Ear Cleaning for your Maltese

[Zo zo's mom]

I noticed Zo zo's ears were getting dirty when I gave her a bath on Saturday. She's been to the groomers twice and I asked last time about cleaning the ears and plucking and she said she checks her ears every time, but doesn't recommend plucking because the breed is so prone to ear infections.

I called my vet and to ask if they clean ears and they were closed for the day (I found out their hours were 10-1 on Sunday). I called Sunday monring and asked if they cleaned ears. They do not, but they sell a solution for cleaning them (we had bought some previously for Sophie) called Epi Otic (see link below)

http://www.entirelypets.com/epearclean4o.html

They did tell me at the vet they do plucking (and evaluate if necessary before), but they didn't have time to do it yesterday. Zoe did well with the cleaner last night and I cut out the excess dirty hair when I bathed her.

SO...should I have this done? What do you use and how often? To pluck or not to pluck?

I would appreciate any input you have on the subject.

Thanks:wink5:

[victoria]

I use OtiRinse cleansing and drying solution after every bath and I pull the hairs out with my fingers or with tweezers if they're like growing inward. I always heard the opposite that not removing the hair can cause ear infections because it keeps the ear moist. He's only had one ear infection some months ago but thats because I didn't take care of his ears at all back then.

[jdy]

aw thanks for telling us, i didnt know you are not suppose to pluck...

i perfer my kids plucked... their groomer has been doing it to all my babies, from day 1. they never had an ear infection...

now when my moms maltese came from the breeder, she had a slight ear infection but of course we gave her ointment from the vet it cleared up and we plucked hers too afterwards...

i havn't been to the groomers in a long time and their ear hair grows real fast, when im grooming them i take a little at a time and pluck...

[PMP Daddy]

Parker's vet told me that ear infections occur if the ears aren't cleaned regularly, and if there's water left inside the ears after bathing. That's where using a product like Epi Optic comes in handy. It dries up any water that may have gotten in the ear.

They didn't say anything about ear plucking causing infections, so I pluck away. (not me personally, but a professional groomer). And I use Epi Optic once a week...even if I skipped a week of bathing...his ears get cleaned.

[Morkie4]

I use OtiRinse cleansing and drying solution after every bath and I pull the hairs out with my fingers or with tweezers if they're like growing inward. I always heard the opposite that not removing the hair can cause ear infections because it keeps the ear moist. He's only had one ear infection some months ago but thats because I didn't take care of his ears at all back then.

Parker's vet told me that ear infections occur if the ears aren't cleaned regularly, and if there's water left inside the ears after bathing. That's where using a product like Epi Optic comes in handy. It dries up any water that may have gotten in the ear.

They didn't say anything about ear plucking causing infections, so I pluck away. (not me personally, but a professional groomer). And I use Epi Optic once a week...even if I skipped a week of bathing...his ears get cleaned.

It is my understanding it is better to clean and to pluck the hair out of the ears......but only the hair that is in the ear canal. Once you have plucked it for several months in a row, it comes out a lot easier. I also use the R-7 Ear Powder before I try to pull the ear hair and it helps keep the ears dry. Of course I do not pull all the hair out of the ear at one sitting either. They get use to it just like they do their toe nails being done.

[zeek's mom]

Elizabeth I always pluck the hair in the ears. With the malts hair like it is, it has to be plucked or ear infection can set in.

If you work with her a little every day she will get used to it. I have one that I can tell come on lets clean your ears and she will lay her head in my lap and let me do it.


It does not hurt them unless there is an infection. Good luck sweetie.

[PMP Daddy]

Do you have to pluck the hair every time you clean the ears? I only get them plucked when Parker is at the groomers. In betwen grooming appointments, I use Epi Optic to clean inside, but I don't pluck the hair...too afraid to do it myself.

[GrannyKnot]

You know, I've heard so many opinions on this.

Pips' breeder and his vet both showed my how to do it and recommended a bit was done every week. Yet I've heard from 3 other vets that it can open the pores and let infection in. Perhaps it depends on the dog and how dry you can keep the ears at bathtime with cotton wool ear plugs. I check Pip's ears every week to see how hairy they've become and, frankly, they are hardly hairy at all. I've plucked a few hairs twice in nearly 18 months.

Clearly he's not as "hirsute" as some. Wish I knew his secret because I'm a real wuss when it comes to waxing :blush:

[plumie]

I finally got the nerves to plucked her ear's hair on sat.
I also heard somewhere you shouldnt pluck there cus they might get infection.
But the hair that was growing out of her ears was getting wax build up. I had to do it.
look kind of gross. beside i like the clean look. :D

[lilybellesmom]

I pluck LB's ear hair out every 2 weeks and she gets it done at the groomer's too. She's done very well and has not had an ear infection since I got her (knock on wood).

[Zo zo's mom]

OK..so I tried a little last night and she didn't react as much as I thought she would. I did call the vet today and schedule an appointment for tomorrow night since this is her first time. They said they would let me watch so I could do it in the future.

