Many dog owners wonder whether they should routinely pluck the hair growing in their pet’s ears. Owners also sometimes request this of groomers to "clean up" a dog's appearance. According to veterinary dermatology experts, however, routine ear hair plucking is generally not recommended.

Plucking hair from a healthy ear can actually cause irritation and inflammation. The act of pulling hair opens up hair follicles, making them more susceptible to irritation and secondary infections. In some cases, ear plucking can lead to otitis externa (ear canal inflammation) - which requires treatment to control the associated painful itch and secondary infection (if present). 

Instead of plucking hair from ears that are healthy and free of infection, experts recommend the following:

• Trim excess hair that protrudes from the ear canal using small trimmers to prevent matting

• Perform regular ear cleaning to keep wax from accumulating on the hairs

Removal of the hair by plucking is sometimes considered in cases of active ear infection - especially if there is a build up a debris within the ear canal that leads to matting. In these instances, hair removal may necessary so that medications can come into contact with the diseased ear canal tissue (instead of building up in the matted hair).

Chemical hair-removal agents are discouraged due to potential risks to the eardrum.

In short, for most dogs, ear hair is part of their normal anatomy and doesn’t need to be removed. Gentle trimming and routine cleaning are safer ways to maintain ear health without triggering unnecessary inflammation.