Toy Poodles, like many breeds with drop ears, are naturally prone to ear problems and ear infections. The hanging ear leather protects the ear canal from dust, insects, and debris — but at the same time it also reduces airflow and ventilation inside the ear canal. This creates a warm, dark, and humid environment, which becomes an ideal place for bacteria and yeast to grow if moisture gets trapped inside the ear.

Most Poodles also grow hair inside the ear canal. If this hair is not maintained, it can become very long and mix with ear wax, eventually forming dense plugs that block the ear canal almost completely. These wax-and-hair plugs can themselves cause discomfort and reduced hearing — imagine constantly wearing ear plugs. Removing a large compacted plug may also irritate the delicate skin inside the ear canal. Some dogs become stressed by the sudden change in hearing and sensation inside the now open ear canal, and may start violently shaking their head, potentially causing additional trauma to the ears.

Regular ear maintenance is therefore an important part of Poodle care.

We recommend checking the ears weekly. If necessary, gently pluck small amounts of excess hair at a time — ideally only 3–5 hairs per pull. A special ear powder can help improve grip when removing hair. After this, wipe the visible inner ear flap gently with a soft wipe or cotton pad.

Some dogs have extremely dense, thick ear hair that cannot be plucked safely without irritating the skin. In these cases, carefully trimming the hair weekly with blunt-ended scissors is often a safer option. After trimming, always wipe the ear carefully to remove tiny cut hairs, as leftover hair fragments may cause irritation.

If a dog does not have ongoing ear issues, we do not recommend aggressively cleaning deep inside the ear canal. We only clean what is visible from the outside and the ear flap itself. Over-cleaning healthy ears can sometimes do more harm than good.

Keeping the ears dry is one of the most important parts of prevention. If water gets into the ears during bathing or swimming, the ear canal should be dried carefully using cotton balls. You can gently place a small cotton twist into the outer ear canal for a few seconds to absorb moisture, then remove it. After drying, a few drops of an acidifying ear lotion such as Epi-Otic (or a similar veterinary ear cleanser with mild acids) can help suppress bacterial and yeast growth. Do not use alcohol, peroxide, or homemade solutions inside the ears unless specifically instructed by your veterinarian.

Dogs wearing snoods, cones, or heavy show coat wrapping for extended periods may require even closer ear monitoring, as reduced airflow around the ears can further increase heat and moisture buildup inside the ear canal.

If your dog starts shaking their head, scratching at the ears, tilting the head to one side, or if the ears develop a strong smell or black/yellow discharge, veterinary attention is needed as soon as possible. Recurring ear infections may sometimes be linked to underlying allergies and should always be properly investigated by a veterinarian.

Chronic or untreated ear infections can become extremely serious. In very severe chronic cases they may lead to permanent hearing damage, chronic pain, narrowing of the ear canal, or even spread of infection into deeper tissues and surrounding bone structures.

Regular weekly ear care is a simple but very important part of responsible dog ownership. Small routine checks and maintenance take only a few minutes, but can help prevent painful infections, expensive veterinary treatment, chronic ear disease, and long-term damage. Healthy ears should always be considered part of a dog’s overall health and wellbeing — not just grooming or cosmetic care.

Ear care is a weekly responsibility for every Poodle owner. Unless your dog is professionally groomed every couple of weeks, routine ear maintenance becomes your job at home. Removing severely matted hair from inside the ear canal or dealing with large impacted wax plugs should be performed by a veterinarian rather than a groomer, as these procedures can be painful and may traumatise the delicate skin inside the ear canal. Ideally, however, ear care should never be allowed to reach that stage. Small amounts of regular maintenance are far easier, safer, and less stressful for the dog than treating advanced ear problems later on.

With regular removal of excess hair, moisture, dust, and debris — as well as quick veterinary attention when problems first appear — many Poodles can live their entire lives without serious ear infections, even in hot and humid climates.

The photo below shows Leva’s ear after his regular weekly ear maintenance. A healthy ear does not need to be perfectly hair-free. The aim is simply to prevent excessive hair, wax, moisture, and debris from accumulating, while regularly checking for any signs of irritation or infection.