I’ve always plucked Fluffy’s ears clean regularly, and he’s never really gotten an infection. And if he did, I would hope that the amount of time I spend fiddling with his ears would help me give him any medication he needs. It seems to me that keeping a bunch of hair in one dark, moist spot would be a breeding ground for some kind of infection. Most other breeds of dogs don’t need ear hair plucked, so maybe that’s where the vet is coming from?