How Can I Clean My Poodle's Ears?

Dogs with drooping ears require extra attention to the inside of the ear. The droop of the ear limits airflow creating a warm, moist place perfect for bacteria, mites and ticks. It may even trap grass seed. In addition, the hair in poodles' ears grows as fast as the hair on the body. The hair is a great trap for seeds and a hiding place for mites and ticks. Check the poodle's ears weekly. The ears should smell sweet. If they smell bad, or if dirt, dark spots or debris exists, it is time to clean the ears. Cleaning a poodle's ears includes plucking the hair as well as washing the ear canal.

Things You'll Need

  • Hemostat
  • Grooming table
  • Washtub
  • Full strength dog shampoo
  • 12 cotton balls
  • Hand-held hairdryer
  • 1 tsp. white vinegar
  • 1 tsp. rubbing alcohol
  • 1 tsp. water
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Instructions

  1. Plucking

    • 1

      Place the grooming table or other stable flat surface in a well-lit area.

    • 2

      Place the poodle on its side on the table.

    • 3

      Fold the ear back to expose the inside hair.

    • 4

      Pluck small amounts of hair using a hemostat. Use fingers if a hemostat is not available. Use individual judgment to determine the amount of hair to pluck. If the poodle has consistent debris or dirt trapped in the ear on a regular basis, pluck all of the ear hair. If the poodle's ears are normally dirt-free or contain very little dirt, pluck only enough to thin the hair.

    • 5

      Place the poodle on its other side and pluck the ear hair.

    Washing

    • 6

      Place the poodle in a washtub or basin.

    • 7

      Massage a small amount of shampoo into each ear canal using a cotton swab or finger.

    • 8

      Let the shampoo sit for a few seconds, then rinse gently with a stream of water.

    • 9

      Use as many cotton balls as necessary to blot the moisture from each ear. Use a gentle blotting motion; do not swab.

    • 10

      Fold each ear up in turn while gently blowing air across the ear with a hairdryer. Do not direct the air from the hairdryer into the ear. Make sure the inside of the ear canal is completely dry.

    Applying Drying Agent

    • 11

      Mix 1 tsp. white vinegar, 1 tsp. rubbing alcohol and 1 tsp. water to use as a drying agent.

    • 12

      Dip a cotton ball into the drying agent mixture.

    • 13

      Fold each ear up in turn, and gently blot the inside of the ear with the cotton ball.

    • 14

      Gently blow air across the ear with the hairdryer to dry the agent.