[Kargonet]

Hello All,

Yesterday I took my puppy in to be groomed and she plucked his ears. He'd had it done before but he didn't react this way. She said she put some sort of liquid in there and he would be shaking his head for a couple of days until he got it all out. I can't even lift his ears to look at them without him pulling away.

Last night and today he doesn't want anyone to touch his ears at all for any reason. He acts like he doesn't feel good and has just been kind of mopey since I picked him up. He's not shaking his head nearly as much today as he was yesterday.

Is it possible that they are just sore from plucking or should I be concerned? Would it be ok to give him a baby aspirin to help alleviate some of the soreness?

He's just not his usual boisterous self and I'm beginning to be a little worried. He's eating and drinking fine and potties fine so no worries there.

Thanks for any suggestions.

KG

 

[KPoos]

Man I hope that she didn't use hair remover in his ears!! I had this happen to Harry one time I took him to get a groom and they use liquid hair remover to get the hair out of his ears! I was so pissed off I should have chewed them out but I just never went back there. He ended up with an ear infection and needed antibiotics. Since then I've never allowed hair pulling in the ears and he hasn't had problems with them.

 

[Olie]

Man I hope that she didn't use hair remover in his ears!! I had this happen to Harry one time I took him to get a groom and they use liquid hair remover to get the hair out of his ears! I was so pissed off I should have chewed them out but I just never went back there. He ended up with an ear infection and needed antibiotics. Since then I've never allowed hair pulling in the ears and he hasn't had problems with them.

GASP! Some put hair remover on their ears? Wow.

Are the ears pink or red? If so it may have burned him....I would contact the groomer and ask them about it.

 

[KPoos]

GASP! Some put hair remover on their ears? Wow.

Are the ears pink or red? If so it may have burned him....I would contact the groomer and ask them about it.

YES! And Harry's were red and when we took him to the vet he knew right away because when a groomer pulls hair there is always hair left behind. They cannot get every single hair. This was slick clean and he had seen it before I guess. I wish I would have taken the vet bill to them and made them pay for it the jerks!

 

[Kargonet]

After doing some research on what she was calling it I found it. It's called Epi-Otic but it doesn't dissolve the hair, it's just a **** cleaner outer.

We finally got him to play a little bit and he was more like his old self. I guess maybe he's just cold. Normally he loves the cold but today (I live in Central West Texas) it's in the teens. Shouldn't have cut him so short I suppose. My fault, I didn't realize how short it would be when I told her.

Hoping he feels better tomorrow. Maybe I need to go buy him a sweater or a coat to wear until it warms up.

 

[Olie]

I hope so too. He does look good, I think - pretty face!

 

[Poodlepal]

Sometimes just plucking the ears can cause an ear infection. Any time you are pulling hair out you are opeinig a hair follicle for possible infection. I had a dog once that would get an ear infection if you did not pluck his ears because of all the hair, but he would always get one AFTER plucking. No win situation. Also some dogs have reactions to some ear cleaners. Look in that ear and see if it looks red or inflamed or has a smell. If so, get it to the vet pronto.

 

[AgilityIG]

When I got Vinnie, his breeder told me that his grandmother would always get infections any time her ears were plucked, so she stopped plucking on all her dogs and just started shaving the inside of the ears and if there is a "wick" of hair she'll pluck that, but leaves the rest alone. I told her I would give that a try when I got Vin and so far it's worked. I just keep his ears clean with a 50/50 mixture of alcohol/vinegar.

 

[KPoos]

When I got Vinnie, his breeder told me that his grandmother would always get infections any time her ears were plucked, so she stopped plucking on all her dogs and just started shaving the inside of the ears and if there is a "wick" of hair she'll pluck that, but leaves the rest alone. I told her I would give that a try when I got Vin and so far it's worked. I just keep his ears clean with a 50/50 mixture of alcohol/vinegar.

That alcohol/vinegar mixture is amazing. It really cleans up the ears and is inexpensive.

 

[814]

When I got Vinnie, his breeder told me that his grandmother would always get infections any time her ears were plucked, so she stopped plucking on all her dogs and just started shaving the inside of the ears and if there is a "wick" of hair she'll pluck that, but leaves the rest alone. I told her I would give that a try when I got Vin and so far it's worked. I just keep his ears clean with a 50/50 mixture of alcohol/vinegar.

Same here. I just shave the inside of the ears, and keep them clean. No more problems. Ginger used to get them every time her her ears were plucked, so no plucking for her.

 

[AgilityIG]

I have been hearing that more and more from people - their holistic vets are not recommending plucking (unless there is a problem). So far, I'm very happy with Vinnie's ears.

