Pet Grooming Insights - How We Remove Ear Hair

[Epurope]

does it hurt my dog has some ear hair but im not sure where to pluck it at i cnan't see in his ear quite as well as you do :/

[NayLouise24]

We have just bought a 4mth old Black Russian Terrier... How long till i have to start doing this? And how often?

Can i use Baby Powder?

Thanks!

[NayLouise24]

We have just bought a 4mth old Black Russian Terrier... How long till i have to start doing this? And how often?

Can i use Baby Powder?

Thanks!

[deidra82able]

My vet told me to do that with my toy poodle, but how do you know if it hurting them? Im scared to do it!

[lordsberg]

What a GREAT Video!!! It helped me sooo much! King Phattie's ear hair was still a bit more confusing than the one in the video, but for the most part, we got the job done. (-: Please check out our new music video Tic Tok the Puppy Dont Stop!

And Thanx again! God Bless You!!!

[buttonfiend]

I use hemostats. If you're careful not to grab the skin you can get more hair out more easily and not hurt the dog. C:

[Brenda0312F]

OUCH! Of course it hurts. They have nerves just like WE DO!

[clhodg]

@Brenda0312F

yes of course it hurts! ever try to pull hair out of your nose or ears?! why toy around with the word "tickle"? you wouldn't be allowed to groom my dog if you can't tell what hurts and what tickles!!

[clhodg]

@Brenda0312F

The powder helps open the pores so that it is easier to pull the hair out. But YES it hurts when the powder is old or if you don't use powder. Ever pull your hair and have it "tickle"?

If a groomer can't tell between what "hurts" and what "tickles" you shouldn't be grooming dogs cause they wont always tell you if it hurts!! You would never have a chance to touch my dog!

[clhodg]

@clhodg I'm sorry. I was agreeing with you Brenda! I was commenting about how the groomer had stated that it "could tickle" sorry I was not being clear!!

[lynbabysusu]

my dog doesnt have ear hair that deep in the ears,and I never pluck them before,is there a reason u guys do so?

[GroomClassroom]

Some dogs grow ear hair that will block the air flow into the ear canal. This allows moisture to accumulate deep inside the ear and provides an enviornment supportive of bacterial and fungal infection. The purpose of removing the excess hair is to allow air to get in and moisture and wax to get out. Not all dogs need to have this done, however. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[lynbabysusu]

@GroomClassroom ohh,i see.. Thanks for telling me ^^

[comedycartoons]

@lynbabysusu If I don't pluck the hair in my dog's ears, he inevitably gets an ear infection.

[GroomClassroom]

Interesting, I never thought of ear powder as "gross". You don't HAVE to use ear powder, it just helps if you are plucking hair out by hand. Powder is simply a tool, it contains resin for better gripping. An alternative method is to use hemostats to grasp the hairs.

[Mommalovesdietcoke]

@GroomClassroom ....For sensitive ears this is the best, she is doing a great job! I have been on both sides of this issue!

[clhodg]

it also opens the pores so that the hair comes out easily

[Brenda0312F]

@clhodg You need tro go argue with someone else. All my comment said was "OUCH! Of course it hurts. They have nerves just like we do!

[JCwinks95]

I hate the squeaky feeling of the powder - it grosses me out!

[katjafee]

THX

[GroomClassroom]

@katjafee, you are welcome! This was a particularly good dog. I chose this video to demonstrate that ear plucking does not have to be tortuous . Unfortunately, some animals respond to "ticklish" as though it is painful. It is hard to tell what a resistive dog is feeling - is it torture or is it ticklish? Dogs can't tell us on a scale of 1-10. Sometimes they overreact. Then WE overreact, feeling sorry and guilty when it was maybe just ticklish. Maybe we need to rethink this..

[johnnnycassh]

I've been trying to pluck hair out of my schnauzer's ears but its no easy task. Even if I douse his ear with ear powder, I can only pull out like a few strands at a time and he will start showing discomfort after a few seconds. I really wonder how that poodle can remain so calm

[qqmoreluan]

just simply pull the hair out??? ...is it painful??

[LadyMsLeo]

where can i find ear powder in uk?

[tokulove]

すごくおとなしいですね～。みんながみんなこうおとなしいとやり­やすいですが・・・。

[10moriya]

are you crazy?!

it hurts him !

[steenfraosterbro]

Why the hell would you want to pull hair from a dogs ear??

[MaxPowers]

@steenfraosterbro to prevent ear infections...

[peigeone]

Thank you...I needed to 'see' this done!! Great Music!

