Let's talk about dogs' ears

Thirty years of forming an opinion

With over 30 years of hands-on grooming experience, I've developed my own opinions on certain grooming procedures, and ear plucking is definitely one of them.

Years ago, I did carry out ear plucking and cleaning, often because owners specifically requested it. However, over the years, I've had situations where a dog has subsequently developed an ear infection and I've been blamed for causing it.

The frustrating thing is that an ear problem may already have been developing without any obvious signs. Removing hair or cleaning the ear can sometimes bring an existing problem to someone's attention. Equally, plucking can cause irritation and inflammation, so it's not always possible to know exactly what contributed to an infection.

What I've seen with my own dogs

I've experienced this with my own dogs too.

My Standard Poodle has had her ears plucked in the past, and every time I did it, she went on to develop an ear infection.

On the other hand, I've never plucked my Miniature Poodle's ears, and he's never suffered from an ear infection.

Now, I'm certainly not saying that proves plucking causes ear infections, because it doesn't. Every dog is different, and what works for one might not work for another.

But between my experiences with my own dogs and situations I've encountered throughout my grooming career, I've made the decision that ear plucking and internal ear cleaning are procedures I no longer wish to carry out.

I don't want to risk causing unnecessary irritation or discomfort, and I certainly don't want to find myself in a situation where I'm being blamed for an ear problem that may or may not have been present beforehand.

What I will do

If a dog has excessive hair inside the ear canal, a build-up of wax, an unpleasant smell, redness, discharge or anything else that concerns me, I'll always bring it to the owner's attention and recommend veterinary advice.

If ear plucking or cleaning is necessary, I'd much rather it be done under veterinary guidance.

I'm more than happy to tidy excess hair around the outside of the ears where appropriate, but I won't interfere with the ear canal itself.

My philosophy

My philosophy is simple. Just because something has traditionally been done as part of grooming doesn't necessarily mean every dog needs it.

I'm not saying every groomer should work the same way as me. This is simply my personal approach, based on over 30 years of experience and what I feel is in the best interests of the dogs I groom.

At the end of the day, my job is to groom your dog safely, comfortably and with their welfare at the forefront of everything I do.

And sometimes, knowing when to leave something alone is just as important as knowing how to do it.