I always thought my groomer was wrong about leaving the hair there, but I will do it myself after this visit. I also scheduled Zo zo for grooming on Saturday too. (If I could work another appointment in there, she may try running away:wink5: :wink5: )

[LittleDogLVR]

isn't there a powder that you put in the ears to make it easier to grab the hair?
For some reason I remember seeing it done, I don't do it to Lizzie but have seen the groomer do it.

Should have read all of Carols thread....That sounds like the stuff !

John

[zeek's mom]

I have seen a lot of different opinions and I appriciate that. Maybe I am wrong. I sure hope so........LOLOL But I do know if I do not pluck the ears that they do get yucky.


John yes there is a powder. But I do not know the name of it. Maybe Carol will see this thread. (Ow wait we are talking about Boss Lady arnt we),,:lol2: :lol2:

I am sure she will see this and tell you what it is.



xoxoxo boss lady aka mother hen aka morkie

[mia's mom]

I have seen a lot of different opinions and I appriciate that. Maybe I am wrong. I sure hope so........LOLOL But I do know if I do not pluck the ears that they do get yucky.


John yes there is a powder. But I do not know the name of it. Maybe Carol will see this thread. (Ow wait we are talking about Boss Lady arnt we),,:lol2: :lol2:

I am sure she will see this and tell you what it is.



xoxoxo boss lady aka mother hen aka morkie


Ok not the Boss Lady but this is my routine: Bathe them wash their ears after conditioning with OtiCalm http://www.oticalm.com/ dry inside ear with cotton balls, apply R-7 power and pull/pluck any stray inside canal hair. The powder allows a quicker and gentler pull. No ear infections here.

[Morkie4]

I use the R-7 Ear Powder before I try to pull the ear hair out because it states on the bottle that it makes the hair in the ear canal come out easier. I'm all for easy! I only use it though when I pluck the hairs but use the R-7 ear rinse once a week to clean the inside flap of the ears. ONLY the inside part of the ear that I can actually see but you can also put some of the R-7 liquid ear cleaner into the ear and gently rub the ear to clean the inside the ear and then wipe the ear. As I said earlier, I just do a few hairs at a time until I have it all done.

[Zo zo's mom]

SO.. I took Zo zo to the vet last night and he said she didn't have enough to pluck right now. He said we should keep an eye on it, but her ears look good for now.

While we were there, there was a young couple with two 10 week old shih tzus. Zoe jumped in between them and went nose to nose with them. Everyone had a good time together. They were SO cute. This was their first visit and when the vet tech said their room would be ready, they said they would wait for the other room. I asked her when she lost her dog and she got all misty. She lost her 3 year old dog in October in the room on the right and I told her we had lost Sophie in the room on the left.

We all had to wait together for about 10 minutes and they were asking for advice. Marco told them about bell training and they seemed very interested. I told her to handle thier paws, ears and teeth as much as possible when they were little so they wouldn't think it was a big deal when they got older. She told me they were so tired and I promised her that the getting up in the night several times to let them out went by quickly. She kiddingly asked if I would keep them one night so she could sleep and I said I would, but would have a hard time giving them back.:wink5:

[Morkie4]

SO.. I took Zo zo to the vet last night and he said she didn't have enough to pluck right now. He said we should keep an eye on it, but her ears look good for now.

While we were there, there was a young couple with two 10 week old shih tzus. Zoe jumped in between them and went nose to nose with them. Everyone had a good time together. They were SO cute. This was their first visit and when the vet tech said their room would be ready, they said they would wait for the other room. I asked her when she lost her dog and she got all misty. She lost her 3 year old dog in October in the room on the right and I told her we had lost Sophie in the room on the left.

We all had to wait together for about 10 minutes and they were asking for advice. Marco told them about bell training and they seemed very interested. I told her to handle thier paws, ears and teeth as much as possible when they were little so they wouldn't think it was a big deal when they got older. She told me they were so tired and I promised her that the getting up in the night several times to let them out went by quickly. She kiddingly asked if I would keep them one night so she could sleep and I said I would, but would have a hard time giving them back.:wink5:

What happened to Zo zo that you had to take her to the vet last "night?" Is she ok????

Glad she had a nice time playing...........does that tell you something???:wink5: :wink5:

[Zo zo's mom]

What happened to Zo zo that you had to take her to the vet last "night?" Is she ok????

Glad she had a nice time playing...........does that tell you something???:wink5: :wink5:

She's fine. They were going to pluck her ears and show me how to do it.

Yes, I must admit she was really sweet with both the boy and the girl pup (we had always thought we should get a male pup next time, but it was nice to see it didn't matter to Zo zo). Marco cringed when the lady was talking about waking up in the middle of the night.:tounge:

[Morkie4]

She's fine. They were going to pluck her ears and show me how to do it.

Yes, I must admit she was really sweet with both the boy and the girl pup (we had always thought we should get a male pup next time, but it was nice to see it didn't matter to Zo zo). Marco cringed when the lady was talking about waking up in the middle of the night.:tounge:

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: Just remind Marco that it is only a temp thing of getting up in the middle of the night but oh so worth it once they get beyond that stage!:hearter: :hearter: