plucking ear hair???? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Butterfly811 · 01-22-2007, 09:34 AM

Butterfly was recently diagnosed with ear infections as well as ear mites they said she got from the breeder. The vet gave us some drops to give her and I've been using vinegar in her water (which has helped a lot); but I was told the way to prevent infection is (of course to keep her ears dry for one) but to also have the hair plucked from inside her ears. I know to keep her ears dry but I have never plucked the hair from her ears before. When the vet did it she screamed bloddy murder and I almost cried! She hasn't had a trip to the groomers yet, A-because I haven't found a decent one near me and B- because I've been doing all of her grooming and cleaning weekly... but I'm not sure if the ear hair is something I could do or even know how to do. Has anyone ever done this before or has any tips???

ARCHIE · 01-22-2007, 10:01 AM

Poor Butterfly. That must have hurt bad.
I have read here that some have done that.
I have never had it done with Buddy. Maybe some get more hair
in the ears than others. He has very little in the ears and has never
had mites or infection in the ears.
Someone for sure will be able to answer you.

Carol & Buddy

sassypup · 01-22-2007, 10:12 AM

we take her to the groomers for this but many do it themselves.

JeanieK · 01-22-2007, 10:13 AM

I have never plucked ear hairs. OUCH
If your dogs ears stand up and you keep them trimmed, I don't see a need for it. Unless they get repeated infections.

Erin · 01-22-2007, 01:00 PM

The groomer told me to do it in between. She told me to buy hemostats, which I did. I tried and Loki SCREAMED and then snapped at me. When I watched her do it, he didn't. So I must be doing it wrong. So last time I just trimmed the hair and then cleaned his ears.

Erin · 01-22-2007, 01:00 PM

Double post sorry!

SweetCuteness · 01-22-2007, 01:13 PM

My vet told me to do it myself. The hairs don't grow deep in the skin of the ear and they come out very easily. However, a couple groomers that I've spoken to said they quit plucking and have seen LESS ear infections. They said this is because plucking irritates the follicles and can cause infection and recommend just trimming the hair in the ears. I have no idea which is right, but it seems that many people pluck without any issues.

ChestersMom · 01-22-2007, 05:33 PM

My groomer also uses the hemostats. When I saw her doing it, I sortof cringed, but Darla (only 3 mos at the time) acted like nothing happened. I'm sure there's a trick to it and I would never try it myself. Good luck to you.

Yorkiedaze · 01-22-2007, 06:33 PM

My Vet. wound a tiny bit of hair at a time around a Q-tip and yanked. She didn't cry out at all. Some dogs are very sensitive to the hair pulling at first. If your dogs isn't having any ear problems, then don't worry about the plucking. You can get ear drops to clean and dry the ears out after they get a shampoo.

JACKSON'S MOMMY · 01-22-2007, 07:26 PM

Instead of plucking which shouldn't be TOO nessessary why don't you feed your baby yogurt a few times a week. It helps control the good/bad bacteria in the stomach and yeast in ears which could cause infections. My vet said it really isn't nessessary unless the hair is really thick and prone to matting. Jaxson had a some yeast in his ears about 1 week after I got him and he hated me putting the meds in his ears so I started feeding him yogurt and he hasn't had a problem since and he has been to the vet 3 times since for shots.

YorkieMom55 · 01-23-2007, 03:42 AM

The groomer started plucking the hair from Jack's (Maltese) ears when he was little. That's when the itchy ears and ear infections started. When we moved our new vet & the groomer said NO, NO, NO more plucking. The infections stopped. We've had 4 other dogs and no plucking, no infections.

Chelsey · 01-23-2007, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JACKSON'S MOMMY

Instead of plucking which shouldn't be TOO nessessary why don't you feed your baby yogurt a few times a week. It helps control the good/bad bacteria in the stomach and yeast in ears which could cause infections. My vet said it really isn't nessessary unless the hair is really thick and prone to matting. Jaxson had a some yeast in his ears about 1 week after I got him and he hated me putting the meds in his ears so I started feeding him yogurt and he hasn't had a problem since and he has been to the vet 3 times since for shots.

Great tip thanks

mine get yogurt regularly.

Kbsqueff · 01-23-2007, 04:08 AM

When my poodle had ear infeccion I had to pluck the hair off her ears so it could be properly cleaned and medicated... And when I got Maggie, I notice she had ear infeccion too

...now guess what I had to do...

She SCREAMED during the whole process

At least now she's cured, but I still pluck her ear's hair out (and she still screams every bloody single time)...

About the yogurt thing... nice tip...

Katiuscia & Maggie

Emmsmom · 01-23-2007, 07:02 AM

I just don't see a point in plucking.The hair is there for a reason I think. We have hair in our own ears to protect them. I say treat the ear infections and then keep the ear clean. I will shave the hair on Diesel's ears but I won't pluck them.

Butterfly811 · 01-23-2007, 12:11 PM

Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to try just trimming it as much as possible and seeing how that does, her ears already look ten times better with the drops!

