Need Dog Ear Wash--homemade anyone?

[nancy in nj]

HI,

 

My golden retriever has a bad ear infection. He's been to the vet and was given antibiotic eardrops and also an antimicrobial earwash. His infected ear definitely needs to be cleaned daily as it is extremely gooky. I need a homemade alternative to the earwash as the scent is giving my daughter severe asthma problems. She typically reacts to any type of antimicrobial handsoaps etc--not sure what the heck my husband was thinking in purchasing this! The antibiotic drops are fine--it is definitely the earwash that is causing the problem. This is a velcro dog, so secluding him for the duration is really not an option!

 

Here are the list of potential ingredients that are safe for my daughter to be around:

 

Vinegar

Hydrogen Peroxide

Rubbing Alcohol

Safe fragrance free soaps such as Method

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks much!

 

Nancy

[TammyinTN]

Here's what we used on our Border Colie. http://www.vetinfo.com/using-vinegar-as-a-dog-ear-cleaner.html#b

[jeninok]

Vinegar and rubbing alcohol are going to burn like the dickens!

[Venia]

We use 50/50 vinegar/alcohol to routinely clean our poodle's ears (we do not pluck, so no open wounds). I would advise to wait until the infection has cleared before using this mix. Apple cider vinegar can also be used in place of white vinegar.

[vettechmomof2]

you need to speak with your vet about this.

[zimom]

1/2 cup vinegar, 1/3 cup water, tablespoon hydrogen peroxide, tablespoon alcohol is the mixture I make up and keep on hand for my ear infection prone lab, and one of my kids post swimming. :). The lab I use it to irrigate her ears and occasionally a few drops here and there as a preventative.

 

Audiologist in my prior life and approved by my lab's vet. Can't say I ever got it 'approved' by my daughter's ENT but he trusted me enough to employ me for 15+ years :).

[nancy in nj]

Thanks Everyone. Yes, we did call the vet, but they are absolutely useless. Their answer was to try Petco for something that doesn't give me daughter problems. They simply do not get it. We definitely have to find a new vet.

 

ZiMom....can I use this mixture to clean his ears while he has the infection prior to using the antibiotic drops? Does it sting or is it diluted enough that it won't?

[zimom]

I would maybe leave the alcohol out for now, although it probably won't hurt. As long as there aren't any open sores it really shouldn't be an issue but I guess just to be safe. Alcohol is used as a drying agent.

[Isabella]

My Natural Therapies vet suggested equal parts white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and pure aloe vera juice. Works well for our dogs.

[WiseOwlKnits]

Equal parts:

 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Water

Rubbing Alcohol

 

We use it once a week for our lab to prevent ear infections.

[Pawz4me]

My older dog is allergic to just about everything. Seriously, he reacted to ear cleaners that my vet (with decades of experience) said he'd never ever known a dog to react to. Our solution was to clean his ears with a paper towel dampened with water. Just like you'd use a washcloth to clean your own ears. If his ears were particularly gunky, we'd mix in just a small amount of vinegar with the water to dampen the paper towel. Nowhere near 50 percent.

 

I'd also consider the possibility of food allergies. They're the cause of many ear infections. Once we got Mr. Allergy Dog on a food that didn't contain any of his allergens, his once chronically infected ears stayed pristine naturally and never needed cleaning. Any time I have a dog who routinely gets ear gunk I start suspecting a food allergy.

[nancy in nj]

Thanks so much everyone! We used the recipe that zimom suggested, diluted with a bit more water to make sure it didn't sting. He gets at most 1 or 2 ear infections a year, usually during the summer when he is swimming in the lake every day, and he has never had a hot spot so I am fairly sure he doesn't have food allergies. His ears usually don't get much gunk--which is why this infection got so bad before we caught it--his other ear is completely clear and gunk-free.

 

You guys are the best!

 

nancy

[StephanieZ]

When you are looking for a new vet, find one that will work him up for allergies and who carries (or will order you) "BNT ear ointment". Chronic ear issues are often related to allergies. Just b/c he doesn't get hot spots doesn't mean it's not allergy related. Another great option is to find a vet who can use "BNT" ear ointment. It is a custom-compounded medication that comes in a gunky sticky thick base. They infuse the ear(s) with it, and then you have no after care, as it lasts a week or two. You go in after a week or two for a recheck to make sure he doesn't need a second round, but one round usually takes care of it. If the vet doesn't know what you are talking about (BNT) tell them to search it on VIN. If they don't know what VIN is, find another vet.

[jeninok]

Try Zymox drops once he is done with the antibiotics. We have hounds with big floppy ears and it works really really well. I use it 2-3 times a day for an active infection, and once a week or so for maintenance.

 

It won't work with his other treatment, but next time it is really worth a try.

 

Adding yogurt one probiotics to his diet is a good idea too, in my experience most ear infection have both a fungal and bacterial element to them. Our dogs ear starts to smell like yucky bread before he starts showing signs of infection. I can usually stop it with the Zymox within a day or two.