Eye Gunk & Ear Cleaning - What Do You Use?

[Jenny Williams]

Leia is 9 weeks, and her eye gunk sticks to her fur like super glue. I don't want to hurt her by pulling her hair too much, but it's really stuck on there and needing a good cleaning. What do you use and how often? She also has a lot of ear buildup that the vet is watching. I gave her a good cleaning yesterday, but I'm going to need to do it several times to really get it cleaned up. The vet said the Poodle in her may make her more inclined to ear infections. What do you use for ear cleaning that works well?

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I have two doodles and both of them get eye gunk - one more so than the other.  I use a damp cloth first thing in the a.m. - if it the gunk has hardened over-night, you might have to soften it up a little by wiping it several times, or a wet cue tip and carefully remove.  I have done this from the time there were puppies, so they just expect it.  They also make eye wipes and you get them at most pet supply stores.  I think it is best to do it on a daily basis so there is no build up and chance for infection.

[Jenny Williams]

Thanks, Linda! I'm thinking I will start wiping her eyes every morning. This is our first doodle, so we are newbies :)

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Jenny ~ you will get it all down in no time.  Be sure to handle your little doodle daily, brushing with a soft brush, checking feet, looking gently at teeth, ears, etc.  That way when the real grooming starts they are used to it.  Looking forward to seeing lots of photos of Leia!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Yes, as Linda mentioned, eye goo is easily removed by dampening it first and letting it soften before wiping off with a clean cloth. Oscar eyes get cleaned daily.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I just pick the eye gunk off with my fingers once or twice a day. The doodles don't seem to mind. I use Malacetic Otic for ear cleaning. I get it online.

[Sally S Miles]

After much trial and error, I found this and it's kept ears happy.

http://www.amazon.com/Ark-Naturals-Gentle-Cleaning-Lotion/dp/B00005...

I don't squirt it into her ears, I soak a cotton ball then swipe in and squeeze excess into ear canal - then rub ear for a few - then proceed with wiping out with soaked cotton balls.  Yes the Poodles have doozies of ear canals - but with practice it gets easier and here we have a girl who likes her rituals. 

[Karen & Maple]

In addition to the above mentioned which I Dito, if the eyes are particularly gunky, use OTC preservative free lubricationg drops/ artificial tears.

[Karen & Maple]

Also I've found Maple's ears sparkle when I regularly give her probiotics (Proviable DC) added to plain yogurt. If I slack off, smelly gunky ears in no time.

[Diane and Alma]

Alma used to get frequent ear infections and wax build up.  I make sure to put cotton balls in her ears when I bath her to reduce the amount of moisture in her ear canal.  I went through many products including one's recommended by my vet.  This is the one I find works best for her:  Miracle Care All Natural Ear Cleaner

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009YUCM8/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_...

Just like Sally, I saturate a cotton ball and gently put it in Alma's ear and squeeze the liquid into her ear canal while massaging under her ear.  I wipe out with another saturated cotton ball.  I do this process outside so she can shake her head afterwards.