my pups ears..

[Ahumphers91a]

So, for a bit my pup has had kinda smelly ears, not bad smelling, just not great. I make sure to clean her ears witj q tips. What solution can I use to "maintain" her ears to stay clean?

[birddog1968]

You can mix up a home remedy and others I'm sure will chime in with those....

I buy, once a year, a quart bottle of medicated ear wash from the vet, and that serves
my purposes for the year on 4 or 5 dogs.

[Ahumphers91a]

Thanks, yes I've heard of a vinegar water mix. But for something like this I would feel more comfortable if I had exact instructions on the mix.

[ultracarry]

Ear cleaning solution is available at almost all pet stores and my vet also has some at the front desk... no need for a visit. Some you use on a cotton ball and some you drip in and let set for a few seconds before letting the dog shake its head and then wipe out.

I use ear cleaning solution at least once a month or after I send my dog in some water.

[Cajun Casey]

Equal parts vinegar, rubbing alcohol and distilled water.

[Ahumphers91a]

Thanks, I knew about the solutions, but as long as I have all the things I can make it for free. Thanks again everyone.

[mcbosco]

1 bottle of Witch Hazel or Alcohol
16 Drops Gentian Violet
3 Tablespoon Boric Acid

All these are available at the pharmacy.

[CherrystoneWeims]

Equal parts vinegar and alcohol. No need to add water (my vet told me this)

As Bosco said for actual yeasty ears use the "Blue Power" mixture.

[mcbosco]

If you are having to clean brown gunk out of the dogs weekly or more frequently, especially in a dry place like Utah, you should use something to kill the bacteria and yeast in there. You could also have a food sensitivity.

Q Tips may not be the way to go. You might be pushing the gunk deeper when you do that. Put the cleaner in the ear, massage the base of the ear for a good minute and let the dog shake the mess out. If you don't hear a squishy sound when you massage the base of the ear you didn't put enough in.

[Cajun Casey]

We had a slow morning at clinic a couple of weeks ago, so we hauled in my solid liver male and gave him a tuneup. He has always had gunky ears that sometimes bother him and they were pretty nasty. We swabbed and looked under the microscope. NOTHING! Just dirt and ear goo. Two weeks later and they are just as bad. A maintenance thing and it can be done with saline.

[Ahumphers91a]

THanks everyone, no gunk, her ears just smell a bit. Maybe it's just me? She's almost 5 months old and I have never cleaned her ears, but have bathed her about 3-4 times since I got her.