Ear cleaning best practices
Florida is the worst place in America for canine ear infections. Humidity + heat + frequent water exposure = bacterial and yeast paradise. Weekly ear cleaning at home plus thorough cleaning at every grooming visit is the minimum standard here.
What groomers do: visual inspection of the ear canal, application of an enzymatic ear cleaner, gentle massage of the base of the ear, allowing the dog to shake out debris, and wiping the outer canal with cotton. They will NOT clean deep into the canal — that requires veterinary equipment to avoid eardrum damage.
For floppy-eared breeds (Labs, Goldens, Cocker Spaniels, Cavalier King Charles, Doodles), groomers also pluck or trim hair from inside the ear canal. This hair traps moisture and grows bacteria in Florida humidity.
Signs of ear infection: head shaking, scratching at ears, head tilt, smell, redness, brown/black discharge. See a vet — not a groomer — for these.
At-home cleaner: enzymatic solutions like Epi-Otic Advanced or Zymox Ear Solution. NEVER use water, hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol — all damage the ear canal.
Frequency: weekly for floppy-eared dogs, every 2 weeks for upright-eared dogs.