Proper Ear Care for Toy Poodles

Toy poodles can tend to have wet, smelly ears. Because of the way their ears lay flat against their head and are covered in hair that can easily get moist, their ears are prone to wax buildup and mite infestation. Keep your toy poodle̵7;s ears clean and looking pretty by adding a few basic practices to your regular grooming and care.

  1. Consistent Washing

    • Wash your toy poodle regularly. Add ear cleaning to your regular washing routine so your toy poodle's ears are cleaned every time the dog gets a bath. Use a clean, warm washcloth to gently clean wax and debris from the inside of the ears and opening of the ear canals. Optionally, apply a small amount of mineral oil to a clean cotton swab and gently wipe out dirt from the inside of the ear. If you notice a foul-smelling odor or large amount of buildup in your dog̵7;s ears, and your dog appears to be constantly scratching its ears, leave the buildup there and take your dog to the veterinarian so the vet can take a sample of the buildup and determine if your dog has ear mites or an infection.

    Monthly Rinses

    • Select a day of the month, such as the first, which is easy for you to remember and mark it as the day each month that you rinse your toy poodle̵7;s ears out with a simple veterinary betadine-water mix. Fill a measuring cup with 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup veterinary betadine. Veterinary betadine is providone-iodine, an antiseptic microbicide with a 5 percent strength solution that can be used to clean and disinfect minor wounds and abrasions. If your toy poodle scratches its ears or seems to have small cuts and nicks, the monthly betadine rinse can help keep its ears from getting infected. Fill a clean syringe with the mixture and gently squirt the mixture into the dog̵7;s ear. Let the dog shake its head to remove the mixture from the ear.

    Monthly Powder

    • Once a month, apply a small amount of iodoform powder to the inside of your toy poodle̵7;s ears to help prevent infection and parasites. Choose a day that is separated by a few weeks from your regular, monthly ear rinses. For example, if you rinse the toy poodle̵7;s ears on the first of every month, consider applying iodoform powder to the inside of the ears on the 15th of every month. You can find the powder at your local pet store, veterinarian or online.

    Grooming and Clipping

    • Brush your dog̵7;s ear fur daily on the outside of the ear. Comb it, as well, to keep it free of kinks and knots that can get tangled up in debris and cause the dog̵7;s ears to look and smell bad overall. Use a pair of grooming scissors to clip the fur on the edges of the dog̵7;s ears and sides of its face that may have a tendency to spill over into the inside of the ear. Consider using a pair of tweezers to thin out excessive ear fur on the inside of the toy poodle̵7;s ears. While this last step is mostly a style preference, having no or little fur on the inside of the ear may help keep your dog̵7;s ears stay clean and reduce debris buildup.