How to Clean Your Miniature Poodle's Ears

Regular ear cleaning is essential to the overall health of dogs with long floppy ears, including miniature poodles. The long ears can trap moisture and become a breeding ground for bacteria, yeast and ear mites. Regular cleaning can help eliminate the ideal conditions that can create more serious problems. Hairy dogs such as poodles have extra hair in the ear canal that needs to be plucked so that the ears can be cleaned properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog ear powder
  • Dog ear cleaner
  • Cotton ball or pad
  • Tweezers or hemostat
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Instructions

  1. Clean a Miniature Poodle's Ears

    • 1

      Position the dog so that you have clear access to one ear.

    • 2

      Lift up the ear flap and pin it down to the head with one hand to expose the ear canal.

    • 3

      Sprinkle a little ear powder on the hairs in the ear.

    • 4

      Pinch a few hairs in the ear canal with a firm grip and pull them out.

    • 5

      Add more powder to very oily areas if you are unable to grasp the hairs.

    • 6

      Use tweezers or a hemostat to reach hairs that are deeper in the ear canal. Grasp the hairs a few at a time and pull them out.

    • 7

      Pour a few drops of ear cleaner on the outside of the ear canal so that it drains into the canal.

    • 8

      Gently massage the ear canal.

    • 9

      Use a cotton ball or cotton pad to wipe the ear canal with your finger, removing all of the liquid cleanser and the earwax in the process.