Question for Zymox Otic users

[Susanne]

One of our two Doodles, Blackjack, is suffering from  pretty nasty ear infections. After using up the vet antibiotics, changing his diet and constantly cleaning his ears, I bought some Zymox otic.

Quick Question(s): The directions say to apply liberally and wipe to remove excess as well as no cleaning ears before or during treatment. Can I still wipe the nasty gunk out of his ears (not going completely into the ear canal)? He has some build up right on the inside of his one ear. Am I supposed to leave his ears alone completely after squirting the liquid in and massaging? Or can I wipe the crusty stuff off/out of his ears? I wasn't sure if the directions meant don't clean ears using other ear cleaning supplies or if it meant to completely leave them alone, not disturbing the build up.

Thanks!!!!

[Robin Fritz]

Not an answer to your question, but our Fozzie had ear infections initially and the vet told us to take away rawhide chews.  He hasn't had an issue since.  I know you said you changed his diet but wasn't sure if that meant rawhide also.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I would interpret the directions to mean not to use other products.  The directions say you can allow the dog to shake the excess and it would seem logical that you could wipe the rest away from the outside of the ear.  I would try to remove any loose debris before putting the liquid in and then leave it.  The best thing to do would probably be to check with your vet.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

Aside from times when you are using ear drops, you need to get the cleaning solution into the ear canal. I put the nozzle into the canal, be careful the are blind alley nooks and crannies. Squeeze the bottle til the liquid overflows a little.Then masssage at the very base of the ear and you should hear squishing. Then wipe out the ear gently of any gunk and fluid. I use cotton squares around a finger.The dog will shake out the rest. Before I massage I do clean the flap around the opening as well. I clean ears every two to three weeks and thankfully we never have ear infections. I do not pluck hair ever but I do cut long hairs around the canal and I keep the hair under the ear flap short. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I hope you are still returning to the vet and continuing antibiotics!  Many of these ear infections take months.  A round of antibiotics,  a vet check after each round, then possibly another round of antibiotics. One round may clear it up a touch only to be stopped and an even worse infection occurs two weeks later

These infections take a lot of persistence but you can clear them up.

It sure sounds like you need to return to the vet.  This gunky junk needs checked not cleaned  :(  Not a good sign at all.

I had no luck with Zymox Otic as it caused infections in one of our dogs. Others have had good luck.  Some of these cleaners really break down the skin making it tender and irritated which just causes more infections.    We can use no liquid cleaners. Just a soft damp cloth to wipe around the ears and a drying powder.

So, if you have not done so already see the vet, get the infections cleared, and only then return to a regular cleaning routine and cleaning solution.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Yes you will want to wipe any easily visible gunk away from the ear canal prior to applying any medications as there will be less to interfere with the effect of the medication. This ear gunk has bacteria in it as well and you'd want to get as much off the outside ear and ear flap as possible and as is easy to do with a cotton or gauge pad.
I have had the most beneficial and long term good results with a otic suspension with Gentamicin, (Mometamax ) as the treatment of an infection and using no other treatment until the ear gunk is cleared from the antibiotic. If I have not seen effective results after the antibiotic treatment and the medicated otic treatment, (usually 14 days) then I return to the vet for another ear swab and possibly a different antibiotic.
When all cleared, I use Epi Otic every time his ears get wet or seem dirty, as a preventative, and this has kept Murphys ear infections down considerably and those he does get are much more mild and easier to treat. Murphy can not get his ears wet even once without the Epi Otic treatment or he will start an infection within the week.
I would let the vet know that you are still experiencing this much discharge still after having completed the antibiotic course.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Our Springer gets nasty ear infections and always has. Over the years we have been given conflicting advice - clean -  don't clean when on meds.  What we found that really works for us  is to clean the ear well, let it dry for a bit then put meds in.  Not cleaning the ear just let the meds sit on top of the infection.  We try to clean his ears out weekly - and when we get lax - he gets another ear infection. 

Make sure you get deep into the ear.  After squirting the cleaner into the ear (I put the cleaner top as deep into the canal as I can and give a generous squirt, I massage the area under the canal (you should hear it squishing around), then I use make up remover pads to clean out the gunk.  When I put the meds in, I get that top as deep as I can also (and again, I massage the area).  Hope this helps.

[Diane Sloan]

I have found this to work wonders with our doodle.  Our vet actually gave it to us when I took him in to have the ear checked for yeast or mites.  It was yeast and with the Zymox you do not clean it with other cleaners as they can interfere with the enzymes in the Zymox. 

I did clean out the ear with the yeast in the evening with just a tissue and then squirted in the Zymox  and squished it around by playing with the ear flap.  He wound up with yucky black streaks down the side of his face from the stuff draining out.  This washed of easy.

Is it an ear infection or yeast?

I found the zymox worked with this guy quickly but be sure to use it till it is all gone and clear.  With another dog we did the wash and antibiotic ointment and it took forever I feel the Zymox handled this in about 3 weeks which was faster than the other products but each dog is different.

[Susanne]

Thanks for the help everyone!

It's definitely a yeast infection.

I wiped out his ears using cotton and noticed the gunk is different then it usually is (which sounds gross but is a good thing ;) ). I can see now that the Zymox is starting to help because his ears are less red/irritated and Blackjack doesn't whine when he shakes his head. I'll continue the routine and check in with the vet next week.

I never thought to check his rawhide....will be getting rid of that.

I did buy the Zymox cleanser and plan on using it when he gets water in his ears. Blackjack LOVES playing in the snow and in Michigan, we get plenty of it. I see wet ears in the future!

Again, thanks for the help!