Puppy Guide
How to Clean Cavoodle Ears: Step-by-Step
Feb
Cavoodles are prone to ear problems. Their floppy ears create a warm, moist environment that bacteria and yeast love. The hair that grows inside their ears makes it worse.
🎯 Quick Answer
Clean your Cavoodle’s ears weekly using dog-specific ear cleaning solution and cotton balls. Apply solution, massage ear base for 30 seconds, let them shake, then wipe clean. Never use cotton buds (Q-tips). If you see redness, discharge, or smell, skip cleaning and see your vet.
Regular Cavoodle ear cleaning is essential care—not optional. The good news: once you know how, it takes about two minutes per ear.
Why Cavoodles Need Regular Ear Cleaning
The Floppy Ear Problem
Cavoodles inherit floppy ears from the Cavalier parent. Unlike erect ears, floppy ears:
- Trap moisture
- Reduce airflow
- Create warm conditions
- Allow debris to accumulate
This makes them significantly more prone to ear infections than dogs with upright ears.
The Hair Factor
Many Cavoodles grow hair inside their ear canals. This hair traps more debris, holds moisture, and blocks natural drainage. Your groomer can pluck this hair during grooming appointments, but you still need to maintain between visits.
💡 Marine’s Pro Tip
In the salon, I check ears at every groom and alert owners to any concerns. But I can’t prevent infections that develop between appointments. Weekly home cleaning is what actually keeps ears healthy. The dogs whose owners clean weekly rarely have problems. The ones who don’t? They’re the ones needing vet visits.
How Often to Clean Cavoodle Ears
Weekly cleaning is the standard recommendation for Cavoodles.
Increase frequency if:
- Your dog swims
- They have a history of ear infections
- You notice more wax than usual
- They’ve been in dusty or dirty environments
Don’t over-clean. More than once or twice weekly (without reason) can irritate the ear canal.
What You’ll Need for Cavoodle Ear Cleaning
| Item | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ear cleaning solution | Breaks down wax, kills bacteria | Dog-specific only. Vet or pet store. |
| Cotton balls/pads | Wiping away debris | NEVER use cotton buds (Q-tips) |
| Treats | Make it positive | Before, during, and after |
| Towel | Catching mess when they shake | Optional but helpful |
Step-by-Step Cavoodle Ear Cleaning
Step 1: Check the Ear First
Before cleaning, inspect the ear. Look for redness, swelling, discharge, bad smell, or signs of pain when touched.
If you see any of these, don’t clean—see your vet. Cleaning an infected ear can make it worse.
Step 2: Prepare Your Dog
Choose a calm moment. After a walk or play session works well—they’ll be more relaxed. Have treats ready.
Step 3: Apply the Solution
- Hold the ear flap up to open the ear canal
- Squeeze ear cleaner into the ear—enough to fill the canal but not overflow
- Don’t let the bottle tip touch the ear (contamination risk)
Step 4: Massage the Base
- Lower the ear flap
- Find the base of the ear (below the ear opening, feels like a tube)
- Massage gently for 20-30 seconds
- You should hear a squishing sound—this means the solution is working through the canal
Step 5: Let Them Shake
Stand back or use your towel. They’re going to shake, and debris plus solution is coming out. This is normal and actually helps the cleaning process.
Step 6: Wipe Clean
- Use cotton balls to wipe out the visible ear canal and ear flap
- Don’t go deeper than you can see
- Use fresh cotton balls until they come out mostly clean
Step 7: Repeat on Other Ear, Then Praise
Same process for the other ear. Treats, praise, happy voice when done.
💡 Marine’s Pro Tip
The “squishing sound” during massage is your confirmation that you’re doing it right. If you don’t hear it, you probably haven’t used enough solution. Don’t be shy with the cleaner—it’s designed to be shaken out, and using too little means you’re not actually reaching the ear canal.
What NOT to Do When Cleaning Cavoodle Ears
| Don’t Do This | Why | Do This Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Use cotton buds (Q-tips) | Pushes debris deeper, can damage eardrum | Cotton balls only |
| Clean an infected ear | Can make infection worse | See vet first |
| Use water | Doesn’t evaporate properly, worsens moisture | Use proper ear cleaner |
| Go deep | Risk of damage | Only clean what you can see |
Signs Your Cavoodle’s Ears Need Attention
Time for regular cleaning:
- Light brown wax visible
- Slightly dirty appearance
- No smell, redness, or discomfort
Time for a vet visit:
- Dark brown or black discharge
- Yellow or green discharge
- Strong, unpleasant smell
- Redness or swelling
- Scratching at ears excessively
- Shaking head frequently
- Whimpering when ears are touched
After Swimming or Bathing
Moisture in the ears is a major cause of infections. After your Cavoodle gets wet:
- Dry the outer ear with a towel
- Use ear cleaning solution (even if you cleaned recently)
- Let them shake
- Wipe dry with cotton balls
This removes trapped water and helps prevent infection.
💡 Marine’s Pro Tip
I see the most ear infections after summer—dogs who’ve been swimming without ear care afterwards. If your Cavoodle swims, clean those ears the same day. Every time. It’s a five-minute job that saves you a $200 vet bill and saves your dog a week of discomfort.
Quick Weekly Routine
Total time: 5 minutes
- Check both ears visually (30 seconds)
- Apply solution to ear one, massage, let shake, wipe (2 minutes)
- Repeat ear two (2 minutes)
- Treat and praise
Do this weekly, same day each week, and it becomes routine.
Written by Marine Ponchaut
Marine is the founder of WoofSpark, a professional dog grooming salon in Cessnock, NSW. Since founding WoofSpark in 2019, she has groomed thousands of dogs and checks ears at every appointment.
Related Guides
- Cavoodle Ear Infections — When cleaning isn’t enough
- Cavoodle Tear Stains — Another common care need
- How Often to Groom a Cavoodle — Complete schedule
Concerned About Your Cavoodle’s Ears?
Ear care is part of every grooming appointment at WoofSpark. We can take a look during your next visit. Book an appointment or contact us with questions.