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Started By
Message
Cleaning a dog's ears
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:18 pm
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:18 pm
What do you use to do it, and how often?
My dog gets infections in his ears if I don't clean them well at least every two weeks. Working through one right now, and the doc gave me Epi-Otic again. Have to clean once every day, and have been doing it since last Friday. Yeah, they are cleaner, but I am still pulling new stuff out each day. I feel like it loosens up the wax or whatever decently, but isn't it supposed to dry up after you clean the ears? If I don't wipe it off, it'll stay wet on my dog's ears for two days. I still am not able to get all of it out way down at the bottom of his ear canal. Him shaking his head gets big clumps out, but I have to go in with a Q-tip after every time. Can't keep this bastard out of the water if I'm not watching, and the doc told me I have to do it every time he goes swimming(twice/week).
Should I just use rubbing alcohol so it'll dry up? I feel like it being wet in there creates an environment for more yeast to grow. When I went to St. Stanislaus, they would dump rubbing alcohol in everyone's ears out of a ketchup bottle after we got out of the water to prevent infections
I have noticed that he gets more earwax on the food I used to give him in the summer(EVO Red), so I am in the process of switching him from winter food to Orijen right now. Any other suggestions as to what I should do to slow down the black shite from building up in his ears?
I looked around, and saw this LINK, but want to know how to actually prevent it, not just clean it.
6yr old Black lab; ear infections, none requiring antibiotics, since he was maybe 4
My dog gets infections in his ears if I don't clean them well at least every two weeks. Working through one right now, and the doc gave me Epi-Otic again. Have to clean once every day, and have been doing it since last Friday. Yeah, they are cleaner, but I am still pulling new stuff out each day. I feel like it loosens up the wax or whatever decently, but isn't it supposed to dry up after you clean the ears? If I don't wipe it off, it'll stay wet on my dog's ears for two days. I still am not able to get all of it out way down at the bottom of his ear canal. Him shaking his head gets big clumps out, but I have to go in with a Q-tip after every time. Can't keep this bastard out of the water if I'm not watching, and the doc told me I have to do it every time he goes swimming(twice/week).
Should I just use rubbing alcohol so it'll dry up? I feel like it being wet in there creates an environment for more yeast to grow. When I went to St. Stanislaus, they would dump rubbing alcohol in everyone's ears out of a ketchup bottle after we got out of the water to prevent infections
I have noticed that he gets more earwax on the food I used to give him in the summer(EVO Red), so I am in the process of switching him from winter food to Orijen right now. Any other suggestions as to what I should do to slow down the black shite from building up in his ears?
I looked around, and saw this LINK, but want to know how to actually prevent it, not just clean it.
6yr old Black lab; ear infections, none requiring antibiotics, since he was maybe 4
8
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:25 pm to Hammertime
I just use a flush wash. I wouldn't stick anything in his ear
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:29 pm to Hammertime
I used a combination of genetian violet, rubbing alcohol, and boric acid on my lab that has ear issues. Worked pretty well and I'm sure you can find the recipe online. If not let me know and I'll see if I have it laying around still.
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:32 pm to brass2mouth
quote:
If not let me know and I'll see if I have it laying around still.
Please post this. My lab has horrible ear problems.
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:32 pm to Hammertime
I've spent over 2k this year chasing ear infections on my dachshund. The only thing that has worked is changing his diet. He's now on Blue Buffalo for food allergies. He's much, much better now.
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:33 pm to cdaniel76
zymox
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:40 pm to Hammertime
Lightly clean wax out w/ Q-Tip then apply a small amount of Epi-Otic from vet twice a week.
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:47 pm to BAMAisDIESEL09
I do Epi-Otic first, Q-tip, then wipe with a paper towel. I'd still like to figure out a way to prevent it though
This post was edited on 5/3/14 at 9:48 pm
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:47 pm to brass2mouth
Gentian violet, witch hazel, boric acid... Don't use alcohol.
