Ear Cleaning Awareness — Grooming 101 — Learn — Lapdog
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Ear Cleaning Awareness

Recognising healthy ears, spotting problems, and knowing when to see your vet.

What Healthy Ears Look Like

Checking your pet’s ears regularly helps you catch problems early. Here is what to look for:

Healthy Ears

  • Pale pink colour inside the ear flap
  • Clean and dry, with minimal wax
  • No strong or unpleasant odour
  • Your pet is comfortable when you touch their ears

Signs of a Problem

  • Redness, swelling, or inflammation inside the ear
  • Dark brown or black discharge
  • Strong, yeasty, or foul smell
  • Excessive scratching at the ears or shaking the head
  • Tilting the head to one side
  • Pain when the ears are touched — flinching, pulling away, or vocalising
  • Scabs, crusting, or hair loss around the ears

If you notice any of these signs, do not attempt to clean or treat the ears yourself. Take your pet to the vet for an examination. Ear infections can be caused by bacteria, yeast, ear mites, allergies, or foreign bodies (like grass seeds), and the treatment depends on the cause.

Warning

In Australia, grass seeds (especially barley grass and spear grass) are a very common cause of ear problems in dogs, particularly during spring and summer. These seeds can burrow into the ear canal and cause intense pain and infection. If your dog is suddenly shaking their head violently or pawing at one ear after a walk, see your vet promptly — grass seed removal often requires sedation.

Breeds Prone to Ear Problems

Some breeds are more prone to ear issues due to their ear shape and structure:

Floppy-Eared Breeds

Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Beagles. The heavy ear flap traps moisture and reduces air circulation, creating an ideal environment for infections.

Hairy Ear Canals

Poodles, Bichon Frises, and Schnauzers often have hair growing inside the ear canal. This can trap debris and moisture. Your groomer may recommend ear hair plucking — discuss this with your vet as opinions vary on whether it is beneficial.

Swimming Dogs

Any dog that swims regularly is at higher risk of ear infections because moisture gets trapped in the ear canal. After swimming, gently dry the outer ear with a soft towel and allow the ears to air dry.

If your pet is a breed prone to ear issues, make ear checks part of your weekly grooming routine and discuss a preventive ear care plan with your vet.

Quiz

Ear Health Quiz

Your dog is suddenly shaking their head violently and pawing at one ear after a walk through long grass. What should you do?

A Use a cotton bud to check inside the ear canal
B Flush the ear with water to remove any debris
C Take your dog to the vet promptly — a grass seed may be lodged in the ear
D Wait 24 hours to see if the shaking stops on its own
Sudden, violent head shaking after walking through long grass is a classic sign of a grass seed in the ear canal. This needs prompt veterinary attention — grass seeds can burrow deeper and cause serious damage. Never insert cotton buds or flush the ear yourself, as this can push the seed further in.
True or False

Ear Cleaning Check

If your pet's ears are red, smelly, and producing dark discharge, you should clean them at home with a cotton bud before seeing the vet.
True
False
Never insert cotton buds into your pet's ear canal — this can push debris deeper and cause damage. Red, smelly ears with discharge are signs of infection and need veterinary attention. The vet needs to see the ear in its current state to diagnose the cause correctly.
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