Smelly, Itchy Dog Ears? 4 Things to Get Right at Bath Time

October 2026

A black poodle resting its chin on the groomer's hand, long ears hanging down — Fluffy ears need a little extra care

The short answer

Keep water out of the ear canal at bath time, and dry the ears well afterwards
Clean the ears after the bath: ear cleaner, massage the base, wipe outwards — no cotton buds
Constant scratching or a strong smell: there are several causes — see a vet if it's bad

“My dog's ears smell — did I not wash them properly?” Lots of owners have asked us this. Often it isn't about washing too little; it's a few small details at bath time that get missed.

First: smelly ears have more than one cause

Bacteria, yeast, ear mites and even allergies can all look alike. In adult dogs, bacteria and yeast are more common; ear mites turn up more often in puppies and cats. If it's serious, it's best to have a vet take a look.

Why bath time matters most

Bath time is when moisture gets into the ears most easily. Warm, damp and airless is exactly what bacteria and yeast love.

Uncomfortable ears → scratching and head shaking → broken skin and hair loss. A small problem left alone becomes a big one.

4 things we do every time we bathe a dog

1. Keep water out of the ear canalWhen washing the head, we tilt it so the water runs down the back of the ears.

2. Cotton in before, out and dry afterThe cotton sits at the opening of the ear, not pushed in. Afterwards it always comes out and the ears get dried — trapped moisture is what causes trouble.

3. Clean the ears after the bathEar cleaner first, a massage at the base to loosen the dirt, then wipe outwards with cotton. No cotton buds — they only push dirt deeper.

4. Ear hair only when neededWe only pluck ears that are very hairy and hold moisture. If there isn't much hair we leave it, because plucking itself can irritate the ear.

Each of these is small on its own, but doing them right every time is what stops problems building up.

So is cleaning more often better?

Not really. Healthy ears only need cleaning when they look dirty — cleaning too often can irritate them.

Bathe at home, or leave it to us?

Bathing at home is absolutely fine, and lots of owners do a great job. Ears and drying are just the two things most easily skipped on a busy day.

If you'd rather not remember all of this every time, leave it to us. Our Basic Groom already includes ear cleaning, ear-hair plucking when needed, and a full blow-dry — and we check every dog's ears before we start. See what the Basic Groom includes →

Book a bath and ear clean?

Tell us your dog's breed on WhatsApp and we'll find a time. Fridays to Sundays fill up fast — weekdays are easier to book.

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