This combo is sometimes referred to as the purple stuff
This combo is sometimes referred to as the purple stuff
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:54 pm to Hammertime
Epi-otic is just a routine cleaner. It also has a drying agent in it so using it after he swims is important to prevent that moist environment which is ideal for yeast and bacteria. Careful with qtips. He shakes his head and you punch that thing through an ear drum you'll have a real problem plus qtips can irritate skin in ear canals. Just flush repeatedly with Epi otic to get all wax out. May take 3-4 seperate flushes. But if there is any infection that needs to be cleared up or else the natural flushing action of the skin in the ears is hindered. Ask vet to culture ears.
Allergies especially food allergies cause recurrent ear infections as well as hypothyroidism. So those are things that can also be looked at. You can have the best food on the market And still have a food allergy to it.
As for homemade cleaners. 50/50 water and alcohol is fine but if you have any irritation or infection it's going to burn like hell so be careful of that.
Allergies especially food allergies cause recurrent ear infections as well as hypothyroidism. So those are things that can also be looked at. You can have the best food on the market And still have a food allergy to it.
As for homemade cleaners. 50/50 water and alcohol is fine but if you have any irritation or infection it's going to burn like hell so be careful of that.
This post was edited on 5/3/14 at 9:56 pm
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:55 pm to Hammertime
Just be careful with some of the harsher treatments especially if your lab scratches their ears a lot. The mixture could make their ears even worse from irritating sores in their ears from repeated scratching.
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:57 pm to Hammertime
Witch hazel rub then wipe out
Posted on 5/3/14 at 9:59 pm to Hammertime
Hydrogen peroxide and a q tip.
Posted on 5/3/14 at 10:02 pm to LSUVET82
I always feel like I am a split second away from hurting his ears, so I barely hold on to the Q-tips. The black/purple wax will not come out with just the flushing. Doctor takes a sample every time with the same results.
I have Mometamax that I put in his ears once a day an hour or two after I clean them.
I am still hoping the food switch will work
I have Mometamax that I put in his ears once a day an hour or two after I clean them.
I am still hoping the food switch will work
Posted on 5/3/14 at 10:07 pm to brass2mouth
Don't do boric acid.
Posted on 5/3/14 at 10:17 pm to cdaniel76
quote:
Please post this. My lab has horrible ear problems.
Here it is. It's the best stuff I've found to work, the purple from the genetian violet can get a bit messy but my lab had HORRIBLE ear issues and giving him this 2 or 3 times a week would clear his ears up for a few weeks where he wouldn't need anything.
16 oz. bottle isopropyl alcohol (or witch hazel as somebody said, I have two solutions, one with each)
4 tablespoons Boric Acid Powder (I got mine from a local drug store but I've heard it's the same stuff you can find near insecticides)
16 drops Gentian Violet 1% Solution
ETA: Mix it all in the large alcohol or witch hazel bottle then either put it in an eye dropper or pull it out with a syringe to apply. Put a few drops in the ears and cover with paper towel and rub it in for about 15-20seconds.
This post was edited on 5/3/14 at 10:21 pm
Posted on 5/3/14 at 10:47 pm to brass2mouth
Mine had some ear problems whe he was a puppy. The vet who is a very good friend if mine said to rinse his ears with 1 part water, 1 part alcohol and 1 part vinegar.
Alcohol dries up anything and the vinegar keeps the pH right.
I do it after he gets in the water now and haven't had any problems since.
Alcohol dries up anything and the vinegar keeps the pH right.
I do it after he gets in the water now and haven't had any problems since.
Posted on 5/3/14 at 11:49 pm to Hammertime
I get a paper towl on my finger and stick it in as far as it goes. Fricken dog starts goin to sleep and twitchen his back legs. Either he really likes it or I'm playin with his brain.
Posted on 5/4/14 at 5:04 am to BAMAisDIESEL09
quote:
Lightly clean wax out w/ Q-Tip then apply a small amount of Epi-Otic from vet twice a week.
Get some cotton balls. Two or three and soak the hell out of them with Epi-Otic. Stick them inside the ear and wear it out. Do that a couple times per ear. Use fresh balls each time. Do not use a ball once used to the other ear. Wear rubber gloves. shite is nasty.
Posted on 5/4/14 at 8:01 am to fishfighter
3/4 water
1/4 apple cider vinegar
Sqirt some in and massage his ear.
Do it outside because he will shake out the excess.
1/4 apple cider vinegar
Sqirt some in and massage his ear.
Do it outside because he will shake out the excess.
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