NO MORE EAR HAIR PLUCKING! By Barbara Bird, CMG

Pet parents may be relieved to know that they are no longer under the mandate

to pluck out the hair from inside their dogs’ ears. Nor should groomers do this. The

current advice from veterinary dermatologists is that plucking ear hair can do more

harm than good. Rather than prevent ear infections, this procedure can actually

create a greater likelihood of infection by damaging the tender inner ear tissue and

allowing a foothold for bacteria to thrive. This is contrary to what many groomers

have been taught, and may come as a surprise. It is consistent with contemporary

clinical evidence from the ranks of veterinary dermatologists, the specialists in pet

ear care and treatment.

In her presentation to Tucson, Arizona groomers, “Ears: What Every Groomer

Needs to Know”, Dr. Heide Newton, DVM, DACVD plainly stated that groomers

should stop plucking ear hair from inside dog’s ears. “Healthy ears are self-cleaning”,

stated Dr. Newton. She encouraged groomers to continue the practice of ear

cleaning, however, using products formulated for ear care, and massaging the base

of the ear to allow the product to loosen wax and debris from deep in the ear canal.

Clipping and/or careful scissoring of excess hair around the ear opening is also

helpful for maintaining ear health. Q-Tips should be used only on the crevices of the

outer ear, not down into the ear canal. The concern is not that the eardrum might be

damaged as with human ears, but that waxy material may be inadvertently packed

further into the ear canal.

Another clear statement from Dr. Newton was that “Bathing with clean water

will NOT cause ear infections.” Contaminated water may introduce microbes that

lead to ear infections, but clean water is not a problem.

The possibility of cross-contamination from an infected ear to the other ear or

another animal is the one area where groomers might be at fault. It is very possible

for pseudomonas bacteria, the most common infection agent, to transfer from an

infected ear to various surfaces and then be picked up by other animals or even

humans. The most obvious sign of a pseudomonas infection is what vets call a

“purulent exudate”. Translation: yucky discharge. If the groomer suspects an ear

infection, Dr. Newton suggested the following protocol:

1. Clean the GOOD ear first.

2. If the ear with the suspected infection is cleaned, be gentle and use a non-

stinging ear cleaner. The groomer may also choose to not clean an ear with a

suspected infection, especially if it looks serious.

3. Disinfect everything that has had contact with the suspicious ear or might be

sprayed with shaking of the ears. This includes, your hands, the tub, the

faucets, any tools, the table, the kennel and bedding, and the tip or spout of

the ear cleaner bottle.

In addition to ear discharge, other signs of ear abnormality are redness,

itchiness, odor, swollen tissue of outer ear, hair loss on earflap, and scabs or

scaliness. Ear problems are often quite complex and difficult to nail down and treat.

A referral to the veterinary dermatologist can result in a quicker and more accurate

diagnosis and more effective treatment, thus lessening the time the pet has to suffer

with uncomfortable, often painful conditions. By encouraging pet parents to seek

treatment for suspected ear problems, the professional groomer is serving the

needs of the pet.

Speaking to about forty Tucson pet groomers, Dr. Newton is a member of

Dermatology For Animals, a group of practicing veterinary dermatologists based in

Gilbert, Arizona with practices in several states across the U.S. Veterinary

dermatologists such as Dr. Newton, undergo several years additional training and

examinations beyond that required of general practitioners. In addition to working

full-time in the Tucson practice, she currently serves on the American College of

Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) Exam Committee (the certifying board) and is a

lecturer for the North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum (NAVDF) Resident

Education Forum.

Additional References:

Pseudomonas Article - http://www.allergyearskincare.com/animal-

care/component/content/article/81.html

COMMENTS FROM GROOMWISE BBIRD TALK BLOG

July, 2013 – September, 2016

Great information - thanks for posting this.

Posted by: Julie | July 17, 2013 at 10:44 AM

We just had this same lecture a few months back and then a more recent one about a

week ago. LOVE LOVE LOVE these seminars these Vet Specialists are putting on! We

also had the Eye Care for Animals vet speak at the same seminar. Love learning from

them!

Posted by: Tammy ellis | July 17, 2013 at 08:32 PM

I agree 100%, on no pulling hair! It makes a huge difference when you leave well

enough ALONE!

Posted by: Amy | July 19, 2013 at 05:44 PM

While I do agree that your average dog doesn’t need the ear hair plucked, I have

reservations on SOME dogs. For example, I have a standard poodle who grows so much

ear hair that if left alone, it completely occludes the ear canal! I can "snip" out some

with a scissors... but that just takes care of the surface hair. I can tell when she needs

her ears plucked, as she CAN’T HEAR when they are getting full. EVEN if I have

snipped some away. I have to pluck out most of it before she can hear normally again.

