For us in the grooming world, ear cleaning and ear health is a daily task. It is included in both our grooming service and our bath & brush service and is a well rooted routine among all of our team members. However, it is not something you always think about while playing, walking, feeding, or cuddling your little lovebugs. For a lot of our owners, questions about ears arise when it is beyond our help, and the yeasty smell is noticeable. Breeds with long, dangling ears are much more prone to ear infections than that of perky eared dogs, but all breeds do need a regular ear cleaning now and again.
Due to the anatomy of the ear, it is easy for them to become a problem in dogs, being a sneaky place for insects, bacteria, and debris to hide and fester. Our pets do a decent job at expelling unwanted things from their ear canals by shaking their heads, but if there is not enough air flow it can quickly become a problem. Breeds such as bloodhounds, cocker spaniels, king charles cavaliers, and poodles all have a much more difficult time keeping their ears dry (especially if they love swimming!). Dogs with allergies are particularly at risk.
This is where we come in! Besides yourself, your groomer and bather are your best line of defense when it comes to your pooch’s ear health. We let you know if we notice anything red, swollen, crusty, or bad smelling. In most cases our pet parents are aware of the ongoing problem, but for some it can be quite the surprise. A vet visit may be required for medicine to help flush out the infection. If you notice that your dog’s ears are any of the previously mentioned symptoms, and does not have a history of ear infections, it is advised NOT to clean the ears! Leaving them dirty can help your veterinarian determine exactly what is ailing your pooch, and prescribe the perfect medicine.
There are a couple things we, as groomers, can do to help with your pet’s ear care than simply cleaning them squeaky clean. With breed that have hair on their long, dangling ears, such as a cocker spaniel, it is not uncommon to cut the underside of the ear very short. They do not always look as full, but normally it is hardly noticeable and it increases airflow under, and in the ear canal. There are also breeds, such as poodles, that can require their ears to actually be plucked of the dead hair that grows inside and around the ear opening. This, too, increases airflow, allowing wet ears to dry easily.
With the summer heat now upon us, dogs are looking to escape the heat by jumping in and out and in and out of the backyard pool! Even if it is a plastic kiddie pool, please be sure to clean out their ears a bit with clean, dry cotton balls (NOT swabs!) to wick away excess moisture after they are done having fun in the sun!
To learn more about the other end of your pet, click here for info about anal glands!
Don’t forget to like us on facebook and instagram for news on our latest events!