Bedlington Terrier Ear Infections: Signs, Causes and Ear Care

People who meet a Bedlington Terrier for the first time often do a double take. The arched back, the soft topknot and the pear-shaped head make it look more like a small lamb than a terrier. Underneath that gentle outline is a quick, game little dog, and tucked against each cheek is an ear that quietly asks for more attention than most owners expect.

If you share your home with a Bedlington, this guide covers why its ears can get uncomfortable, the signals to notice, the usual triggers, the point at which your vet should take over, and a grooming-day ear routine that suits a clipped, non-shedding coat.

Why the Bedlington ear deserves a closer look

The Bedlington ear is unlike any other terrier ear. It is set low, hangs flat beside the jaw, and is shaped a little like a filbert nut, wider in the middle and rounded at the end. The leather is thin and velvety, covered with short fine hair, and the breed standard calls for a silky tassel at the tip. That tidy look comes with a few practical consequences.

The flap seals the opening. Because the ear hangs close to the head instead of standing up, it closes over the entrance to the canal. Warm, still air sits underneath, and moisture from a bath or a rainy walk takes a long time to leave.

Hair grows inside the canal. Like other low-shedding, continuously growing coats, the Bedlington's linty, crisp-curly coat does not stop at the ear opening. Fine hair can sprout inside the canal itself. When it tangles with wax, it forms a plug that holds debris against the skin.

The coat is clipped, not shed. A Bedlington needs regular scissoring or clipping to keep its signature shape. Every grooming session involves clippers, sprays and loose snippets of hair near the ears. That is a good chance to check them, and also a common moment for clippings or product to end up where they should not be.

Drop-ear carriage. UK research on dogs seen in general veterinary practice found that dogs with pendulous or V-shaped drop ears had higher odds of ear inflammation than dogs with upright ears. The Bedlington is not a gundog or hound, but its hanging ear puts it in that drop-ear group.

Skin sensitivities and environmental allergies can affect any breed, and when they show up, the ears are often one of the first places the itch appears. For a wider view of how ear shape and coat type affect risk, see our list of breeds predisposed to ear infections.

Bedlington versus Poodle ears

Owners who have lived with a Poodle will recognize some of the same chores: a non-shedding coat, hair in the canal and a hanging flap. The Poodle ear is longer and carries a heavy fringe of curls, while the Bedlington ear is thinner, sits lower and is mostly bare apart from the tassel. Our Poodle ear infection guide is a useful companion read, since both breeds benefit from a vet's advice on canal hair.

The Kerry Blue Terrier has a similar soft, non-shedding coat and folded ears that need regular grooming.

Signals that a Bedlington ear is bothering it

Bedlingtons tend to be affectionate at home and tough outdoors, so a sore ear may show up first as a change in habits. Keep an eye out for:

• Flicking or shaking the head as soon as it lies down to rest
• Dragging the side of its face along the carpet or a dog bed
• Leaning into your hand when you rub near one ear, or ducking away from it
• A tassel that looks wet, crusty or matted when the rest of the coat is clean
• Pink, warm or thickened skin on the underside of the flap
• Dark brown wax, waxy clumps caught in canal hair, or a yeasty smell
• One ear held slightly away from the cheek instead of lying flat

Because the ear leather is thin and the coat around it is pale on many Bedlingtons, color changes inside the flap can be easy to see once you lift it into good light.

What usually sets things off

• Wax trapped by canal hair. A plug of hair and wax keeps the canal humid and gives normal skin yeast and bacteria room to overgrow.
• Water after bathing. Frequent baths before clipping are part of Bedlington life. Water left under the flap is a common starting point.
• Allergies. Environmental and food allergies can make the ear lining red and itchy, and scratching makes it worse.
• Foreign material. Grass seeds on walks and loose clippings on grooming day can both slip under a low-set ear.
• Ear mites in young dogs. Puppies from busy households sometimes pick them up, and they cause intense itching and dark, crumbly debris.

When to see your vet

An ear cleaner is for routine upkeep, not for an ear that is already sore. Before anything goes into a painful ear, your vet should examine the canal and eardrum. Make an appointment if you see:

• Pain: your Bedlington yelps, flinches or will not let you touch the ear
• Head tilt, loss of balance, circling or unusual eye movements
• Bleeding, or a swollen, puffy ear flap (this can be a blood blister called an aural hematoma)
• A bad smell together with discharge
• Redness or swelling that is getting worse
• Symptoms that have not improved after a few days, or keep coming back

Ask your vet or groomer whether hair in the canal should be removed for your dog. Some ears do better with it thinned, others with it left alone. Skip hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, alcohol and homemade oils, and never push cotton swabs into the canal.

Building ear care into grooming day

A Bedlington with healthy ears usually does well with a quick look every few days and a full clean once a week, plus a clean after each bath. Linking the routine to brushing and clipping makes it easy to remember. If you are new to the process, our guide on how to clean your dog's ears and the tools you'll need lists the basics.

1. Clip first, clean second. Finish trimming around the head, then brush loose clippings away from the ear opening before you start.
2. Comb the tassel. Work out any knots in the tip so the flap lies flat again.
3. Lift and look. Fold the flap up and check the skin and canal. If it is red, swollen, smelly or painful, stop here and call your vet.
4. Fill and massage. Fill the ear canal with a dog ear cleaner and massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds.
5. Let it shake. Step back while your Bedlington shakes out the loosened wax.
6. Wipe gently. Use cotton or gauze on the inner flap and the visible opening only, then dry the tassel with a soft towel.

About EcoEars: EcoEars is a botanical dog ear cleaner with no antibiotics or steroids, made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility. As directed on the label, fill the ear canal, massage the base of the ear for 60 to 90 seconds, let your dog shake, and wipe away loosened debris. Use it twice daily for 10 days in a row, then weekly or as needed. It is for dogs 12 weeks and older and for dogs only, since it contains tea tree oil.

Bedlington Terrier ear FAQ

Should the tassel on my Bedlington's ear be trimmed short?

The tassel is a breed feature and does not need to go, but keeping it combed and clean matters. If it keeps getting wet or crusty, mention it to your vet so they can check the skin underneath.

Does my Bedlington need its ear canal hair plucked?

Not automatically. Plucking can irritate some ears. Your vet can look inside and tell you whether thinning the hair would help your particular dog.

My Bedlington's ears smell after every bath. Why?

Water that stays under the flap can leave the canal damp and musty. Dry the ears well after bathing, and see your vet if the smell comes with discharge or scratching.

How young can I start ear cleaning on a Bedlington puppy?

Gentle handling of the ears can start right away so your puppy gets used to it. EcoEars itself is labeled for dogs 12 weeks and older.