What Is Ear Plucking, and Does My Dog Need It?

What ear plucking actually is

Ear plucking is the removal of excess hair from inside the ear canal. The idea is to release trapped moisture, improve airflow, and clear out wax and debris that can build up and contribute to infections.

Which dogs grow hair in their ears

Not every dog does. The breeds that typically grow dense hair inside the canal include poodles, goldendoodles, labradoodles, cocker spaniels, schnauzers, Shih Tzus and bichon frises.

In these breeds, hair can trap moisture and create a warm, damp environment where yeast and bacteria do well. That's the reason the service exists.

So is it good or bad?

Honestly, it depends on the dog — and this is where opinions split.

Some veterinarians find that routine plucking helps prevent chronic infections in dogs with dense ear hair. Others point out that plucking can cause inflammation, irritation and tiny tears in the ear canal, which can make infections more likely rather than less.

What both camps tend to agree on is that ears should be assessed individually rather than plucked by default.

Plucking is more likely to help a dog with recurring ear infections, hair compacted deep in the canal, trapped wax or debris, or poor airflow inside the ear.

If the ears are healthy and nothing is going wrong, aggressive plucking usually isn't necessary.

Signs worth mentioning to us or your vet

• Frequent scratching at the ears
• Head shaking
• A musty smell coming from the ears
• Redness or inflammation
• Noticeable wax buildup
• Repeated ear infections
• Visible mats of hair inside the ear canal

Any of these means the ears are worth a proper look.

How we handle it at As The Fur Flies

We perform ear plucking only when you ask for it, and only on healthy dogs. We assess each dog individually rather than doing it routinely.

We will not pluck an ear that looks irritated or infected, and we don't recommend over-plucking. If we think the service isn't in your pet's best interest on the day, we'll tell you and we'll skip it.

Ear health can cross into territory that belongs to a veterinarian rather than a groomer, so if we see something that concerns us, we'll let you know and suggest you have your vet take a look.

What you can do at home

Keeping your dog's ears clean and dry goes a long way, particularly for breeds that grow hair in the canal. Dry the ears properly after swimming or bathing, and check them regularly for redness, smell or discharge.