Ear cleaning nightmare
 

I went to the vet today to have Samy sprayed so he does not catch any ticks from the grass. While we were there I decided to ask the vet to do a few more things, one of which was clean Samy's ears and pluck the hair inside. I have never sweat so much... at first Samy was calm when the vet started plucking the hairs but eventually started screaming and twisting.. He really seemed in so much pain but in other YT threads I read that it does not hurt??? The vet said that it hurts him... but now Samy's ears are super clean.. he seemed to have a lot of hair too, is that how it is?

Were your babies in pain the first time you plucked their ear hair? Poor Samy wanted to hide himself in my arms.. It was soo sad!!!! I do not think I will ever do this to him if it is not necessary!!!!

Ouch.....I'm sorry your Samy had such a painful time at the vets...poor baby!

I know there are some that will tell you it must be done, they do it, and it doesn't hurt. But, I have never plucked the hair out my yorkies ears and neither one have ever had a problem with ears getting infected, ear mites or even ear scratching.

Ruby doesn't have much ear hair, but Reno does. I do use an ear cleaner on them both on bath days. I make sure to blow dry them and always make certain their ears are dried. I use the blow dryer (holding about 6-8" away) on a cool setting to dry inside the ears.

Thanks for replying.. I am still sweating from this experience.. perhaps it was necessary to do it as he was dirty all around when I got him and his ears did need cleaning but I do not think I will ever do it again.. I will keep him clean as much as possible and clean his ears with wipes and cream .. poor Samy!!!!

I begin plucking hair from ears at about 8 weeks of age.....don't want an ear infection.....as that what keeps moisture in and contributes to them becoming infected and because of my lack of knowledge have had a few of them with horrible infections. The first couple of times it is done, they do put up a fight, but as time goes on they lay quietly for me.....

Yes, it is uncomfortable for them at first.....but, mine now love that once a month routine.

Thanks :) I may do it too if Samy does not freak me out every time or just take him to the vet to be done as i do not want him to be in pain .. we will see... i guess some dogs get infections and some dont...

If you pluck ear hair in the future, try to do it when the hair is clean and dry -- not stuck together with wax and debris. When the hair is clean and dry, it should be easy and painless to pull out with your fingers. I use a tiny flea comb to clean and separate the hair before I pull. Stay on top of plucking and there won't be as much to pull out at one time.

I learned from Mary (Mardelin) a great tip to use Vet Solutions Ear Cleanser. It is very effective in cleaning the ear and drying any moisture that may lead to infection.

Another product a groomer here recommended is an ear powder (Petedge sells it) it allows you to grip the hairs and they will pull out easier, then you use a cleanser to clean out the powder.

Great information.. thank you all!

Ya know how squeamish we all were as women when we first plucked our eyebrows? It hurt so bad.....I said I would grow eyebrow hair so long I could braid it before I'd go through that again. I am the biggest wimp about pain on the planet. Well, vanity overtook me and I kept on doing it.....each time, less discomfort. Now I don't think any more of it than brushing my teeth. It's just conditioning. Same for the babies, but I still don't do it myself. I take them to the groomer and it's over in a second. They could do it in their sleep. I will gladly pay $5 bucks, any day of the week. Then just a squirt of cleaner and a cotton ball on bath day and we are set. These breeders have taught me so much (thank you Mardelin) and attending to ear hygiene is one of them. Necessary and great preventive medicine.

Too true!

Teddi is 3.5 years old and she hasn't been to the groomers in 2 years and I've never plucked her ears but they seem fine. I had a poodle that used to get ear infections so I know what it smells like so I am constantly smelling her ears but I don't think anything is wrong with them because there is no scent at all. I'm going to look tonight and if I see a lot of hair but I don't think she has a lot (I'm not sure I'll be able to see inside cuz her ears are small).

I do pet grooming and the best thing to do is pluck the hair out because it prevents lots of problems and start at 8 wks then every 6 wks after to get them familiar to the cleaning. I recommend using ear powder it crystallizes the hair and makes it easier and pain free. It is normal for yorkies to act this way since their ears are very small.

Thank you.. I feel much better now knowing that he will get used to it and eventually not mind it especially that it is important the hairs to be plucked.

My little baby boy Gizmo was only six months when the vet cleaned his ears but he had to give him local anesthesia to clean his ears it was so expensive.

Wow never heard of someone using anesthesia for ear cleaning. Maybe just something to calm him down?