01-22-2007, 09:34 AM	#1
Butterfly811 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Conyers Posts: 18	plucking ear hair???? Butterfly was recently diagnosed with ear infections as well as ear mites they said she got from the breeder. The vet gave us some drops to give her and I've been using vinegar in her water (which has helped a lot); but I was told the way to prevent infection is (of course to keep her ears dry for one) but to also have the hair plucked from inside her ears. I know to keep her ears dry but I have never plucked the hair from her ears before. When the vet did it she screamed bloddy murder and I almost cried! She hasn't had a trip to the groomers yet, A-because I haven't found a decent one near me and B- because I've been doing all of her grooming and cleaning weekly... but I'm not sure if the ear hair is something I could do or even know how to do. Has anyone ever done this before or has any tips??? __________________ I love my baby Butterfly!

01-22-2007, 10:12 AM	#3
sassypup Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: S. Ca Posts: 1,897	we take her to the groomers for this but many do it themselves. __________________ http://sassypup.net Luxury Dog Boutique-Clothes & Accessories Zoe

01-22-2007, 10:13 AM	#4
JeanieK Donating YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa Posts: 7,660	I have never plucked ear hairs. OUCH If your dogs ears stand up and you keep them trimmed, I don't see a need for it. Unless they get repeated infections. __________________ Ollie Chachi Hallie Harlie & Me CircleKRanchYorkies.com]

01-22-2007, 01:00 PM	#5
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 2,713	The groomer told me to do it in between. She told me to buy hemostats, which I did. I tried and Loki SCREAMED and then snapped at me. When I watched her do it, he didn't. So I must be doing it wrong. So last time I just trimmed the hair and then cleaned his ears. __________________ Barkaholics 10% OFF in October! Use code: SPOOKY for 10% off orders over $15.

01-22-2007, 01:00 PM	#6
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 2,713	Double post sorry! __________________ Barkaholics 10% OFF in October! Use code: SPOOKY for 10% off orders over $15.

01-22-2007, 10:01 AM	#2
ARCHIE Owned by "Buddy" Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 10,732	Poor Butterfly. That must have hurt bad. I have read here that some have done that. I have never had it done with Buddy. Maybe some get more hair in the ears than others. He has very little in the ears and has never had mites or infection in the ears. Someone for sure will be able to answer you. Carol & Buddy

01-22-2007, 01:13 PM	#7
SweetCuteness I <3 Ferdinand Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,437	My vet told me to do it myself. The hairs don't grow deep in the skin of the ear and they come out very easily. However, a couple groomers that I've spoken to said they quit plucking and have seen LESS ear infections. They said this is because plucking irritates the follicles and can cause infection and recommend just trimming the hair in the ears. I have no idea which is right, but it seems that many people pluck without any issues. __________________ Britta ...and Ferdinand too

01-22-2007, 05:33 PM	#8
ChestersMom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bacliff, TX Posts: 943	My groomer also uses the hemostats. When I saw her doing it, I sortof cringed, but Darla (only 3 mos at the time) acted like nothing happened. I'm sure there's a trick to it and I would never try it myself. Good luck to you.

01-22-2007, 06:33 PM	#9
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 6,859	My Vet. wound a tiny bit of hair at a time around a Q-tip and yanked. She didn't cry out at all. Some dogs are very sensitive to the hair pulling at first. If your dogs isn't having any ear problems, then don't worry about the plucking. You can get ear drops to clean and dry the ears out after they get a shampoo.

01-22-2007, 07:26 PM	#10
JACKSON'S MOMMY Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: TAMPA Posts: 142	Try Yogurt! Instead of plucking which shouldn't be TOO nessessary why don't you feed your baby yogurt a few times a week. It helps control the good/bad bacteria in the stomach and yeast in ears which could cause infections. My vet said it really isn't nessessary unless the hair is really thick and prone to matting. Jaxson had a some yeast in his ears about 1 week after I got him and he hated me putting the meds in his ears so I started feeding him yogurt and he hasn't had a problem since and he has been to the vet 3 times since for shots. __________________ My belongs to Jaxson http://www.dogster.com/dogs/456744

01-23-2007, 03:42 AM	#11
YorkieMom55 All Dogs Go To Heaven Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,219	The groomer started plucking the hair from Jack's (Maltese) ears when he was little. That's when the itchy ears and ear infections started. When we moved our new vet & the groomer said NO, NO, NO more plucking. The infections stopped. We've had 4 other dogs and no plucking, no infections. __________________ Jeanie, Sunnie Rocky Maggie BlackJack Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History

01-23-2007, 04:08 AM	#13
Kbsqueff YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rio Grande do Sul - BRAZIL Posts: 1,009	When my poodle had ear infeccion I had to pluck the hair off her ears so it could be properly cleaned and medicated... And when I got Maggie, I notice she had ear infeccion too ...now guess what I had to do... She SCREAMED during the whole process At least now she's cured, but I still pluck her ear's hair out (and she still screams every bloody single time)... About the yogurt thing... nice tip... Katiuscia & Maggie

01-23-2007, 07:02 AM	#14
Emmsmom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 978	I just don't see a point in plucking.The hair is there for a reason I think. We have hair in our own ears to protect them. I say treat the ear infections and then keep the ear clean. I will shave the hair on Diesel's ears but I won't pluck them. __________________ MICHELLE DIESEL "The Weasel" and little brother TUCKER

01-23-2007, 12:11 PM	#15
Butterfly811 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Conyers Posts: 18	Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to try just trimming it as much as possible and seeing how that does, her ears already look ten times better with the drops! __________________ I love my baby Butterfly!