[RawFedSkye]

this doesn't hurt them? Pulling hair out like that?

[Nillea88]

do you pull hair GROWING from the ear, or hair that got stuck in earwax?

[GroomClassroom]

@Nillea88

Yes, this is the hair that grows from inside the ear, often blocking air to the ear canal and creating a warm, moist environment that supports infection. It is not necessary to remove every single hair, but enough to allow the inner ear to stay dry.

[karinaisfunny]

do you have to put special ear powder because on an other video they baby powder

[GroomClassroom]

@karinaisfunny

Sorry for the delayed response. Ear powder is better, as it contains resin that helps you grip the hair. Baby powder is more slippery. Also, baby powder is more likely to cake and is more highly perfumed.

[izzie128]

@texasmom17 You can put cotton balls inside of their ears to keep them dry.

[TexasMom17]

We have Lhasas and a Maltese....I just having brought myself to do this...I don't want to hurt them.... But, I KNOW it's necessary or they'll get ear infections! Can you give tips on how to keep the ear canals dry while bathing them.

[MSTLOM]

Would think a small hand torch would be a little quicker!!

[GroomClassroom]

Your comment unfairly suggests that removing hair from inside the ear is cruel or torturous. NOT! Usually, this ear hair is loosely imbedded and pinches out easily as seen in the video. It may tickle a bit or feel mildly uncomfortable, but it is not torture. As a professional groomer, this is not my favorite thing to do with my doggie pals, but many vets feel that it is important, and that failure to remove excessive hair invites ear infections.

[MSTLOM]

NO Not at all!! I was just humorously suggesting a way to spreed up the process. Hey, I hate crap in my ears and I know the "pets" do to. Would drive me nuts to have all that junk in my ear! I bet pooch was one happy camper afterwords!!

[Dottilicious]

Should you put anything in the ear afterwards? Like soothing eardrops or something?

My Bichon Frisé is extremely difficult when it comes to cleaning her ears, she doesn't allow me to do it without a fight.

[GroomClassroom]

Pulling the hair from the ears should not irritate the ear tissue. Putting drops in the ear may just create more clogged pores out of site. A little Aloe Vera gel, or Calendula gel. If you are getting irritation, you might not do it. Let the vet do it. Some dogs resist anything that feels a little strange or requires a person to control them. Some can be coaxed with treats to better accept these procedures. Treat only when they allow you to do a little.

[RK20299]

@GroomClassroom Lol, giving a dog a treat while it is doing a "bad" behavior is only reinforcing it to continue this behavior. I think you need to learn some basic dog psychology before you go spouting falsities such as these.

[GroomClassroom]

@RK20299 You are right about not rewarding bad behavior. Please note that I state, "Treat only when they allow you to do a little." The idea is to reward good behavior only.  Nowhere do I talk about giving treats for bad behavior.

[kj61077]

My dog "has issues"...but we are working through them. She is so much better on the rest of the grooming, but the ears, face and toes freak her out.

[mikebordon]

My Toy Poodle used to be the same way until I learned "the move."

When she starts to fuss, simply grab her by the nape of the neck just as her mother would and say a stern "no."

Keep doing it until she stops. When we first broke our Toy of not letting me do her nails, I had my daughter pinch her neck and i was free to do her nails.

All you have to grab is the skin on the back of her neck. No need to grab her actual neck. And no need to squeeze hard,

Hope this helps.

[GroomClassroom]

When done correctly, it is not painful. Some dogs, however, "have issues."

[Piggieelaydee]

is it painful for the dog?

[ThePITA01]

Great Video! Thanks so much!!

[GroomClassroom]

I've groomed for 38 years with nice nails. A few years ago, my nails started breaking and chipping. I was over 60. I missed my nice nails so much that I started getting acrylics. There are many other groomers on my Internet groups that have nails.

[Meganjrt]

It's uncomfortable, but it can cause all sorts or problems if left in there.

And I have never seen a dog groomer with nails like like!!!

[GroomClassroom]

Hi hisboo! If you want to substitute for the ear powder, plain cornstarch would be a better choice than baby powder. Baby powder contains talc and a lot of fragrance, which is not desirable inside the ear canal. You should be able to find ear powder at Pets Mart or PetCo.

[hisboo911]

can i find that powder at walmart?

[GroomClassroom]

The ear powder helps you grip the hair. Ear hair tends to be a little slippery and ear powder contains resin. It is like the stuff used in gymnastics to keep the athletes hands from slipping off the bars.

[hisboo911]

would baby powder be harmful?

[SpotSwims]

what does ear powder do?