Gizmo
 

Gizmo had a lot of deep down in his ear he the vet showed us with his vet gaget on a the t.v. Screen we had to pick Gizmo up the next day.

Samy is almost 6 months and I understand why it might have been necessary to use anesthesia... They definitely do not like it the first time... but he lived through it so I am sure next time he will be calmer..

Ouch!!! I think the vet cleaned Samy's ears also really deep (hence the pain and twisting)... Your poor baby.. did he feel anything?

No Ear Hairs Plucked Here
 

Well my Yorkies ears are her main feature.
When I first got her she had had a crazy puppy cut and her ears were also trimmed (the hair).
A couple years later and she has the most beautiful hairs falling down off her ears. Little long black ones too.
Her ears stand up and are hairy but I have never plucked or trimmed her ear hairs and wont.
I keep her bathed, groomed and ears cleaned just simply with a Q-tip as far as I can see, very carefully and she has never had any problems.
Roxy sees the vet every three months to have her glands extracted as well as her nails done. I prefer the vet to do it rather than the groomer..
Sometimes I get him to check her ears, outside the annual overall exam.
The vet always reports back that there are no problems & that her ears are clean.
I would not do anything to my Yorkie that causes her pain. Except surrendering her to the vet annually for her vaccinations. Even then I am reluctant.
I see other Yorkies whose ears are different than my Yorkies. Maybe some Yorkies benefit from having their ear hairs plucked but mine doesn't need it done.
Since her ears are erect, standing up, she is not as prone to problems as those whose ears flop down.
I think it would hurt. Think about it. If you had the hairs in your ears plucked, would it not hurt you? I think!

It would hurt me as hell.. I had to get his ears plucked as they were soooo dirty, you cannot possibly imagine it.. afterward they were shinning and did not seem to bother him anymore.. before the clean up he was itchy i think ... Samy's ears are super erect.. standing all the time.. they were tapped while he was a young puppy so they are really straight up.. I most likely will not pluck them anymore but will clean his ears regularly.. Unfortunately I might not be able to clean them with a qtip as he moves a lot! But maybe eventually he will get used to it and will allow me.. until then will do it with a tissue and lotion.

thanks for sharing your experience.. it helped!!!

I will buy this cleanser!!

Sammy's clean ears
 

You're most welcome, is my pleasure.
I am glad that his ears are nice n clean now.
When I first got my pup, we went house sitting the first week :0 ..
Well upon her first bath and doing her ears they were extremely dirty.
I never let her ears get like that.
Also it is not recommended to use a qtip and if you do, only wipe with it around the crevasses and only as far as you can see.
The best is using a cotton ball, so I have been told.
Best to you and your sweet Sammy.

I'm a big chicken with this I just let the groomer handle it. I think she must not mind it too much, because when the groomer comes, she runs to her and gives her kisses. She must know how to do it just right, fine by me.

Hi thanks for the post. Well it was not really a qtip, more like a stick with cotton ball on it.. and i would never go deep.. i cannot do it to myself let alone the dog.. just clean his ear opening but i am not even sure i will be able to.. he is as sensitive in his ears as i am in mine (and I am very sensitive about them hahaha)

Thanks for the warm wishes.. best to you both too!!!

My dog has tonnes of hair on her ears and inside as well She sees the vet regularly because they do her nails and glands. The vet often comments on her ears cos I guess she likes them.. Anyway, plucking the hair inside Roxy's ears has never been suggested and if it were I would do lengthy research before even considering doing it. My dog's ears are clean and "look good" the vet says. When we use advantage Roxy baths every 30 days, ears cleaned then too. Otherwise she baths once a week and ears does then as well. No plucking here. Don't see any reason for it. I don't understand why people think that they need to do it. A dogs ears can be cleaned even if they have hair in there. Roxy has her ears cleaned all the time. Please educate me if anyone knows otherwise.

Careful Cleaning
 

Never go deeper into the ear than your eye can see. Not recommended to use Q-tips. Be very careful and gentle if you do.
Roxy's ears stand straight up, all the time too, unless she decides to put them back. Which she does at times if conditions are not perfect. IE: Wind, rain, no cookies left in her cookie jar.

Zeke is almost 3 years old and does not like his ears messed with so I have never pulled the hair out of them. I do check them from time to time and make sure not to get any water in them when I bathe him, but he has never had any problems or dirty ears.