Need advice on ear infections

[charlotte bednarsh]

Just when I thought it was safe in that Paz had made it through most of thesummer without an ear infection, and then of course, there we were at the vet  last night, $220 later, treating an ear infection.  Paz loves to swim during the  summer at the pool in the dog park; we live in Manhattan, the sidewalks have  been so hot and the pool is so inviting, so there is no keeping Paz out of the  water.  I rinse and dried his ears after every swim, and thought we were doing  okay, but it was too good to be true.  Anybody have any suggestions as to how  they have minimized these ear infections.  Paz would be devastated if he  couldn't swim, so please help!  

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Keep the hair in the ear canal to a minimum and rinse his ears after every swim with Epi-Otic.  It has a surfactant in it that dries the canal.  Memorize the smell of your doods uninfected ears and sniff his ears every time you think of it..at least once a week.  You will be able to pick up any change in the smell early.  I have also rinsed my dogs ears with vinegar, water and a tiny bit of alcohol, in a pinch.  Yeast does not like vinegar.  Also make sure there is a channel of shorter fur from one ear to the other, under the chin to allow for air flow.  Some people shave the hair under the ear flap.  Moisture and heat are the perfect media for yeast and bacteria.  Good luck.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

It would sting like crazy if you used it when the ear was infected or inflamed.  Even the Epi-Otic will sting if they are infected.  I only use it when the ears look and smell good and I am just doing ear maintenance.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Winston's dermatologist said to use vinegar and water in a pinch (I think it's 3 parts water to one part vinegar). I've used it several times and it works well. But yea, if there's a lot of inflamation or if he's scratched the skin a lot it definitely stings.

[charlotte bednarsh]

What great advice.  I have not used Epi-Otic, but checked on online, and there is Epi-Otic, and Advanced Epi_Otic.  Which one are you using regularly?.  I have been diligent about keeping his hair in the ear canal to a minimum, but never thought about shorter fun under the ear, so will do that also.  Thanks so much.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I have used just the plain Epi-Otic (by Virbac) and have found it in higher end pet stores on the shelf, and at the Vet's office.  My vet said to rinse the ears about every two weeks and after swimming.  Don't over-do it.  Paz looks like a pretty heavy coated curly fleece so I suspect the under the ear shave could help. I also keep Seda's ears trimmed close to the leather.   Beautiful doodle!!  You are entirely welcome.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Your Paz looks just like my Oliver :)    My poor Ollie constantly had ear infections and they never really cleared up with perscriptions from the vet.  I went on line and found two mixtures, one wet and one dry and his ears cleared up in 2 days with daily washing out and a pinch of powder....

 

Liquid cleaner:  16 oz. bottle isopropol alcohol, 4 tablespoons boric acide powder & 16 drops gentain violet 1% solution.  This purple mixture stains, when I wash out Olvers ears I do it outside then wipe clean and put a pinch of the follow power mixture in his ears:  4 oz. boric acid powerd, 4 oz. zinc oxide powder & 1/2 oz. odoform powder.  This powder smells real clean too. 

 

Ollie has not had a ear infection in way over a year.  There is also a band that you can get to keep their ears closed to prevent water getting in them.

 

Good luck ..

[BG and Gavin]

Also Charli, I use a cool blow dryer on low and dry the inside of Gavin's ears any time he crosses my path while I am drying my own hair.  I also clip his ears back after a bath or after swimming to allow the air to circulate through them.  We had ear problems early on, but with this routine and a regular cleaning routine like Linda suggested we have licked the problem (touch wood).  Good luck.

[Gail and Bailey]

Linda gave great advice. I am a firm believer of smelling my dog's ears every day. It is a great way to know when something is "brewing". I also use the Epi-Otic about every two weeks. My dog does not go swimming but if she did I would use it more often.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I use Malacetic Otic every two weeks or so with great results. I trim the "cheek" hair under the ear and long hairs sticking out of the ear canal. I do not pluck the ear hair.

[Christine & Camus]

I use a mixture that the dermatologist suggested.  Camus gets yeast infections in his ear (only one ear) that were impossible to  clear up.  The dermatologist said it was an allergic reaction and since he could not tolerate any of the ear cleaners (they burned his skin) she told me to mix a solution of 50% water, 25% alcohol, and 25% white vinegar.  She also told me that I should mix a fresh solution for each application.  So I mix 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoons, 1 tablespoons vinegar and rinse his ears up to 3x weekly.  It has worked well for Camus.  No burning, but it keeps his ears dry.

[Lee Seidman]

We use Epi-Otic on both our Doodles.  Billy loves the water and swims in our pool several times a day all year around. We also use Thornit ear powder as a preventative and neither has had an ear problem in more then two years. There is some magic ingredient in Thornit and all I can say is that it works.

See the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5OAkSgXpCQ

Just Google it,  we have ordered from the video  site safely. It lasts forever...with two Doodles I am just starting my second bottle in three years.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Bailey has a long coat with lots of hair around her ears.  We go swimming and/or gets a bath every week.  I don't know if it helps but I give her a tablespoon of yougart on he food 5 times a week...She has had no problems with yeast...