[mundymanor]

Barb711-- Plucking ear hair is no more "dangerous" than tweezing your eyebrows. If you grab a huge chunk of eyebrow and rip it off your face, then yes it'll hurt. Same with the dog's ears. You just do a little at a time and it comes out easily. At the very most it might annoy the dog, but it does not hurt. It doesn't faze my standard poodle in the LEAST. Merely trimming ear hair isn't that great, just like trimming eyebrows isn't. It's not clean enough, and you run the risk of laceration.

[dukieandolga]

i have a labradoodle, is this painful??

[Bryannaclub]

no it is not.

[tuddyfruity4]

i have a morkie, will that work on it- what the does the powder do? does it make the hair come out more easily?

[Rietto]

Yep.

[grumerguy]

Hello Barbara. I have been a groomer for thirty years and find that this task can be accomplished in an easy fashion as you describe here in this very informative video. Cudos to you. One of the things that really gets my hair standing on end is when a groomer will take a pair of hemostats and clamp onto the hair and twist it out in one painful and agonizing motion.  owners should be aware that not all groomers are as careful and caring as you and I. Thanks and well Done!

[spanielmom93]

I agree. I hate those hemostats and think they should be banned from grooming altogether. I have seen groomers latch on th the actual skin of the ear on accident and leave big red welps. :(

[lordsberg]

@spanielmom93

...but she used them perfectly in the video! Besides How could they be banned? Thats just unreasonable! lol

[terrorlord15]

@spanielmom93 dont blame the hemostats blame the vet that cant use them.

[comedycartoons]

@spanielmom93 If you don't pluck the hair in the ears of some breeds (mine is this way), they will eventually get an ear infection. Saying hemostats should be banned is like saying rubbing alcohol should be banned from your doctor's office. Just because it hurts a little doesn't mean getting an infection is a better alternative.

[spanielmom93]

@comedycartoons I never said i was against plucking... just hemostats. Not necessary. I am a groomer of almost 10 years and I NEVER need to use them. Get some R-7 ear powder and clip your nails short and pluck away. ;) easy as that.

[twl8zn]

When we adopted our adult std poodle, her ears had never been plucked (very full and dirty). The vet tech did them while she was under anesthesia (from spaying). She said it took her 20 min/ear. I asked if it hurt, she replied "doesn't hurt me!". Everytime Lola sits by me, I reach in and clean out her ears. She's gotten used to it, so have other members of the family who consider this 'icky' and invasive. Better than an infection. Thanks Groomclassroom

[Barb711]

you can trim them

[Barb711]

I believe the plucking/pulling out of ear hair is unhealthy. The pulling or plucking tears at nerve endings in the ear, leading to the brain. Dear pup can get a mighty headache or earache. There are healthier, less painful ways to remove ear hair.

[GroomClassroom]

Tell us about it. I'm all ears.

[vigilante76]

@GroomClassroom Haha. That's funny. :) Thanks for the GREAT video... made me less scared to do it on my dog, who has a LOT of hair around her ears.

[GroomClassroom]

There is no science to back this assertion. Removing excess hair in the ear canal has no effect on the nervous system. It is a preventative measure to reduce the potential for ear infection. The key is to remove a little bit, regularly, so that hair removal is not a major production.

[GroomClassroom]

Yes.  Using ear powder and latex gloves gives a better grip on the hair. Just pluck a little at a time.

[BrianaxLattimore]

can you do that on a shihtzu?

[digestbiscuit]

can we jz trim instead of pulling with fingers?? T-T

[GroomClassroom]

It depends on the dog. If there is not too much blockage of the ear canal by the hair, you can get away with clipping with a #30 or #40 blade. If the hair blocks the ear canal, it is best to pull some out so that air can get in there and wax can get out.

[pbach1]

The groomer is correct -- Bichon Frise's need to have this done. I work with rescues (through Small Paws Rescue), and have five of my own plus two fosters. I do their ears myself, and although they may occasionally struggle a little, it's so much better than ear infections (which can be common in Bichons if not groomed properly). Like jannng, I sit on the couch and pick one to do while watching TV.

[GroomClassroom]

I like either the Gimborn R7 ear powder, or the Biogroom. They are all pretty much the same. I prefer to use a cleaner with alcohol in it, as alcohol displaces any water that is present. IMHO, the advantages of an alcohoi based ear cleaner outweigh any disadvantages.

[MRSMOLO1314]

i haave a shih tzu also. What brand powder do you use and ear cleanser? Since they cant get water in there ears is it okay for the cleanser to be liquid?

