How to Remove Hair from a Dog's Ears

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How to Remove Hair from a Dog's Ears

Medium

10 - 25 Minutes

6 Weeks

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Introduction

When you have your dog professionally groomed and ask the groomer to care for your dog's ears typically, you'll pick your dog up with smooth and clean ears on the outside as well as on the inside. Removing hair from the inside of your dog's ears can be done a couple of different ways, from clipping or cutting to even plucking. When you remove the fur from inside your dog's ears there is less in there for dirt debris to stick to. Your dog's ears will be easier to clean, and your dog's hearing may even improve.

Dog's Perspective

The ears can be quite sensitive for many dogs. Your dog may not enjoy you touching tugging or pulling on his ears, much less plucking fur or having a small noisy clipper inside his ear. Pay attention to your dog's movements when you're grooming near his face and ears and be very cautious about how much control your dog will have moving his head around while you're grooming his ears. You don't want to cause injury, but you may need to ease his anxieties a bit with a treat.

The Hemostat Pluck Method

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Hemostat

Step

Prepare space

Prepare a space for your dog to lie or sit comfortably while you are plucking the fur from the interior of his ear. If your dog is small he might be comfortable on a blanket or towel up high where you can reach, and if he's larger you both may be more comfortable on the floor together.

Step

Prepare tools

Have your hemostat or tweezers nearby. Keep ear powder or talcum powder on hand to soothe any itchy irritated skin. Also, have a soft cloth and a bowl full of warm water and apple cider vinegar nearby for cleaning ears when you are done plucking.

Step

Pluck

Grab a small amount of hair, up to five strands at a time, and pull either with a hemostat, tweezers, or your pinched fingers to remove the small clump of fur. This hair should release quickly and easily. If it resists, it may be painful for your dog, so take fewer hairs in the clump to pull. Repeat for both ears.

Step

Clean

Once you have plucked the hairs from your dog’s ear, use a clean cloth or cotton ball to wipe out the ear. This will remove the loose excess hair and keep it from getting to his ear canal.

Step

Treat

Give your dog a treat before moving to the second ear and again once you are done with both ears.

The Finger Plucking Method

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Towel

Step

Prepare ears

Add a bit of ear powder into each of your dog's ears. This powder will aid in creating texture on the dog's fur so you can grip when you pluck. Sprinkle a small amount in the ear. You can always add more, so not too much. Do not fill the ear canal.

Step

Prepare fingers

Add a small bit of powder onto your fingers as well. Again this will help with the grip when you grab your dog's fur.

Step

Pluck

Gather your dog's ear hair about 4 or 5 hairs at a time. Gently roll the hair to combine the hairs as one and pull. This should be a fast, swift motion. Your dog's ear hair should come out easily and not hurt. Be sure not to grab too much at one time and work in very small areas.

Step

Repeat

Repeat this for both ears in very small sections until your dog's inner ear is plucked smooth and tidy. Do not go any more than 1/2 inch into your dog's ear canal.

Step

Stop

If your dog is wincing, whining, scratching at his ears, or if you notice red or swollen areas in the ears, stop and do not pluck his fur. His skin may be overly sensitive or your dog may have an ear infection. Do not pluck the ear hair if your dog has an ear infection.

Step

Wipe clean

Use a soft cloth to wipe the ear clean. This should remove any excess powder or any loose fur.

Step

Treats

Give your dog a tasty treat when you are done with your ear plucking. Feel free to keep him motivated to stay by giving him treats throughout the plucking as well.

Caution & Considerations

Use tweezers or hemostat to pluck hair from your dog's ears.
With your fingertips, you can grab four or five hairs at a time and pluck them out without tools.
Baking soda powder or ear plucking powder from your pet store will help pluck hairs from inside your dog's ears.
You can use short trimming shears to cut the hair in your dog's ears and avoid plucking.
A small set of clippers can fit just inside your dog's ear to trim the hair inside his ears.
Keeping your dog's ear hair short will also help keep moisture out of your dog's ear canal. Moisture left in the ear canal can cause yeast infections over time.
Bacteria buildup on hair left inside your dog's ears can cause gunk and debris to build up in the ear, causing temporary hearing loss and ear pain.
Keeping your dog's ear hair trimmed helps to keep the inside of your dog's ear clean and healthy.
A well plucked or well-groomed ear gives your dog a tidy appearance.
Begin removing your dog's ear hair early in your dog's life so it becomes a grooming process he expects and is used to receiving.

Conclusion

Give your dog the same tidy look a professional grooming can give by removing the extra hair in his ears. Your dapper dog will look spiffy with clean, healthy ears. Plucking ear hair might seem a bit harsh, but when done correctly, most dogs handle it well and barely notice. Alternatives are cutting or clipping, but either way, make those ears pretty.

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

Grooming Questions & Answers

Question

Freyja

Labradoodle

9 Months

1 found helpful

Question

1 found helpful

Freyja

Labradoodle

9 Months

My dog will not let me pluck her ears. She fights me and my assistant (daughter). She doesn't cry out in pain. She just doesn't let anyone touch her ears. It's been this way since she was 12 weeks old. But she needs them plucked. I wish there was a way to do it while she's asleep. Any recommendations

12 months ago

Freyja's Owner

Darlene Stott

Dog Trainer and Groomer

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Hi there, is Freyja (love the name!) prone to ear infections? The jury is still out on whether plucking is always necessary. Would she let you trim the hairs instead? If she is not cooperating, there is the risk that she could incur an injury while you make the attempt. Speak to your vet for their opinion. If you agree that plucking is the way to go, try doing only a few hairs at a time. Not every hair has to be removed, just enough to ensure airflow. You can always pass this job to the groomer as well. Thank you for the question and good luck!

12 months ago