Ear Plucking

[GinaB]

As some of you know I own a mini schanuzer. She suffers from recurrent ear problems due to total furriness irritating them and also thickening of the ear canal. They can get very dirty amnd smelly. I get her clipped every 8-10 weeks and they clip out her ears. However, the vet said it would be a better idea for me to keep on top of it as opposed to it getting really bad then the groomers sorting it.

Problem is, said Beastie is rather strong and if she doesn't want something done she will not let it be done! Any ideas of how I can go about plucking her ears? I don't want to be hurting her, but if the situation gets worse and her ear canal continues to thicken she will need to get an op done basically givig her a new ear hole below the current one and the vertical part of the current ear becoming defunct.

 

[AmyMay]

Can you buy some little clippers and just clip them weekly yourself??

 

[echodomino]

Do you mean stripping?

You just take a very small amount of hair and pull it in the direction it grows in - DONT pull it the other way or that will hurt!

If not then echo AmyMay, small clippers. You can get really small ones for trimming for about a tenner.

 

[kibob]

Put him in a big holdall and zip it up so just his head is sticking out, then get someone to lie on him

- not much help sorry, my sister has a mini schnauzer and I know how wriggly they are!!!! GOOD LUCK

 

[K9Wendy]

You need to do it a little at a time, little and often. Plucking them in one go will irratate the ear and it goes round in a vicious cycle. Ask your groomer not to clip the hair, or cut it, it needs to be plucked and if done all at once with the groomer then it will be sore.

Do just a tiny bit at one time, and I only mean a few hairs, so it does not hurt, then over the next few days if you can get the dog to lay across your knee sleeping do it gently a few hairs at a time. You will only see the progress in about a week, but much less painful and distructive to the ear canal.

Does your vet give you drops? If so, and the ear hair is greasy and not easy to grip you will need to use forceps. It will make the job much easier but don't be tempted to haul a huge chunk at a time out.

Good luck, Schnauzer's either have very easy to pull hair or impossible to pull... hope it's easy for you!

 

[K9Wendy]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you mean stripping?

You just take a very small amount of hair and pull it in the direction it grows in - DONT pull it the other way or that will hurt!

If not then echo AmyMay, small clippers. You can get really small ones for trimming for about a tenner.

[/ QUOTE ]

Gina is referring to the hair growing inside the dogs ear canal, it should not be clipped but plucked gently..

 

[GinaB]

Our groomer only clips a small amount. She currently has nice tidy outer ears and little tufts poking out of the inner ear! Yes Keisha, she is on drops that are given when she is having a bad day. It's not nice seeing her walking about carrying her ears low and knowing they are annoying her

HOw about using rubber gloves for grip?! Hehe I'm not sure wheer I would get forceps?

Can't imagine her ever falling asleep on my knee as I poke those little ears!

 

[K9Wendy]

You can buy plucking powder, it will give your fingers grip, sort of like resin in gymnastics. Then with the help of your OH wrap her up in a towel, like swaddling a baby, has to be tight (all legs tucked in), he tucks her under his arm and stands against a wall (she won't be able to wriggle back out of his grip) and pluck, again only little at a time. I will get you the name of the power later..

 

[echodomino]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Do you mean stripping?

You just take a very small amount of hair and pull it in the direction it grows in - DONT pull it the other way or that will hurt!

If not then echo AmyMay, small clippers. You can get really small ones for trimming for about a tenner.

[/ QUOTE ]

Gina is referring to the hair growing inside the dogs ear canal, it should not be clipped but plucked gently..

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, I thought she meant just the outside - as that can affect inside too. I've never known anyone to "pluck" the hair from inside

 

[barkinghorse]

Please can i have the name of the powder too Keisha,
I need to do my BRT's ears, but my fingers just slide off the hair, so sounds usefull !!!
Jo

 

[K9Wendy]

You can buy pluck-it from http://www.dezynadog.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=38&products_id=400 or use corn flour, it does the same job at a fraction of the price. You can also buy forceps from this company. The tiny rubber thumb tips you buy from stationery shops can be used too, one on thumb one one fore finger.. have fun!

 

[GinaB]

Thanks Keisha!

I shall get stuck in tonight and try and do a wee bit.

 

[sherlocksgirls]

Hmmmm Would this work on the Husband !!!!!!