I don’t obsess over getting every last hair, but I feel I need to continue plucking her

ears. I also think it makes a difference as to if the hair comes out easily... she seems

to LOVE it when I pluck her ears! She stands sooo good for it. :)

My other poodles get minimal hair, so I don’t bother with theirs. Just use the corner of

the trimmer or scissors to clip away the extra.

Posted by: Darcy | September 01, 2013 at 11:35 AM

There are exceptions to every rule. The veterinary specialist was trying to tell us that

we need to back off the ear plucking. She was saying that plucking the hairs (can)

predispose ear infections. It is up to us to weigh this information with specific cases.

Posted by:  BBird  | September 02, 2013 at 06:55 PM

Love the article just wish I could get the vets in my area to read it. I determine

plucking on a dog to dog basis. Most don’t require it but a few have packed ears and

must have some removed. However it never fails if a dog develops an infection the

owners return from the vets with instruction for me to pluck the ear hair. I’ve been

able to educate many of my clients with this article but many insist because I get

every hair because that’s what their vet said. 

Posted by: Susan kinser | October 21, 2013 at 02:45 AM

I have been grooming for 40+ years. I have had vets refer dogs to me to have the ears

done because I did a really good job on getting the ears cleaned and plucked out

completely. 

Then this information comes out and I have dogs coming in with plugged ears and

when I take a few hairs out,there are globs of residue coming out on the hair from

deep in the ear. I know the owners will not be taking the dog to the vet any time

soon. So.....I pluck and clean. That is my job, as a professional groomer, to make sure

the animal in my care, leaves my shop done as well as I am able to, and that includes

having the ears cleaned and the hair removed so the air can get into the canal to dry

it out. 

If that is wrong then, so be it!

I pluck a few hairs from every dogs ear to see what is down deep. I use separate

hemostats for each ear. I clean them between dogs, with alcohol and soap and water

and a toothbrush. I will recommend a vet visit if I feel it is necessary but, if I know the

owners do not have the cash for this, I do my best. 

Posted by: Barb z | June 17, 2015 at 05:22 AM

Thank you for posting, Barb. You state your position very well. I salute you for 40+

years of doing right by the dogs in your care. There are both groomers and vets for

which this dermatological information flies in the face of what they have been doing

and recommending for years. The suggestion of changing protocols can be very

challenging, especially when we believe we have been doing things the right way. I

remember the first time a new bather suggested to me that we might bathe dogs

before clipping and combing. I nearly fired him on the spot. I had learned from the

best and I had learned to ALWAYS clip and completely brush out before bathing. How

dare he suggest otherwise? I was so entrenched in my old ways that I would not even

give it a try. Two years later I discovered on my own that pre-bathing was way easier

in most cases. I wished I could find that bather and apologize. 

I don’t wish to argue the matter. I am reporting what the veterinary ear specialist

said. She did not say that ear plucking is never warranted. She said that the ear is a

self-cleaning mechanism and that the hair that grows in the ear is not the cause of

ear problems. Poor hygiene is the cause of many ear problems. Her recommendation

was that groomers do more ear cleaning and less ear plucking. She recommended

cleaning protocol that utilizes ear cleaner that can be poured into the ear canal and

massaged at the base of the ear, then allow the dog to shake it out. The outer ear can

be swabbed with cleaner on cotton, but no pushing into the ear canal. 

Another thing that Dr. Newton touched on that perked up some groomer ears was NOT

to use cotton balls in the dogs ears while bathing. The potential of pushing wax and

debris down into the ear canal with the cotton is worse than any risk from a little

fresh water in the ear, according to Dr. Newton. Jeez, that’s another thing I was

taught to do back in 1971! I gave up that practice when I opened my own shop and

forgot to take the cotton balls out a couple of times. After some comments from

clients about the dog having cotton in the ears and a Standard Poodle returning with

the cotton balls from the grooming 6 weeks earlier still in the ears, I abandoned the

practice unless specifically requested by the client. If that had not happened I would

probably still be stuffing cotton balls in the ears for every bath. Old habits become

the right way. 

These practices were the right way at the time we were taught with the knowledge

that was then available. The advanced study of veterinary dermatology as a specialty

has resulted in gains in knowledge about the canine ear. Based on this advanced

knowledge, the veterinary ear specialists are suggesting a modification in ear care

protocol that is less invasive. There may be specific instances where plucking out

some ear hair may be recommended in order to return an ear to optimum health.

Current knowledge, according to Dr. Newton, clearly suggests that preventative

plucking is doing more harm than good. I’m just saying...don’t shoot the messenger. I

know it’s hard for some to hear. (ear joke?) 

