Why pluck dogs ear hair

If you have a larger or smooth-coated breed, you may not know…. The theory is that removing the hair will keep it from blocking the canal, allowing more air to circulate, which helps prevent ear infections and moisture build-up.

You would be amazed at how much hair can be growing in there. Years ago, a proper groom always included an ear plucking for these types of breeds. The plucking procedure is fairly controversial.

You can read convincing arguments on both sides. Those who feel that plucking is not necessary concur that pulling the hair out can irritate the ear canal, resulting in inflammation and attracting even more bacteria than unwanted hair would Not only that, but some of those who feel that plucking is not necessary argue that plucking is just plain ole uncomfortable for the dog, and of course, no one wants to make the dog uncomfortable.

My guess is that it would be like us plucking our eyebrows. These opponents conclude that ears are generally self-cleaning, and all that is needed to care for them is to clip the hair around the ear opening and use a cleaning solution only around the outside flaps of the ear.

BUT as you continue to pluck each month or so, the hair becomes easier and easier to pull out, thus leaving little or no inflammation. They feel certain that plucking prevents wax or debris build-up and absolutely does allow for better air circulation, keeping the ear canal dryer, resulting in fewer ear infections.

My dog has a minimal amount of hair in his ears, but his ears are prone to infection, mostly yeast infections. Plucking is often routinely done when a dog is professionally groomed. If you feel comfortable plucking your dog's ears at home, you can ask your groomer to show you how it's done.

Ear Powder — this will make the hair easier to grip as you pluck. You don't need to use much and be careful not to get any of it in your dog's eyes or let them sniff it in while applying. Such powders can cause significant irritation and damage to the eyes and can irritate the lungs if inhaled. Hair Removal Hemostats — this tool is optional as you can use just your fingers to pluck, but these can make gripping the more hard-to-reach hair a bit easier.

Avoid using human tweezers as they usually have sharp edges that can scratch your dog's ear, or cause even worse injuries should your dog shake or move their head while you're plucking. This video by Love of Grooming does an excellent job showing how to pluck a dog's ear hair , how to use clippers to trim around a dog's ear canal, as well as showing examples of ears that don't need to be plucked:.

Whether you pluck your dog's ears or not, it's important to monitor their ear health, as infections can begin and worsen quickly. If you notice any of the above, make an appointment with your veterinarian to make sure there's not a possible ear infection or other problem.

These symptoms should be addressed before cleaning your dog's ears at home, as you could do more damage by cleaning an infected ear. This is necessary to keep the passages dry and discourage bacterial and yeast growth. Also, plucking makes it easier to administer ear medication and ensure that it reaches into the ear canal.

But if recurrent ear infections are not a problem for your dog, there is no reason to pluck the hair from his ears regularly. Just make sure the hair is well-trimmed, so the ear opening is not blocked and air flows unimpeded.