All Eyes & Ears

‘All Eyes and Ears’  

-Eagerly giving one's full attention to something.

I love wordplay and this common idiom, defined by The Free Dictionary, is definitely, for me, a play on words. Its literal meaning also brings to my mind the importance of better understanding the conditions of our dog’s eyes and ears. 

Is it the Florida climate that causes our dogs to be more prone to eye and ear issues? That humid air that perpetuates gunky build up around the eyes causing staining. Or the chronic ear goop and infections that can follow. Is it seasonal allergies or more serious skin conditions? All are worthy of giving our full attention to. Eagerly.  

At Pets On The Bay, we see our fair share of ear conditions and possible infections that may be brewing. In particular, and at no fault to our pet parents, the state of a lot of our dog’s ears are rather unstately. We’ve seen them, done some research, and now,

you have our full attention. 

While we would never try to diagnose any pet, our priority is more about prevention and noticing any health issues with our furry clients during the grooming appointment. Then we notify the pet parent and suggest they keep aware of it and have the vet take a look if needed. 

We often hear pet parent concerns about ear infections their pup has just had and is being treated for. Or about ear issues that their pet is currently having. Either way, we’re especially cautious when bathing or grooming them and use extra special care when cleaning and drying that area. If necessary, we’ll avoid it altogether.

During the grooming visit, our Pet Stylists always assess the ear area: does it look normal or is there any redness, scabs or irritation? Is the dog itching , shaking their head or showing they feel tenderness/pain in the ear area? Is there mucus or any other liquid draining out of the ear? Is there an odor (and/or a yeasty smell) coming from the ear?   

“A dog’s ear canal is shaped differently from a human’s. It’s more L-shaped, which means that debris, wax, and moisture can easily get trapped, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Neglecting ear care can lead to painful infections, inflammation, and even hearing loss. Regular ear cleaning and maintenance are therefore vital for preventing these issues and keeping your furry friend comfortable.”

-thegrubbypuppy.com

If there is a build up of hair (such as in furrier breeds like Shih-Tzus, Doodles, Spaniels and dogs with long, floppy ears or those prone to ear infections) our Pet Stylists consider whether or not to pluck excess hair from them. Although this is a pain-free process, we like to ask the pet parent for consent at their initial appointment to make sure they are comfortable with this practice. We never use hemostats and only apply a small pinch of ear powder to help ease the hair free when plucking. *If the ear area has any concerning symptoms, as above, we avoid this step altogether and notify the parent at pick up. 

“Some breeds have a narrower ear canal, which can make it more challenging for air to circulate and for the ear to dry properly. Ear plucking helps to alleviate these issues by removing excess hair and promoting air circulation.”

Learn more here.

When our Pet Stylists clean the ear area, they apply a tiny drop of ear cleaner onto cotton balls or pads to gently massage and then wipe any debris or dry skin away. We avoid the inner ear canal and only wipe around and away from it. Our ear cleaner is called “Happy Eyes by Nature’s Specialties” and is professional grade, alcohol free and only contains natural ingredients. 

Ask about this spa product in our salon for purchase.

While some salons will clean deep into the ear canal and “flush out” the ear, we prefer to leave this job to the vet. As well, we do not use ear swabs (Q-Tips) because these can push debris further down the ear canal and potentially damage the eardrum. *Again, if the ear area has any concerning symptoms, as above, we avoid this step altogether and notify the parent at pick up. 

Some of our Pet Stylists will clean the ears before the bath, while others prefer to do this after. Either way, during bathtime, we take special care to avoid getting water near the ear. When applying shampoos and conditioner and while washing and rinsing, we avoid the ear area entirely.  

Finally, our Pet Stylists thoroughly and carefully dry the ear area with a soft towel and low velocity dryer. We often use a “happy hoodie” (an ear muff-like cotton headband that secures gently around the head and ears) to help soften the noise and vibration of the dryer. 

Your pup’s spa day should be a soothing, stress free, and safe experience for them. Between grooming appointments, we recommend regular ear cleaning at home as needed and keeping watch out in the ear areas for any unusual conditions or irritations that they may be showing. When visiting your vet, ask them to check the ears closely and let them know your groomer is also committed to being part of their wellness team. 

So, is it the Florida climate and/or the seasonal allergies that make our dogs more prone to eye and ear issues? Instead of focusing only on the causes of our pet’s issues, let’s set intentions to understand how to better prevent them.

Let’s give this our full “eyes and ears” together!