Posted by: Barbara Bird | June 17, 2015 at 07:24 AM

I am not sure I agree with this! MY Standard Poodle got several ear infections and Vet

said it was because nobody had plucked the hair from his ears. He eventually became

deaf. When the dog has especially thick hair inside his ears I think it NEEDS to be

plucked!

Posted by: Heidi Christensen | June 20, 2015 at 12:18 PM

I do not agree with this article, at least as it pertains to standard poodles. I

agree with Heidi. I also own a standard and I know for a fact it is best to pluck her

ears. Copious amounts of hair is bothersome to my poodle and I can understand why.

It’s uncomfortable to have hair in the ear canals, not to mention it doesn’t allow for

the ear to breathe. I will continue to pluck the hair from the ear canals of my spoo. I

do think it’s very important to be gentle when plucking the hair. excessive plucking

can cause bruising and irritation, causing infection. 

Posted by: Kevin Walker | June 20, 2015 at 04:45 PM

Just glanced over the article but that seemingly contradicts everything our

veterinarians know...clean water can of course cause infections and we pluck ears in

the clinic all the time to get more air in the canal, not tra wax and debris, and make

cleaning much better... whoever wrote this is clearly not a medical professional and

shouldn’t be giving advice like they are one.

Posted by: Jenn | June 20, 2015 at 08:30 PM

I tried not plucking and got great wads of dirty hair blocking the ears, so all my

poodles have plucked ears. I wash the ears inside during baths with shampoo and

make sure they shake out all of the moisture, which can be done because there is no

hair to cling too.

Posted by:  jeannette Hagen Fauntleroy poodles  | June 21, 2015 at 02:21 AM

If you were to actually read the article, it is clear that is it is a report following a

presentation by Dermatology 4 Animals, Dr. Heide Newton, DVM, DACVD. The

suggestion for less ear plucking did not originate with the author, a grooming

professional of 44+ years. The author is simply reporting. Ears, What Every Groomer

Needs to Know was one of a series of interdisciplinary presentations by the Tucson

veterinary specialists to the professional groomers in the community. 

Posted by: BBird | June 21, 2015 at 07:01 AM

I find myself having to elaborate and defend Dr. Newton without the benefit of her

counsel. To Kevin: Yes, rigorous yanking out of ear hair is going to cause more damage

to the tissue of the inner ear than cautious plucking of a few hairs at a time.

However, EVERY hair that is removed leaves an open follicle and an opportunity for

the very opportunistic Pseudonomas to invade the tissue. 

To the questions raised by groomers at this seminar, and the issue of Standard Poodle

ears was the greatest expressed concern, Dr. Newton said that Less is best in regards

to plucking; IOW, pluck just as few hairs as possible. Also, deep cleaning of the ear

canal PRIOR to any plucking with an antiseptic ear solution was recommended. 

Posted by: BBird | June 21, 2015 at 07:49 AM

Recently, I received the following email and obtained permission to post here:

Hi Barbara. I read your article about "no more plucking". It was posted on one of my

Standard Poodle FB group sites. I have been std poodle owner since 2002 and have

struggled with this issue. We now have a puppy, he is 4 mos old. We took home for his

first professional groom a few weeks ago. We researched and found groomer we

trusted. But

we did have conversation about not getting water in his ears as our last poodle would

get ear infection almost immediately if he got water in his ears. Well we picked up

our Paco and she had plucked his ears

and and next day he had ear infection. Took him to vet and he said no harm done and

we were given drops which cleared it up. We didn’t have our older poodles ears

plucked often. So I’m thinking I’m with

you on the plucking. We did use Blue Power Treatment on previous poodle ears and

swear by it, but have been reluctant to use on our

little one yet. Do you think he’s too young?

Posted by: BBird | June 22, 2015 at 09:43 AM

Thanks for posting. My previous standard was on steroids and antibiotics numerous

times. Finally I stopped the plucking and the head shaking, tearing at his ears went

away. For him it was a great decision. Never had a problem again. 

Posted by: Cindy Salzillo | August 04, 2015 at 02:27 PM

I have a Bichon. Twice I took him to the vet to have his ears plucked, when I heard

him yelp I asked how they did it, they used the surgical stats, twisted the hair and

pulled. He had an infection after that. I had to use the medicine in his ears that

makes the hair outside all greasy. I used a qtip once a week and Burts Bees ear

cleaner and go around his ear. And use a rag with some and use my finger. When done

I pull what I can get with my nails and scissor it and just keep them clean. When I

bathe him I squirt itnin the ear and massage it. His ears are great! 

Posted by: Beverly Hall | September 28, 2016 at 02:30 PM