[kygirl64]

This is the worst part of owning a dog with ear hair. I have 2 Shih Tzus with ear hair. It DOES hurt the dog when it is pulled! I am in a terrible predictament as I can't bear to remove the hair myself and they are terrified of groomers from past hair removal. Any suggestions as I have been grooming them myself without removing the hair-and it needs to be removed as they are having ear issues. Is there any way to deaden the pain? HELP!

[GroomClassroom]

I have groomed many dogs with major ear issues, but to have two in one family is unusual. In your situation, I would just pay to have the vet do it. Let the vet tech be the bad guy. Some groomers have had good results using dipilatory cream to remove hair on the outer part, but you do not want that stuff to get down into the ear, and it can irritate tissue. You could try dabbing some orajel to numb the skin, but don't get any down into the ear canal itself. I've never tried this.

[cagsforme]

If you only pull a few hairs at a time it is not so bad. Maybe your trying to take to much out with each pull.Also pull in the direction of the hair growth and don't twist.

[PiggyDog89]

I swadle my sister in law's dog and pull its ear hair... It yelped the first two times, but now it just sits there and doesn't fight. Guess its kinda like doing your eyebrows, you get used to ti

[anniesvoices]

OUUUCH! can't u use scissors or an electric razor that's gotta hurt dang do all groomers do that??? =(P

[GroomClassroom]

All groomers have to do this. Removing hair that is blocking the flow of air to the ear canal is an important part of maintaining ear health. It is not my favorite job, but there are many dogs for whom it does not seem the least bit painful.

[1pet97]

haha!!

thats kinda funny but that would hurt!!!...ALOT!!

[brookie282]

Wow, I never knew about ear powder! Good job!

[furzbaser]

my pup never lets me pluck his ear hair..he struggles and struggles and once he bit the groomer )=

[gquattrone]

thats horrible

[Pypar]

How so exactly? Do you really think it is a better idea to leave the hair in and let the ear get infected?

[MRSMOLO1314]

It is horrible but its needed, esp for dog with long hair! After twice or so they'll get use to it like when girls pluck there eyebrows

[hp81092]

whats the name of the song?

[GroomClassroom]

Song is: I Ka Barra by Habib Koite, a musician from Mali.

Thanks for asking.

[hp81092]

yeah a good tune

[GroomClassroom]

I am embarrassed to notice that I failed to acknowledge or credit this terrific little poodle girl, "Noel" Phielix, and her owners. Noel is groomed every 4-6 weeks, and her folks are great to work with. Noel is so good on the table that she is sure to show up in future videos. Now, if I only could find the time to shoot more grooming footage!

[jannng]

Great video! I like how you move around and dont concentrate on one spot for too long, and the ear powder is a must! I've cleaned my poodles ears for years and couldn't believe how much easier it is with the powder. I don't wait to do the ears until grooming day, I try to keep up with it while watching TV or something just doing a little at a time and not letting the job get too big. Our groomer showed us how to do this to make grooming day more of a pleasure for our pet, and it's easy to do

[Jassiee21987]

The lady in this video does a very good job of pulling ear hair. She is takes her time and is gentle. I work at a groom shop and have seen some groomers grab all the ear hair at once with hemostats and yank it out while the dog is screaming!

[Sulamith]

I think I will use this technique on my husband's hairy ears!!

[EmOtRixxiE]

oh my, does it hurt the animals? ]=

[GroomClassroom]

It does not hurt most animals. Look closely at the poodle in the video. She is not struggling in the least. There are those dogs, however, that hate it and will struggle. A few will even fight or bite. Those are the exceptions. On most dogs, the ear hair is not firmly imbedded. It is NOT like plucking our eyebrows. Mostly I think it sort of tickles.

[Barfmonkies]

my dog would rip off my hand if i tried that D; he doesnt even let me get near his face o.o

[GroomClassroom]

In 37 years of grooming, I have encountered only a handful of dogs that had horrible issues about the ear plucking. Some fussing is common, maybe in one out of five. If your dog doesn't let you get near his face, you have larger issues.

[yackityyacityyack]

I don't think my poodle would EVER let me do this to him. But the groomer has done this. Does it hurt as bad as it looks? lol

[BeatsonsGirl84]

I find most dogs don't mind the plucking as long as you do it quickly and a little at a time as demonstrated here. If your poodle is difficult you can always get someone else to hold his head still and talk to him gently so he won't be scared. The powder helps get a better grip on thick or oily hair inside the canal and hemostats can get the hair your fingers can't. Hope this helps.

[AngieBullock]

VERY HELPFUL!

THANKS, BBIRD

ANGIE