Ears and Water

270 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Dianaleez, 1 d ago

Meisha

Discussion Starter · 5 d ago

I wasn't sure if I should post this under grooming or health. Anyway, Meisha has had a nasty ear infection in both ears. After diligently flushing and dosing twice a day for 2 weeks, the ears are looking clear and the vet said I did a good job. (Good Meisha's Mom!)

Anyway, I asked about prevention. The vet said to make sure she doesn't get water in her ears. So I said I would make sure the groomers were careful not to spray in her ear and to insert cotton. His suggestion was something else. Please tell me he's ~~crazy~~ not a poodle person.

He said to have her groomed from the neck down, and leave her head alone - or - just have the groomer wipe her head and ears with a damp wash cloth.

This isn't practical, right?

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Liz

· #2 · 5 d ago

I just wipe out the ear with diluted vinegar, Mia would not tolerate a cotton ball in her ear.

Reactions: 3

Meisha

Discussion Starter · #3 · 5 d ago

I'm not clear on how that works. Do you not shampoo her ear flaps and topknot?

curlflooffan

· #4 · 5 d ago

Water is going to get in the ear with bathing, I would concentrate on drying the inside very well after the bath. Perhaps even starting with that before moving on to try the body.

Reactions: 4

Liz

· #5 · 5 d ago

Yes, clean her head. After the bath, or anytime her ears get wet like swimming, I dip a cotton ball or the corner of a towel in diluted vinegar, and wipe down her ear leather and the outside of her ear canal to prevent ear infections. The vinegar changes the pH, killing yeast.

Reactions: 4

Meisha

Discussion Starter · #6 · 5 d ago

Thanks to both of you. Sorry Liz, now I see what you mean.

Reactions: 1

Liz

· #7 · 5 d ago

Ha, no problem. The suggestion not to clean her head at all is bizarre! I would have been shocked, too!

Reactions: 4

curlflooffan

· #8 · 5 d ago

Liz said:
Yes, clean her head. After the bath, or anytime her ears get wet like swimming, I dip a cotton ball or the corner of a towel in diluted vinegar, and wipe down her ear leather and the outside of her ear canal to prevent ear infections. The vinegar changes the pH, killing yeast.

ooh I think I will file this info away too in case I need it.

Reactions: 3

I_love_dogs

· #9 · 4 d ago

I have a prescription ear wash for cleaning after a bath.

Reactions: 2

Looniesense

· #10 · 4 d ago

My prior Spoo had ear problems when he was young and the vet prescribed some ear drops to be used after swimming as a preventative.

Reactions: 2

For Want of Poodle

· #11 · 4 d ago

Annie is happy to have cotton balls in her ears.

You could also use an ear cleaner after the bath, which is what we did for our mini mix who liked to go into the river until her ears floated on hot days, then develop nasty ear infections.

And with Annie, keeping her ears plucked keeps away ear infections.

Dont wash the head? Ewww....

Reactions: 2

Starla

· #12 · 4 d ago

How impractical to just never wash the head. 😂 Phoebe is constantly in the water. She also doesn’t like to have cotton in her ears when being bathed. I do put cotton in after her bath while drying her and she has on her happy hoodie then. She has never had an ear infection, and I fully believe that it’s due to the ear cleaner used at least weekly. I use one recommended by Phaz I believe, Lisa Leady’s K-9 Miracle Ear Elixir. I just squirt a syringe full in both ears, rub it for a second, she shakes it out. We do this outside. She doesn’t love it, but she doesn’t necessarily hate it either. I bought the big jug (32 oz I believe) over a year ago and still have over half.

Reactions: 4

Good Eddie Boy

· #13 · 4 d ago

I use a ear cleaner from Eddie’s vet, but I’m going to look into Lisa Leady’s K-9 Miracle ear elixir🤗thanks for the info Starla!

Reactions: 3

cowpony

· #14 · 4 d ago

If she was a bloodhound or a bulldog, then yeah. You could spot clean the folds on her face with a damp cloth and maybe go after the really grotty spots with a cotton ball dipped in cleanser. I don't think the same approach works on a long haired dog with a top knot. Her ears and topknot will get so nasty without being washed. Even when my boys have refrained from peeing on each others heads, their ears still get gross from checking the neighborhood pee mail. They stick their heads into clumps of grass and shrubbery that other dogs have peed on, and the odor clings to the hair.

Reactions: 2

jcris

· #15 · 1 d ago

I guess I’ve been lucky with my girls,
I shampoo their ears by putting my thumb over their ear canal and tilting their head so the water doesn’t flow into the ears. I can shampoo and rinse thoroughly using this method. I also have them shake their heads intermittently which helps. Over the years they have rarely had ear infections but when I’ve noticed them shaking and pawing at their ears I begin cleaning with a homemade solution. It’s a recipe I found online which I can post if anyone is interested

Reactions: 1

Dianaleez

· #16 · 1 d ago

Normie sometimes gets ear infections when he gets water in his ears. His vet said that it's the same thing that happens to people who swim too long - swimmer's ear. He sells me ear wash that I apply after Normie's groomed. End of problem.

Reactions: 1

1 - 16 of 16 Posts