 

[Fluffyspoos]

I have a client with a toy poodle who has had an ear infection ever since I started grooming her over a year ago. Whenever she brings her to me she'll say "Make sure to get her ear hair" the poor dogs ears are so infected there isn't even any hair to pluck. =/ I keep telling her to just take the dog to the vet, but I don't think she has..

I think I'm going to do the shaving the inside with my spoo, I've seen the inside of the ears of the line I'm getting him from and it doesn't grow in very thick to begin with.

 

[Mj's Legacy]

Ears can be an issue for some of the poodles. Keep an eye on the ears, the color and the smell. Be mindful as to what you put into the ear, you can cause a reaction. If the ears are just irritated you my be able to get tri top to calm the ears. I work for a vet and see many dogs come in just after coming from the groomer..Be sure and talk with your doctor before putting any fluid in the ears. You could be causing more of a problem.

 

[thestars]

Great cleaning and ear infection cure for many years and for many breeders has been Blue Power. I swear by it and it works better then some of the prescription drugs that are so costly. I use a half alcohol, half Witch Hazel formula.
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/Adobe/Blue%20Power%20Ear%20Treatment.pdf

 

[814]

I second that. My cocker mix used to get bad earinfections and that was the only thing that cleared him up. I was taking him to the vet getting meds and then when the meds ran out the ear infections just came back, until I used Blue Power, now when he get the occaional ear infection I treat it early and it goes right away. He is also an alergy dog and switching to raw food really helped his ears, skin, breath, etc...

 

[flyingduster]

yup, generally if it ain't broke, don't fix it! I shave out a lot of dogs ears rather than plucking them, cos they've had such a bad time with getting them plucked bald before that they hate it now and it's nigh impossible to get near them otherwise! Shave 'em and pluck lightly perhaps, but no need to have them slicked out!!
I rarely pluck Paris' ears much, I just pull a little every now and again, and keep them clean. I did get the forceps down there last week though cos there was a nice long dark bit I could see, and sure enough I hooked it and gently pulled it out, it was like 2 inches long but only about 20 hairs in total. lol! Otherwise I just pluck lightly to keep 'em open, but she never grows a carpet in there anyway.

 

[dazydaizee]

I personally don't pluck my poo mix's ears because there's not much in there and they're in good shape. A huge factor with ear infections is food. Usually hair is a very minute factor. As far as clients' dogs, I pluck enough to allow air flow in those that have been plucked in the past. There are a few I do not pluck and a few that have such huge amounts of hair in their ears that it matts.
I plucked a Lagotto Romagnolo's ears today. He's never in good shape and his ear hair & ear wax/gunk had matted into an oblong clump that filled the entire ear canal. Horrible. Obviously it was necessary to pluck.
Overplucking can cause ear infections (inflammation from the plucking can be a perfect opening for bacteria), but lack of air flow offers a moist, warm environment for yeast & bacteria to grow. So, in my opinion, minimal plucking is usually best. And I typically shave out what I can and a good amount of the inner flap depending on the dog (breed, history of ear infections, current ear infections) to allow for more airflow. Then I'll pluck enough to allow adequate air flow into the ear canal.

 

[bigredpoodle]

Great cleaning and ear infection cure for many years and for many breeders has been Blue Power. I swear by it and it works better then some of the prescription drugs that are so costly. I use a half alcohol, half Witch Hazel formula.
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/Adobe/Blue%20Power%20Ear%20Treatment.pdf

The blue powder is the magic cure in our house too. We do not pluck we do shave around the ear and if there is EVER a problem we use the blue ear powder treatment....We have found this to be the end all be all....

 

[riopup]

Is the vin/alc mix better than getting an "ear cleaner"? Do you fill the ear up and let them shake it out?? I've been using these "ear wipes" but I don't think they can really get it all since they can only go where my fingers can! Been looking for a good gentle but get the job done ear cleaner

 

[dazydaizee]

If the ears are inflamed and sore I would imagine an alcohol based cleaner would burn.. But if you use a cleaner to pour into the ear canal it should have a drying agent (like alcohol) so that the ear doesn't retain excess moisture making the problem worse.
I would only pour a solution into the ear of a dog with an ear infection or a LOT of debris deep in the ear canal. The canal is L-shaped, so you're right, you can't reach all the way down with a wipe, however if the dog isn't having issues, you might cause more damage by pouring solution in. It can cause excess shaking and scratching which can lead to inflammation in the ear and allow bacteria and/or yeast to thrive.
Especially if your dog has yeast problems with the ears then it makes sense to use a solution with vinegar to change the pH of the canal creating a less ideal place for yeast & bacteria to thrive. But if your dog's ears are doing well and there's just some normal waxy discharge, an ear wipe or swab soaked in cleaner is a much better route.
If your dog does have chronic ear infections I would evaluate the food he's eating before anything else.