Red ear with black wax like gunk?

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

One of Gracie's ears is red and inflamed inside with black waxy gunk. I first saw it a few weeks ago, I just thought it was dirty. I'm ashamed to say I put it off. :(

I cleaned it with a cotton ball and some olive oil. I got most of the gunk out, but it looks more irritated today. I called the vet, but they can't get her in until tomorrow evening.

Is there anything I can do between now and then? I'm sure it doesn't feel good.

For the most part, she's not scratching at it as it doesn't seem to bother her.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'd leave it alone until the vet sees it.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am sure that it is an infection, especially if it smells, and will need to be cleaned out and followed up with meds.  There are commercial ear cleaners you can purchase otc or get from the vet so that you can periodically clean her ears. 

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Gracie has a yeast infection. They gave us this lotion to put in her ears once a day which is basically cortisone. They didn't recommend any cleaners. I asked about cleaning her ears.

So, what's recommended? I've read enough about yeast infections in dogs ears and there are so many different suggestions.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Are you sure it is cortisone? Cortisone isn't used to treat yeast infections. 

Yeast likes to grow in a moist environment, so basically you want to try to get more airflow to the area and keep it dry. Trimming the hair beneath the ear canal (the "side burn" area") is one way to help with that. I just use a scissors, but some people shave it. It isn't noticeable when the ear is hanging down. Some dogs need some of the hair removed within the ear itself, and some don't. Irritation from removing the hair can actually contribute to infections in some dogs. My vet is of the mindset "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" and advised to leave the hair in Winnie's ears alone since she has never had an infection. 

For cleaning, I use what my vet recommended- a product called Epi Otic. It has a drying agent in it. Winnie used to hate getting her ears cleaned because I was squirting it into her ear. Someone recommended saturating a cotton ball with it and then squeezing the liquid out of the cotton ball and into her ear. That really helps! Then you swish it around in the ear and use dry cotton balls to gently clean and dry. 

Hope that helps!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Thanks, you're right it's not cortisone. It's is called gentizol. I swear he said it was like cortisone though. But, my mind was busy with questions. ;)

Thanks for the tips.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Did they do a culture? 

I find it very odd that a vet would not recommend a cleaner, unless perhaps the lotion contains a cleaning agent in addition to the medication. 

I second the recommendation for Epi-Otic. It's the best. I used it for years and years on a weekly basis with my poodle to keep her ears healthy, and have used it on foster doodles as well. (JD doesn't have poodle ears, lol) Once this infection has cleared up, I'd highly recommend you get some and use it regularly for maintenance.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

No culture. Her ear has a foul smell which is consistent with a yeast infection (from what I've read). The gentizol basically clears up a lot of ear infections. It has anti-inflammatory properties too. Again - from what I've been reading and the vet did mention that as well.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

A yeast infection can become bacterial if not treated promptly, so both can be present. If this doesn't clear up completely with the gentizol, I'd go back for a culture. 

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

The gentizol is also anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

I definitely will go back if it doesn't clear up. Usually my vet is spot on no matter how worried I am due to over researching. ;)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Do, listen to your vet. Do follow-up appointments until this is completely cleared. Sometimes, that may be a visit a week. Well worth it all in the long run.

For now, I would follow your vets advice.  We here on the internet can only speculate and are not vets.  Some of us have had horrible experiences with those ears. We sympathize. 

Get Well Soon, Gracie 

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

We don't have a follow up appt. he said this would clear up with about 4 applications.

[F, Calla & Luca]

For yeast you need to acidify the ear canal. I used to do it every two weeks but now about once a month. The important thing is to get the solution way down into the ear canal . You can hear it if it's down there , when you massage the base of the ear. Then dry it with cotton squares. You can always sniff your dogs ears and clean as necessary. I would let your dog's ears heal then start cleaning regularly. I get Malacetic Otic at Amazon.