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It’s a hot (and smelly) topic. To pluck or not to pluck…ear hair. Yes, out of all our bestie’s body hair, this is probably the most controversial. And complicated…
So after seeing both sides of the divide, here’s what I’ve found…
Hang on. So why do pets have hair in their ears in the first place?
Like people who have hairy ears, it can just be genetic. But it’s thought that ear hair had a purpose in wild and working dogs. To act as a barrier to dirt and debris blocking the ear canal.
Why do ears get plucked then?
It’s become a big part of grooming and even vet visits. And it’s all from the thought that ear hair traps wax, moisture and prevents air flow. As a result, the starting point for a ‘clean ear’ has been to go the pluck.
Who has the most ear hair?
- Poodles
- Schnauzers
- Poodle Crosses (Spoodles and Cavoodles)
- Cocker Spaniels
- Bichon Frise
- Persian Cats
So what do I think?
We’re talking about plucking those 5, 10 or 20 hairs that grow out of their ear canal. Here’s what I find with dogs that have been plucked…
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It hurts. But dogs (and cats) don’t like it. And for obvious reasons. Imagine a nasal hair pluck on steroids! Understandably, a yelp is often the result. And if the ear is already inflamed, that ear canal is already sensitive making it REALLY painful.
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It comes back. It always feels like even if you pluck it, there’s more hair there next vet visit. So any ‘benefits’ are short term.
- Does it pluck things up? This is the big one. The act of plucking pulls the hair out of the hair follicle, leaving a tiny tear in the skin barrier inside the ear. It’s a microscopic open wound. And for the millions of bacteria (and yeast) already present in the ear, this can be an invitation to invade into the body. The concern being that, rather than preventing ear infections, may actually invite them.
In fact, many groomers I know say that since they stopped plucking ears, the number of pet parents returning with ear infections and saying they ‘got water in their ears’ has dropped dramatically.
My honest opinion?
I just feel there are better (and gentler) ways to do that without plucking the ear hair and potentially inviting infection in.
The key to ear health is keeping those ear canals as clean and dry as possible.
The big warning signs of ear infection are:
- A fruity smell from the ears
- Lots of head shaking
- Pawing at Ears
- Ears appearing wet
So here are my top 3 tips to infection free ears…
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Dry: Water and moisture are the key ingredients to ear infections. So use a soft cloth or wipe to reach into ears and dry the ear flap and canal. Given the L-shape of the canal, you can use your finger to dry the canal.
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De-gunk: That black wax is a warning sign that bacteria (and yeast) are breeding in big numbers. So dislodge and remove it with a gentle ear cleaner that doesn’t sensitise ears more. I developed my alcohol free Ear De-Gunker to just this. Doing this once a week is often enough!
- React: If they swim, get stuck in a storm or have a bath where they get water in their ears, use an ear cleaner and dry the canals. Water sitting in ear canals often triggers infections.
It’s a controversial, hot topic but we got there gang! Not going the pluck may seem like a brave move but it may also be the kindest and cleanest way forward. Hey it’s worth a try!
