Taking Care of Ears for Yorkies & Poodles

As a dog owner, you want to keep your pet around for as long as possible by keeping it safe and healthy. Both poodle and Yorkshire terrier dog breeds have intelligent and loyal personalities, making them ideal additions to loving families. The attractive looks and appealing personalities of Yorkies and poodles have even inspired a mix of the two breeds, the Yorkie poo. Whether you have a poodle, Yorkie or mix of both, you will need to manage its health by properly caring for its ears.

  1. Examinations

    • Yorkies and poodles have hair in and around their ear canals, which makes them more prone to infections. For this reason, they need frequent ear examinations by their owners. Closely observe the ear once a week to check for dark spots, dirt and debris. You should commonly check to make sure the ears look pink and smell sweet. The Dog Health Guide says that when canines have redness, discharge or bad odors in their ears, they may have an infection. Also watch your dog for signs of discomfort, such as scratching ears, shaking the head and crying in pain.

    Hair Removal

    • Dogs with proper ear care both look and feel well.

      Regular grooming of Yorkie and poodle ears prevents health complications, such as infections, mites and wax build-up. Use the time after a bath to remove excessive hair from the ears. Find a space with good lighting and place the dog on its side on a flat surface. Remove hair around the ear canal with tweezers or your fingertips, separating the task into several sessions for dogs with a lot of hair.

    Washing and Drying

    • Poodles and Yorkies need their ears washed every time they have a bath. You can use dog shampoo, commercial ear wash or rubbing alcohol to wash the debris from the dog's ears. For detailed cleaning use a cotton swab, but never put it in the ear canal. A cotton ball will gently blot the area dry. Administer drying agents that prevent and kill fungus in the ear at least once a month. Versatility in Poodles suggests making your own drying agent with equal parts water, white vinegar and rubbing alcohol.

    Treating Infections

    • Treating fungal infections starts with keeping the area inside the ear completely dry. You can then apply a topical fungal medication and white vinegar solution to get rid of the infection. You will need to treat persisting infections with antibiotics. When Yorkies or poodles get ear mites, they need a thorough cleaning with a medicated solution. Keep a dog's infected ears up to promote air flow by pulling them back with a cut-open sock, as illustrated at The Dog Health Guide, or taping them together.