by Dr. Cliff Faver
ar infections, a prevalent issue in the world of dogs, is a topic of utmost importance. Did you know that 25% of the patients seen in veterinary clinics are for ear infections? Groomers, veterinarians and owners all grapple with them, often leading to hefty bills. But why are they so challenging to deal with?
The first hurdle we face is the unique structure of a dog’s ear. It’s like a funnel that collects dirt, debris and water, and then it takes a 90-degree turn before going deep into a bony cave. This makes it incredibly hard to reach the source of the problem if foreign material or infection gets down in the canal. The dog’s only defense is to shake their head vigorously, hoping to dislodge the issue. However, this method is often ineffective and can lead to more serious problems like a hematoma of the ear.
The purpose of the hair is to block debris from getting into the ear, but it can also block things from getting out of the ear, setting the dog up for ear infections. This creates one of the most controversial subjects we deal with in grooming—to pluck or not to pluck.
The hair serves the purpose of filtering things out, so if we remove it all, then we destroy that function. Some dogs will have nasty infections if we leave it all, so it makes sense to meet halfway in the middle. We must remove some of the hair but leave enough to maintain the filtration system.
The next concern is how you remove it and who should remove it. I recommend plucking the hairs from the inside of the ear (shallow root system) to a level that re-establishes a healthy filtration system. I DO NOT recommend using the old “grab as much hair and twist with the hemostat” method. It is very painful, and often, the person can’t see the tip of the hemostats; unbeknownst to them, they frequently pinch the tissue with the tips and cause damage to the ear canal that they can’t even see.
As a routine practice, I would teach owners when they brought in puppies of breeds prone to ear issues how to pluck and encouraged them to pluck a few hairs regularly so they never would be allowed to overgrow. This also serves as a training purpose of having the dog get used to the procedure.
In addition to hair, there are many other sources of problems that can plague the ear. Most of the time, when discussing ears, we jump to ear infections as the problem. In reality, ear infections are often secondary to other issues that may or may not be obvious. It is a consensus that food and inhalant allergies will irritate the ear, leading to secondary bacterial or yeast infections.
When discussing ear issues, it is essential to consider that the ear is an extension of the skin and is very sebaceous. So, anything that will cause problems on the skin can cause issues in the ear, such as trauma, harsh products (like alcohol and detergents), parasites, foreign bodies, hormonal issues, etc.
Foreign bodies are a common problem for veterinarians. Foxtails or grass awns are probably the most common in my practice. These are barbed, and once they start down an ear canal, they don’t back out and are not easily dislodged by a dog shaking its head. They often progress to the point where they puncture the eardrum, leading to an infection of the middle ear.
Ticks and mites are also common inhabitants of the ears. Most people have heard of or seen mites in pets’ ears but are not as familiar with ticks deep in the ear canals. A specific type of tick that is actually common in cattle can and will inhabit the ear of the dog. On one occasion, I removed 14 of these ticks from one dog’s ear, all the size of a raisin.
As groomers you will get the opportunity to see many of these conditions, most of which are not advised that you treat or recommend any medication for, because without being able to observe the eardrum, you cannot determine the safety of a product relative to if it might enter the middle ear. Ear plucking, on the other hand (as long as you are just using your fingers), is in the realm of routine care and can and should be done as a groomer as long as there is no infection…in this veterinarian’s opinion.
Dr. Cliff Faver graduated with a BS in Biology/BA in Chemistry before getting a Veterinary degree in 1987. He is the past owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona and now the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products, teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program, and speaks internationally on hair and skin. His passion is to merge groomers and veterinarians to aid in helping and healing pets. He is also a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, Board member with Burbank Kennel Club, and has served on Novartis Lead Committee, Hill’s International Global Veterinary Board, and a Veterinary Management Group.