to ear infection....

[Lynda Kamrath]

We had a miniature poodle who had constant ear infections.  We learned to pluck and use cleaning solution and powder with him and have done it as a regular part of maintenance with our other dogs since then.  Ears irrigated whenever they are bathed, and plucked on a regular basis.  As long as you start it when they are young, they don't mind at all.  Whenever my dogs are lying with their heads in my lap, they get an ear check.  Kind of like the toenail trim, it is just part of regular doodle care.  Brush teeth, clean the ears, trim the toenails.  I also check their pads whenever we have been out for a walk to see if there are any seeds or stickers between the toes.  Can't believe the trash that ends up stuck between the toes.  You can't be too careful with these guys.

[Sally S Miles]

Our vet suggested a close watch on ears, our girl has very Poodly ears - we were doing well, but have had to pluck. The vet also suggested having the groomer keep the hair that grows along face - under ears, clipped short for air flow.  Thank goodness this dog loves having her ears messed with.

[DonMarie and Picco]

My experience is that groomers want to pluck it and vets say don't unless it you dog gets ear infections, that plucking can also cause infections (which makes sense). Picco had only one really bad, fast growing infection. I check him often, but it seemed to pop up in just a couple days. His ears stay clean but recently he's been getting mats in his ears and I haven't been doing anything differently, I don't know what has changed and I can't get the hang of plucking even though a groomer showed me.

[Kami Allen]

My dog has constant ear infections and I was told to clean and pluck.  I even pull the hair on the inside flap of the ear.  The part that is pink can be pulled and does not hurt them at all (my doodle doesn't mind) I watched a video on youtube of this guy from Australia that was showing how to groom and clean labradoodles and he said to do that - that way ear wax doesnt get build up in the hair too!!